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The Council of Five


Co-GM Ryan M - Welcome To The Facility - Map and Documents Here 
Monday January 29th, 2024 9:44:24 AM
Kaze answers Grim’s questions as best he can being simply hired help and neither leading the expedition or having any big picture knowledge. The number of destroyed supplies you passed on the upper level leand some credibility to the idea that deliveries had been arriving to this area over time, it was just too much to all have been locally sourced.

When the stairs at the bottom of the stairy are opened you find a small open area and a hallway leading to a hallway in a larger room with many smaller areas off to the sides. The spirits that were behind you coming down the stairs are no in front and carry their burdens in on of the side area. Other spirits, at least a dozen go about their routines as though this was a normal day for them and they are preparing or retuning from their tasks.

You remember that this area was listed as the dorms on the sign on the map and it appear to be just that, living areas for many people. While the spirits move about another group of spirits stands at the far side of the area. From the distance you are at you can see that they are their but nothing stands out, it is possible you recognize them.

{ooc: Feel free to make some knowledge local rolls when and if you move closer to the spirits.}


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy)  d20+3=5 ;
Monday January 29th, 2024 10:54:28 AM
Dapple hadn't been in Cloudhaven for long when the dinosaurs attacked, and she doesn't recognize any of the faces. She doesn't let that stop her, though.

"Hi!" she says, heading toward the group standing at the far side. "I'm Dapple. Sorry; I'm new here and I'm totally lost." [Diplomacy 5]

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29   d20+14=33 ; d20+10=30 ; d20+13=16 ;
Monday January 29th, 2024 3:09:29 PM
The elf bard walks through the area, glancing left and right to get the lay of the dormitory.

Though Yofiel had arrived in Cloudhaven right before the dinosaur attack, this was her third visit to the place. She came once about five years ago, when her father was still alive, and the second time with her mother and brother alone, two years ago, just a few months after her father had been slain by orcs. So, she had light acquaintance with some of the folk from the community. They would typically stay about a week, as that gave time to sell goods, receive other goods and payment, give her father time to trade stories and entertain folk with his music - and the family sometimes performed together, then be back on their way with the caravan.

As they come closer to the group at the far side, she definitely recognizes one or more of the ghosts from her earlier visits. She may call out the name, or names, of those she recalls, greeting them. Yofi is alert to see if there is any sign of recognition on their part, or even if they seem to notice the party at all.

Also, she tries to figure out what they are doing standing there. Do they seem to have purpose? Are they talking among themselves? How are they clad?

She still has her bow strung with an arrow nocked, but has not drawn it.

=============
Knowledge, local: 33
Sense motive: 30
Perception: 16

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19  d20+4=24 ; d20+8=16 ;
Monday January 29th, 2024 3:48:39 PM
[ooc] Know Local : 24 [/ooc]
[ooc] Perception, door 16 (+2 more for traps)

Colt drifts around the room. He has a look at the door. Then he watches the ghosts, keeping a respectful distance.

Colt was only in Cloudhaven a few months before the attack, and he kept a low profile, but he watched everyone, and everything.

Foggy mostly circles Colt's legs, but takes a quick experimental pass at Patches. His little dog dashes in to within a few paces of the larger dog, then vectors away hard.

-----------
Edit: I fixed your header, Tim. -Kim

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=18 ; d20+9=22 ; d20+9=26 ; d20+9=21 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=23 ;
Monday January 29th, 2024 6:29:14 PM
The Dorms

Marest will move closer to the remote spirits especially since every critter and energy form seems to be doing what they ought to. Once close enough (dark vision to 120ft), she will try her hand using her knowledge skills, and perception to reveal what she can of this newest group of spirits.

How do they stand? Slouched or upright? Are they clothed? Regal or common? Are they waiting or are they millling about in their group? Do they seem free spirits or programmed illusions?

Skill Checks:

perception: (1d20+9 )= 18
Knowl (History): (1d20+9 )= 22
Knowl (Local): (1d20+9 )= 26
Knowl (Nature): (1d20+9 )= 21
Knowl (Nobility): (1d20+9 )= 23
Knowl (Religion): (1d20+9 )= 23

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Monday January 29th, 2024 8:23:35 PM
Siolo looks on as some of his group mates attempt to interact with the apparitions.

"Did these folks die in the attack on Clouhaven?"

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Monday January 29th, 2024 8:24:23 PM
Siolo looks on as some of his group mates attempt to interact with the apparitions.

"Did these folks die in the attack on Clouhaven?"

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Monday January 29th, 2024 9:49:40 PM
"Hi Dapple? I'm Ezekiel. I believe we are in the monster labs near Cloudhaven."

"I seem to remember that the monsters escaped the lab and killed the people here, then attacked Cloudhaven. Or I could be misremembering things. I sometimes do that from time to time."


Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7  Perception check: d20+9=21 ;
Monday January 29th, 2024 10:02:39 PM
Kaze wanders around looking at faces, most of the ones he knew best were the other mercs hired to guard the caravan.

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19  d20=8 ; d20+8=20 ;
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 12:00:49 AM

"No, Siolo. They are the ones who died here." answers Grim as he trudges along, using simple logic. "Go ahead and talk to the ghosts. I am looking in the rooms." He does so.

=======
Knowledge, local: 8
Perception: 20 for checking some of the dormitory rooms

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31  d20+10=18 ;
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 8:51:54 AM
Ezekiel will also detect magic as we search the dorms.

Spellcraft: 18

Co-GM Ryan M - Welcome To The Facility - Map and Documents Here 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 10:30:48 AM
Marest, Colt and Yofiel recognize the five sprites immediately as the town council as they get closer.

Listed from left to right:
Head Guard, Male Elf fighter Silvyr Norro
Chief of Coin, the male Racoon Beastfolk bard Oznif Moonface
Mayer, the Female Halfling Cleric of Ffloy Ellie Clayhanger
Town Planner, the Female Elf Barbarian Shanaera Wysagella
The Trailblazer, the male half orc ranger Taim Crowsky

There is no response from the council though, unlike the other spirits, they are aware of your presence. They make no moves but look incredibly world weary and sad. You can almost feel the sadness coming off of them as they look at you, standing five abreast across the hallway near the far door. Although spirits their phandom bodies look very much as they would have in life, dressed as if they were going about a normal day.

Colt, Grim and Ezekiel searh the dorms and it just looks like the spirits are going about portions of their former lives. They seem to be doing various repetitive actions, some short and some longer sequences of daily life.


Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 10:39:20 AM
Kaze, looking around, asks the obvious question, "Who are those five gathered together, I don't know them. The seem sad."

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 10:59:44 AM
"Well, the one in the middle was the mayor of Cloudhaven," Dapple tells Kaze. "I don't recognize the others." She frowns. "But surely Mistress Clayhanger would have been killed in town, and not down here."

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 11:01:00 AM
"Wait, did we ever learn who Maya and the Facility work for? Or were they just developing their thunder monsters to sell to the highest bidder?"



Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19  d20=6 ;
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 7:15:14 PM
" You're right Dapple. Why are they here? I thought ghosts haunted the spot where they died? Did anyone see them in town on the day of the attack?"

[ooc] Rolled an intelligence check of 6 to see if Colt remembers seeing any of the council on Attack Day. Apparently he had his Star Wars blast helmet on that morning and was practicing using the Force [/ooc]



Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 7:35:03 PM
The Sad Five

Turning to her compadres, Marest begins to explain, "Folks, 'The Sad Five' are from left to right:
"
Head Guard, Male Elf fighter Silvyr Norro,

Chief of Coin, the male Racoon Beastfolk bard Oznif Moonface,

Mayor, the Female Halfling Cleric of Ffloy Ellie Clayhanger,

Town Planner, the Female Elf Barbarian Shanaera Wysagella,

The Trailblazer, the male half-orc ranger Taim Crowsky,

Also, there is no response from the council though, unlike the other spirits, they are aware of our presence."



Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 8:38:22 PM
Siolo's expression changes to concern. "Do you think the mayor had something to do with the attack?"

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 8:59:15 PM

The elf gasps in recognition, her right hand going to her mouth. "Oznif! My father sang with you the first time we came here," Yofiel says to the raccoon beastfolk. "Oh, I am so sad for whatever happened to you all," she exclaims, her voice breaking.

She nods at Dapple's recognition, and is about to speak, but Marest provides much of the information she recalls.

"Shanaera takes care of plans for the settlement, and some of us went through a good deal of her paperwork in the keep, up in the walls near the lift. She introduced me to the papaya that grows up here.

"Taim knows the area well. Crow Sky, I think it is, not Crowski...

"Dapple, why do you suppose she could not have been here?"

-----------------
After telling her friends some of what she knows, she writes in large letters on a piece of paper. "If you cannot hear our voices, have you the means to write, that we might read?" is what she writes down. She brings it closer to them, that they might read. If they indicate they could do so, she quickly asks the question: "What happened here?"

On another piece of paper she writes with adequate space between each line so she can reveal them one at a time, so as not to confuse things:
- How can we help?
- What should we know?
- Are there dangers on the next levels?
"Communication may be slow, but with patience we might learn something," she tells her friends and, if they can hear her, the 'Sad Five'.

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 9:08:06 PM
"Why do the council see that we're here while the caravaneers don't? It's passing strange," Colt muses.

Then his thoughts shift to Siolo's question. "I can't believe that the council could be mixed up in the attack. I also can't believe that Mara would ask permission to attack, or for help. " Still some kind of involvement would explain why they're here.

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Tuesday January 30th, 2024 10:22:29 PM
"My thinking is this: the council were behind this lab and attempted to harness the lightning, but they couldn't contain it in their facility. The monster lizards broke free and killed them, perhaps in revenge for pain and suffering. Then they directed their rage towards the town those responsible came from!"

Grim Ripr 4th (Kim for JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 6:40:31 AM

Coming closer, Grim continues to check out each room, briefly watches the ghosts going through their repetitious actions. He glances toward the rest of the party trying to talk with ghosts, then goes into yet another room.

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 10:14:47 AM
Kaze scratches his head. "Wait. So these five are from Cloudhaven. The rest are from the caravan, or lived here." Listening to the information shared by Ezekiel, Colt, and Yofiel, he asks a followup question, "What's so special about these dinosaurs that I don't know about, that would make these 5 want to betray their community?" Coming from a tribal mentatlity, he is struggling to understand the reasoning these five would have betrayed their community, which is apparent by the look of horror on his face

Co-GM Ryan M - Welcome To The Facility - Map and Documents Here 
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 10:38:42 AM
The appearance of the five spirits has left even more question including why there spirits would be here instead of in town where they would have been expected to have died. Those that did not know them are brought up to speed.

As Colt, Grim and Ezekiel check more of the rooms they can see that some possession are around including various papers and possibly a notebook or two before the conversation about the spirits draws them back in.

Yofiel fills in more details mentioned her father singing with Oznif which causes the spirit of Oznif to look at her. The feeling of sadness is replaced with a fleeting moment of happiness which is quickly transformed to regret and sadness. It is clear they can hear what is said but their grim look remains in place. The feelings grow stronger regret and resolve hand heavy in he air.

When Kaze mentions betrayal the sense in the room quickly changes to anger before returning to its previous level.



Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31  d20+10=15 ;
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 11:39:18 AM
Ezekiel will look thru the notebooks to see if they have any notes on the arcane.

Knowledge (arcana/planes): 15.



Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 11:46:01 AM
"Maybe they were visiting?" Dapple hazards. She frowns. "I don't specifically remember seeing them the day of the attacks, but things were pretty chaotic." Her face saddens, "Does--does anybody remember seeing any of their bodies? We did quite a bit of cleanup, as you recall?

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 1:11:18 PM

"Oh, Kaze, I do not think they had any inclination to betray Cloudhaven," Yofiel says. "These are good folk."

"I am so glad you can hear us. If you can somehow communicate what happened... are you able to read the words I hold up? If so, and the process may be slow, can I lay on the floor before you letters of the alphabet, and one of you spell out what you would like to tell us?" she asks the group. If they indicate that yes, they can read what she writes, she takes a few minutes, tearing up several sheets of paper into smaller segments, and laying them on the floor before them so that they can that way tell their story. She also puts down numbers.

If they indicate they cannot read, the bard ponders some other means to communicate. "Is there anything here you would like to show us, to help us understand?"

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 10:47:29 PM
Yofiel's plan sounds a little too complicated to Colt. He decides to talk to the spiritual council directly.

"So, we're trying to figure out what happened and why you're here. Can you all nod if you died in Cloudhaven?"

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Wednesday January 31st, 2024 11:51:08 PM
Listening to the others, Siolo wonders if the council had something to do with this laboratory. "The goal may have been control. If one could control a thunder god, that would be very valuable to the security of Clouhaven. It wouldn't be a stretch for the council to approve of such a laboratory."

Grim Ripr 4th (Kim for JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Thursday February 1st, 2024 12:35:14 AM

Grim grabs up the papers and notebooks and carries them out to the rest of the group. He also lugs a small table, and sets the papers on top of the table. "Someone can read these," he says, "when they feel like it." To continues going through all the rooms until he has hit them all, bringing items of interest or apparent worth out, dragging another table for that purpose.

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7  Perception, if it will help: d20+9=29 ; Spellcraft, if it will help: d20+6=22 ; d20+6=13 ;
Thursday February 1st, 2024 9:57:22 AM
Kaze will head to the table at a loss for what to do. If nothing else he'll try to match up handwriting styles, or look for anything directly related to what went on here

OOC: the last roll was a bobble - the first roll hadn't shown up so I pushed the Roll button again

Co-GM Ryan M - Welcome To The Facility - Map and Documents Here 
Thursday February 1st, 2024 10:05:05 AM
Several ideas are offered as to why the council is in The Facility as are means of communication. When Yofiel suggests a complicated plan similar to a ouija board a feeling of frustrations and annoyance comes off of the spirits.

Siolo suggests there may have been good intentions behind The Facility and Dapple thought about where their bodies are triggers a stronger feeling of loss and then images form in each of the parties minds. You can almost see it, like a strong memory very clear but foreign to you.

The mayor in the facility, talking to people. The other members of the council disappearing for days at a time and bringing supplies to The Facility. Others were aware of what was going on but not all. The more experienced members of the community….

Disaster, battle, blood… The council fighting in the facility as people fall around them…

The image fades slowly and a sense of sadness can be felt in the room but the feeling is weaker as if the effort of sending took some energy, like sprinting instead of walking.

Grim and Ezekiel bring out some of the notebooks and paperwork they found. A quick glance shows that most are just day to day things like supply list or maintenance products. Farther back from the general sleeping areas there are a few areas that separated by curtains, probably where the more important people had a space.

{ooc: Minor edit, I typed Drack instead of Grim for reasons even I do not understand.}


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Thursday February 1st, 2024 12:45:30 PM
Dapple hesitates. She wants to know how to lay the spirits to rest--all the spirits--but she senses that answer won't come easily, and anyway she probably shouldn't ask now. Instead, she gestures to the curtained-off areas. "If these folks had any notes or anything, they're probably in there."

She approaches one of the curtains and cautiously pushes it aside.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  
Thursday February 1st, 2024 2:20:57 PM

If images of them fighting came to mind - what, or whom, were they fighting against?

Who is 'Drack'?

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Thursday February 1st, 2024 4:47:59 PM
"So the council knew about The Facility, supplied it, and fought at the end. It's crazy to think that you could keep something like this secret in a small village like Cloud Haven. Maya is a wild card. Maybe she was part of The Facility, but she turned on them if she was. Why have a secret base like this? "

Colt listens carefully to anyone who theorizes on the state of things. If no one wants to talk, the young man walks over to Grim's table and starts looking through the papers.

Grim Ripr 4th (Kim for JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Friday February 2nd, 2024 12:41:46 AM

"Glad you can read, Kaze," grunts Grim. He sees Dapple going into one curtained room, so he goes into the next.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29   d20+14=26 ;
Friday February 2nd, 2024 1:51:24 AM

In response to Dapple's question, "Does anybody remember seeing any of their bodies?" Yofiel thinks back (Knowledge, local: 26). If she remembers seeing any of them, she will report on whom she found. If not, she says, "I found none of these five here."

Not one to remain clueless for long, Yofiel abandons her attempt at alphabetizing communications before she finishes 1/3rd of the alphabet. She takes in the images sent forth from the spirits, and her understanding grows a little. Not enough, but it is a start. She senses the effort it took for the group of five to communicate with them.

"Thank you for making the effort to show us such things. May the heavens bless your souls - Silvyr Norro, Oznif Moonface, Ellie Clayhanger, Shanaera Wysagella, Taim Crow-Sky - and reward you each on the next stage of your journeys.

"If we come to know what may release you from this place, and have the means, we will do what we can to help."

"The remnants of Cloudhaven mourned your loss already in the days following the saurian attack on the outpost, though perhaps none of them knew it was here that you fought. We wish to give you what help we may, and bring what benefit we might to the survivors."

When Colt mentions Maya - do any of the five appear to react to her name? Or to his surmises?

"You made some thoughtful observations, Colt."

She thinks on Siolo's words, too. "I wonder who now feeds the dinosaur at the plateau entrance to these caves?"

"Marest, have you thoughts on these matters?"

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Friday February 2nd, 2024 10:13:32 AM
Kaze, who's slowly looking through the papers, doesn't look up but does answer Yofiel's question to a point. "That big brute outside, I think he was trained, or forced, or something to keep people from coming in, not leaving. My guess is, he eats whatever critters come around looking for a safe place to rest ... or people not as crafty as we are."

Co-GM Ryan M - Welcome To The Facility - Map and Documents Here 
Friday February 2nd, 2024 10:21:49 AM
The images of fighting repeat but in a longer stretch, the council proves fierce as they battle the escaping dinosaurs trying to stop them reaching the town. Clearly the council had been high level adventures and they battle but slowly become overwhelmed. Others from town can be seen battling, the more senior members of the town.

When Yofiel mentions releasing them there is a sense of determination that washes off of the spirits.

As some of you gather paperwork you find that more then you would have guessed new abou the facility. A note is left by a scattered deck of cards addressed to Asano who was a mid level guard and a good cook, the note is short and in small letters. Anso, I left your cards bring them when you come up for your shirt so we can keep playing. The night was quiet, nothing to report other then the normal sounds from the lab. It is signed Vidal who was a local master tanner.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Friday February 2nd, 2024 11:30:27 AM
Dapple is puzzled. "Wait, all these people were going back and forth between the town and the facility? Why didn't anyone notice?"

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  
Friday February 2nd, 2024 11:56:51 AM

So, apparently, Yofiel does not recall seeing any of their bodies from Cloudhaven itself.

[ooc] "a sense of determination that washes off of the spirits" - does this mean that a clear sense of determination is showing strong? Or, a clear sense of determination is being washed away, as in, with the idea of release, their determination is being diminished?[/ooc]

"Good question, Dapple. Perhaps we might ask a few Cloudhaven long-timers when we return," says Yofiel.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Friday February 2nd, 2024 8:09:11 PM
Something is a Foot!

Marest is way confused here. She asks, "Why did no one mention any of these ongoing events or even document them? How long has this facility been here? "

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Friday February 2nd, 2024 9:37:40 PM
When the papers and table are brought, Siolo joins in the reading.

After a short time, he begins to focus his efforts looking for names or rosters.

As he finds names mentioned he writes them down in his journal.

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19  d20+8=28 ;
Friday February 2nd, 2024 10:00:45 PM
"Did everyone in town know about this except us?"

Piles of paperwork do not appeal, Colt goes looking for something, anything more interesting. He takes a stroll and goes over to the curtained rooms .

[ooc] Perception 28 [/ooc]

Grim Ripr 4th (Kim for JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Sunday February 4th, 2024 3:28:39 AM

Grim comments, "If Rothlorien didn't know about it, then Cloudhaven may not be as innocent as it seems and if Rothlorien knew about it, Cloudhaven may not be as innocent as it seems."


Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Sunday February 4th, 2024 8:22:01 AM
Deception is afoot!

Marest thinks about some ideas that are swirling inside her head, given these new revelations.

"Did Maya bring to the council an offer Cloudhaven could not pass up?",

"What were the conditions & prices offered for the souls of Cloudhaven?",

"What was the breaking point that pushed Maya to unleash her experiments onto the town?"

Marest offers aloud to everyone in the group in a slightly audible tone so not as to bring the Ghost Council to ire.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Sunday February 4th, 2024 6:33:12 PM
Monstrologer

"Secondly, what place would tolerate a reclusive, people-hating, anti-socialite? What were the conditions the Monstrologer offered the Council to make this all worth while?" asks Marest to her friends enforcing her 1st point with the second one.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Sunday February 4th, 2024 11:26:34 PM

"So, Grim, whether Rothlorian knew or did not know about this laboratory complex, 'Cloudhaven may not be as innocent as it seems'? Is that a non-sequitur?" the elf asks the half orc. "How does innocence or lack thereof follow at all from what you said? Are you certain you are not leaving something out of your unlinked chain of reasoning?"

She responds to Marest. "Several questions. Not enough background yet to know the answers. We must go deeper - and see if the journals may provide greater insight. I think the town leaders here want us to come to understand - and likely take further steps once we do have a better picture."

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Monday February 5th, 2024 8:22:45 AM
"What if the facility was meant for something else, perhaps simply training thunder lizzies, but the monster lady had a different agenda. The council might have learned about her experiments and tries to shut her down, only for her to unleash her thunder monsters on the facility and then Cloudhaven."

Co-GM Ryan M - Welcome To The Facility - Map and Documents Here 
Monday February 5th, 2024 10:52:55 AM
Your experience in the town tells you that much of the council spent time outside of the settlement as did the mayor. They found much of the supplies needed for the town and, as you now know, the facility. The mayor also was often taken out of town on other business so it would have been easy to lose track of where they were unless someone was taking special care to track them.

Reading the notes and what not you find it is clear that the longer time residents or those with more experience (higher levels) were involved in the facility. It does not appear there was bad intention as there are a few scattered mentions of protecting the town and worries about keeping information from competitors.

The five figures remain where they are as you search, checking the larger sections of spaces it is easy to find the mayors as it is the biggest and fanciest room and several of the things inside are marked as ‘property of Ellie Clayhanger’. The furniture is exceptionally well crafted showing wealth and simple tastes. The thing that catches the eye the most is a large bookshelf filled with books and journals. Those near the top are rougher and worn, most likely from her time as an adventure given the wear and tear. One even looks like it survived a fire blast at some point in its life. Further on the books get newer and are of better quality ending with some smooth leather tomes with pictures of the mayor in various scenes on the covers.

Looking through the books will give various tales of Ellie Clayhanger’s life as an adventure along with the rest of the town council. It is clear they did a lot before settling in Cloudhaven.

Thee is also a journal on the table that appears old and you can see its empty spot near the top of the shelf. A quick glance tells that it is her account of an early adventure that involved some mishaps with something she calls a gelatinous cube that sounds clearly terrifying if you just walk into it.

{ooc: Those searching the volumes need to make a perception check to find anything useful in all the note.}


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy)  d20+5=18 ;
Monday February 5th, 2024 10:59:32 AM
Figuring she might as well make herself comfortable, Dapple sits on the mayor's bed while searching through the journals.

"You'd think," she says thoughtfully, "they'd have worn some sort of path, going back and forth between the town and the facility. Did we see anything like that?"

[Perception 18]

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Monday February 5th, 2024 2:10:18 PM
Kaze looks up from his perusing, "Tunnels. Is there any mention of tunnels? That would be one way to get here without being seen."

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Monday February 5th, 2024 9:53:00 PM
Colt nods , happy to have anyone, even Ezekial agree with his line of thought. Ezekial might be half crazy, but he's also pretty smart.

"These papers aren't going anywhere. Let's check the rest of the facility."

[ooc] 16 and not a fan of paperwork. Dare we split the party? [/ooc]



Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0  d20=18 ;
Monday February 5th, 2024 11:38:11 PM
((Perception 18+6=24))

Siolo continues going through the papers looking for any sign of Maya or other unexpected people.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  d20+13=28 ; d20+13=32 ; d20+13=22 ; d20+13=30 ; d20+14=34 ; d20+14=21 ; d20+14=28 ; d20+14=18 ;
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 3:48:40 AM

"Dapple - pathways, eh? There might be," Yofiel agrees. "I know I've seen animal trails here and there. Once we get close to this place, there are lots of stones and such - tougher to track. Maybe we can try and discern what you're talking about on the way back, or some other time."

"Kaze, you may be right. There are tunnels under Cloudhaven. Some of us have gone through some of them. Colt likely knows them better than any of us. I really have no idea how far they extend. Some squish down pretty small."

Yofiel says, "I'm all for exploring further down, Colt. Tell you what. Give some of us readers about half an hour to skim through these papers and books. Here are some apples, carrots, bread, cheese, cold cuts, and a little jar of honey. Have a snack, then let's take off after the time I mentioned. Sound all right?"

The bard takes time to skim through four of the journals, about seven minutes each allocated - unless something really juicy shows up. She takes two written by Ellie, and two written by others.
1st: Perception: 28
2nd: 32
3rd: 22
4th: 30

If needed: Knowledge, history: 34 (nat 20)
Knowledge, local: 21
Knowledge, arcane: 28
Knowledge, nature: 18

Grim Ripr 4th (Kim for JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 3:54:44 AM

Grim answers Yofiel rather casually that the diary they found clearly indicated Maya was directly involved with 'a' facility and by the description of a Greater Thunder God guarding it, they are at the correct one. "Monstrologer in charge of cavern complex - town leaders actively involved with the cavern complex = Cloudhaven a cover for a secret Monstrologer base." "A perfect setup. Maya didn't care about the town, using it as an expendable test for her creations and the town leaders should have known better!"

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d8=3 ; d20+9=27 ; d3=1 ; d20+9=27 ; d20+9=26 ; d20+9=25 ; d20+9=17 ; d20+9=28 ; d20+9=21 ; d20+9=24 ; d20+9=18 ; d20+9=10 ;
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 7:07:04 AM
The Mayor's Room

{OOC: I have Bronchitis & sinusitis, was in bed most of the day when I was at the Doctor. Please ignore the d3 roll - phat fingered the mouse.}

Marest joins the search, for specific information that will fill in the story we don't or haven't already surmised.

Marest reaches for volumes from the timeline of the Mayor's journey, that hasn't already been removed from the books shelf, from the beginning, the middle, & the end of her adventuring before the start of the town. She is looking for keywords that might understand he background as an adventurer, her knowledge level, her experience, as well as anything skills she has that would augment her own knowledge skills.

Skill Checks:

Knowl (Arcana) (1d20+9) = 27
Knowl (Dungeoneering) (1d20+9) = 27
Knowl (Engineering) (1d20+9) = 26
Knowl (Geography) (1d20+9) = 25
Knowl (History) (1d20+9) = 17
Knowl (Local) (1d20+9) = 28
Knowl (Nature) (1d20+9) = 21
Knowl (Nobility) (1d20+9) = 24
Knowl (Religion) (1d20+9) = 18
Knowl (The Planes) (1d20+9) = (NAT 1) 10

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=19 ; d3=2 ; d20+9=29 ; d20+9=10 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=19 ; d20+9=28 ; d20+9=24 ; d20+9=10 ; d20+9=28 ; d20+9=12 ;
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 7:12:36 AM
The Mayor's Room

Once Marest has finished her specific search of the Mayor's Bookshelf search for the information or keywords to fill in the missing information, she turns her attention to the search for specific information regarding Maya the Monstrologer and the Facility and in relations to the founding of the town "CloudHaven".

Skill Checks:

Knowl (Arcana) (1d20+9) = 19
Knowl (Dungeoneering) (1d20+9) = 29 {NAT 20}
Knowl (Engineering) (1d20+9) = 10
Knowl (Geography) (1d20+9) = 23
Knowl (History) (1d20+9) = 19
Knowl (Local) (1d20+9) = 28
Knowl (Nature) (1d20+9) = 24
Knowl (Nobility) (1d20+9) = 10
Knowl (Religion) (1d20+9) = 28
Knowl (The Planes) (1d20+9) = 12

Gm Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 9:40:33 AM
Dapple, Kaze, and Yofiel speculate about paths from the town to the facility.

Colt is impatient to continue exploring. Yofiel offers him snacks as a bribe to wait for those who want to read through the journals.

Siolo looks through paper. On a dresser, he finds a note that reads “Feel free borrow one of my journals to read of my past adventures, but make sure to return them intact!”

Grim is certain that Maya was using the town as a cover for her experiments.

Dapple, Yofiel, and Marest read through the journals.

The first three journal recounts Ellie’s adventures defeating terrible monsters and beasts. As you scan through, some names catch your attention-- Silvyr Norro, Oznif Moonface, Shanaera Wysagella, and Taim Crowsky. --the members of the town council, who were clearly powerful fighters and magic-users before taking on the administration of Cloudhaven.

The fourth journal focuses on their decision to found Cloudhaven, detailing the planning and defenses of the town, as well as trading operations. Most of it is pretty boring, but, about half way through the journal, one passage catches your attention:

“Taim was right. There is a way to the ground from up here. I was sure he was talking nonsense when he said there had to be a way up for the non-flying animals and plants to have taken root here, I mean we live in a land of gods and wizards so there’s a dozen other ways a breeding population could have gotten up here but I’ve never been one to refuse to admit when I’m wrong. It’s a cavern complex, long collapsed at several points, but it would make a really convenient space to expand our operations if we ever needed to. Between Oznif and I we could clear it out fairly easily.”


In much of the rest of the journal, Ellie vents her frustration about competitors moving in an attempt to challenge Cloudhaven's regional dominance of trade. But toward the end of the journal, another passage jumps out at you:

“I’m thinking about starting a new venture. Exotic pets have become a whole thing among the rich. The main competitor getting people killed is offering money for captured dinosaurs. It’s a lot of money for the average person or even a relatively fresh faced adventurer, the kind just experienced enough to feel confident in their skills but not experienced enough to deal with a passing Trex. Not only is it getting people killed here, most of the time any captured animal is on deaths door from the beating taken to capture it and makes a short lived pet. No doubt the man behind the scenes think’s that’s a perk not a problem. We’ll show him. Or her. Whoever.”


OOC You have spent about 50 minutes skimming at this point and have gotten through four of the five journals. There is one left to investigate. If you would like to continue reading, please make another perception check.


Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  d20+13=17 ;
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 11:38:03 AM

"Well, I cannot gainsay you on that, Grim," she responds to her strong friend.

Yofiel begins to scan through the 5th journal, but finds that her high rate of skimming is beginning to make her eyes tired. "Here, how about if one of you take this last one," she suggests to Dapple and Marest. "I'm going to eat a bit, and you let us know what you find."

She does share with the rest of the group the two salient passages from the 4th tome. "The ladies are going through the 5th journal now. It being the last written, the mayor's writings should help bring us up to date on the most recent events here."

As she munches on a carrot, she adds, "When we have more time, and no worries about dealing with a sleeping T-Rex at the doorway, I would like to read through all five tomes at a more leisurely pace. Ellie Clayhanger has a nice writing style, which should make the task more palatable."

She adds, before putting the last bit of carrot in her mouth, "When I was a child, one time I ate so large a number of carrots that my skin began turning sallow. It only lasted about a day, though."

=============
Perception: 17

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy)  d20+5=14 ;
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 11:45:27 AM
"Exotic pets?" Dapple repeats in disbelief. "People with too much money tempting people with too little sense. Wardd take 'em all."

She tries to focus on the remaining journal, but fatigue is starting to make itself felt. [Perception 14]


Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 1:18:51 PM
"What kind of idiot sees a business model where everyone ends up getting killed and thinks to themselves 'now there's a good idea'? Although she did say there was quite a bit of money in it....:



Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 3:02:51 PM
Kaze looks disgusted, and turns to Ezekiel "Those who value gold above the lives of others."

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 6:08:22 PM
"Yes, right, it is totally wrong."

"Did she say how much money?"

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 9:01:00 PM
"Apples! And honey. I can wait with these. You want I should cut the bread and spread some honey on it for everyone? "

Colt finds Yofiel's proposal most acceptable.

***
"So what exactly was their plan? Were they going to breed nice dinosaurs?"

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0  d20=5 ;
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 11:15:16 PM
Siolo accepts Yofiel's request and looks over the last book. He is grateful that they had not discovered any malicious motivations within their findings.

((Perception 5+11=16))

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19  d20+8=16 ;
Tuesday February 6th, 2024 11:45:20 PM
OOC: I'm back. Thanks for filling in for me. A good job.

IC: Grim listens on the quick narrations of the journals while keeping a look out for the 'unusual'. Where some find the findings disgusting, Grim finds it Devine Justice. [b]"Monstrologers and Great Beast Hunters are the Great One's two most hated creatures. So these founders were not directly involved with the purposeful torture of The Great One's creatures by monstrous experimentations, they were involved in capturing Thunder Gods for sport. I feel no sympathy for them. That would explain The Great One's judgement against them here, but not Cloudhaven's inhabitants that had nothing to do with this cruel place."

Perception + 8 = 16

OOC: for reference, see Cthonia in the Woldipedia, stated from Grim's tribe's perspective.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  d20+13=17 ; d20+13=32 ; d20+13=20 ; d20+13=29 ; d20+13=28 ;
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 1:39:51 AM
"Surely, Colt, cut the bread and spread the honey," the bard encourages him in his suggestion.

"'Nice' dinosaurs?" Yofi echoes Colt's surmise. "Hmm... don't know. Tractable dinosaurs, maybe.

"Marest, it falls to you. What gem might you pull from the text?"

The elf listens to the orc-inspired perspectives of Grim.

"The Monstrologers, I can largely concur with you, and especially as Maya is concerned. I have heard there are a few monstrologers who do not approach her level of total, or near-total lack of empathy for people. Regarding the folks who worked here, though, Grim, I do not feel I have enough context, enough understanding, to sit in judgment of their moral character. There are pieces of this story that evidence a lack of anticipation or discernment of possible infelicitous outcomes. Perhaps we choose for the time being to let the story play out before issuing blanket condemnations? And, meanwhile, examine our own acts, attitudes, and consciences as we live and work through the life of adventure?"

She waits for Marest to examine the text. If she comes up with a valuable insight, the bard asks if the group would like to move on to the kitchen level.

If Marest does not seem to find anything of particular insight, then Yofiel takes a few minutes to get her blood stirring. 40 squats, 20 lunges, 15 push-ups, followed by a few stretches, and ten deep inhalations and exhalations.

"All right, I'm going to take another crack at it." She starts at the midpoint of the book, and reads about 20 or so pages. (Percept=17). Onward another couple dozen (P=32). Another two dozen. (P=20). Another set. (P=29). Then she skims forward from that point to the end of the text (P=28).

Whatever she finds most pertinent, most useful in providing insight, she reads aloud or summarizes to the group.

"And I see all the food has been enjoyed." She looks around. "Just where did people go potty down here?"

Gm Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 9:43:54 AM
Yofiel is tired of reading and takes a break, chatting and munching on a carrot. She and Grim debate whether or not the people of the facility were deserving of their fate. After a rest and some exercises, she resumes reading.

Dapple, Ezekiel, and Kaze discuss the ethics, folly, and potential profits of selling dinosaurs as “exotic pets.”

Colt is happy with his snack and offers to prepare some bread and honey for the group while they wait.

Siolo helps skim the final journal.

Yofiel, Siolo, and Dapple take note of an entry about a third of the way through the fifth journal:

“First dinosaur sold today. Mixed results. Taim was able to train it some, but it’s still a wild animal and prone to acting like one. Customer was happy, but almost lost fingers because he wanted to treat it like it was a new dog. Made sure he had some hired help who knew what they were doing and taught them how to properly care for them. We’ll need more work and hands to make this work long term, probably should keep it separate from Cloudhaven’s main operation. While the core group is able to handle almost any dinosaur it’d make the townsfolk nervous, and with good reason. Too many past towns have fallen to the local dangers. We’ll set up in the tunnels we found, keep the dinosaurs at the bottom and layers of security on top. Best to keep it quiet to prevent a panic.”


The final entry of the journal also catches your eye:

“Construction has started on our dinosaur facility. By which I mean I spread it around that I was going on a business trip and spent the last week using magic to open up and expand things. Shanaera outdid herself designing this place. It should hold most anything we care to capture until it can be trained. Probably best to teleport the product straight to market, this isn’t like spice where you ship caravans of the stuff we’ll probably only make a sale or two a month and that’s better then trying to ship a Trex or pack of predators through the jungle. We’ll need a proper druid to make sure everything goes smoothly. They mostly don’t care for coin so might have to search hard to find one willing to come out here and help.”


Although this appears to be the most recent journal in the room, you notice that the last entry is dated from over two and a half years ago.


Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 10:09:35 AM
Ezekiel holds up four fingers.

"Two points: 'One: Cloudhaven main operation' sugggestd that the exotic pet thing was a side hassle. B..., no, two: this Shanaera, whoever she is, didn't design this place well enough. And three, or C, or three little i's in parantheses, they clearly should have kept looking forn another druid."
,

.

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 10:25:28 AM
Kaze shakes his head and looks at Grim, "You were right. The people here were monsters and they lost their lives to greed and exploitation. Though I'm wary of it, we need to continue to the bottom to make sure nothing is still locked or penned up. There's been enough death to suit me for a long time."

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 12:13:36 PM
Dapple lays the journal aside with a little frown. "I wonder if there's a more recent journal elsewhere," she muses. "Maybe back at Cloudhaven?"

She agrees with Kaze's suggestion that they continue exploring. Unfortunately, any dinos still penned up would likely have starved to death by now, but there may be more clues down there.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 1:58:56 PM

Yofiel has a sad countenance as she finishes the 5th book. After a moment, she says, "It may be a challenge to find. Perhaps Maya took it. But I hope we can locate the sixth journal in due course. Meanwhile, let us take these journals. The rest of the library also is of worth. I can take 3 journals in my haversack." She places #3, 4 & 5 in said container. "Can someone fit the first two among their gear?" she asks.

The elf puts her haversack back on her shoulders, again places the nock of an arrow snug against the bowstring, and asks the group, "Shall we now descend to the kitchen?"

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+5=17 ;
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 8:03:09 PM
Druid for Hire

Marest chimes in, "What if they found their Druid for Hire in the form of Maya? It is quite possible that this is what happened and because Monstroglers are reclusive, people-hating anti-socialites, is it quite possible Maya killed everyone in this side hustle and took it for herself?!" (Intelligence check = 17)

"But, perhaps we will find what we are looking for to fill in the gaps in the lower areas?" Marest says and she follows everyone else.

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 9:11:41 PM
Siolo's face wrinkles in thought. He was torn. Living in harmony with this nature would require something a little extra. Attempting to domesticate some of the saurs for defense wouldn't be wrong. But, attempting to domesticate for wealthy people to have a unique pet, that goes too far.

As Siolo thinks, he reaches into a belt pouch and pulls out one of his enhanced berries. He then easily eats it, continuing with his thoughts.

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Wednesday February 7th, 2024 11:03:48 PM
Grim agrees with Marest. "Maya certainly had similar abilities to druids. Easily running through the jungle, using a tree to teleport out, are things I think I've heard mention druids can do."

He continues but looking at Yofiel, "I don't see an issue in taking a Thunder God to tame and train for personal use. The lift was one example. Training a Thunder God to help harvest fruit from top of trees would be another. But these adventurers who founded Cloudhaven were capturing and attempting to train Thunder Gods for other people's entertainment, not to a farmer who needed a hefty animal to plow his field or pull his cart of goods to market. There's a difference. Maybe they didn't deserve to die, but keeping all this hidden from town meant they knew it wasn't keeping in good faith to the town, and then hire a Monstrologer to train the Thunder Gods? Well... he shrugs.

He's ready to continue exploring, those sleep-berries won't last forever and he'd rather exit the cave complex on top rater than on the forest floor and tramp all the way back to the lift.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Thursday February 8th, 2024 3:01:18 AM

"Ezekiel, Shanaera was the town planner. Second from the right as the group stood. She's an elf.
Shanaera Wysagella. Remember, their names are Silvyr, Oznif, Ellie, Shanaera, and Taim," the bard patiently explains.

Yofiel nods at some of what Marest says, listens to Grim, and shrugs along with him as he concludes his evaluations, nodding in general agreement.

"As Marest suggests," she says, "let's head below, and fill in the gaps." She begins walking toward the doorway down. If the five ghostly readers are there, she says, "We have read some of what you wrote," nodding toward Mayor Ellie. "We did not see the sixth journal. For now, we will descend further. Thank you for revealing what you could of what occurred. I shall pray for you. If you are willing, pray for us."

And, unless they have some reply that would dissuade her group further, she continues on to the doorway.

Gm Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Thursday February 8th, 2024 9:56:54 AM
Ezekiel deduces that the dinopets was a side hustle, not an official part of Cloudhaven business, and that Maya was the druid the council eventually hired to help train the dinosaurs.

Kaze agrees with Grim’s assessment of the moral fiber (or lack thereof) of the people of Cloudhaven.

Dapple wonders where the rest of the journals are.

Marest suggests that Maya betrayed the council, killing them to take over the operation.

Siolo and Grim agree that training dinosaurs for useful labor is permissible but not just so that they can be vanity pets.

Yofiel packs up journals #3, #4, and #5, and suggests that the party continue their descent. She speaks with the ghostly members of the council.

You leave Ellie’s room and a faintly glowing female spirit silently passes by you. She pays you no mind, as she continues to go about whatever task occupied her when alive.

The spirits of Ellie Clayhanger, Silvyr Norro, Oznif Moonface, Shanaera Wysagella, and Taim Crowsky are still clustered at the end of the hall, the pale greenish light emanating softly from them.

A brief flash of a memory: Ellie finishing up an entry in her journal in the dining hall. Her friends around her. Eating. Drinking. Laughing. Then bloodshed. Screaming. Death. A triceratops goring Oznif. A raptor eviscerating Taim. Death. Everywhere. Inescapable.

You feel a powerful wave of shame, sadness, regret, and resolve.

The ghostly members of the council do not move from their post. Yofiel attempts to walk past them to the door, but there seems to be an invisible barrier preventing you from reaching it.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Thursday February 8th, 2024 11:38:05 AM
Dapple sighs. "So I'll bet that last journal, the one she was writing in when the attacks started, is probably in a zillion pieces by now. And the ghosts over there seem to want something, but I don't know what it is."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  d20+13=15 ;
Thursday February 8th, 2024 1:28:20 PM

Yofiel nods to The Five when she encounters the invisible barrier against her reaching the door. "This is tragic on so many levels. Would that we knew how to help you. If you can give us a clear idea of what you would have us do, we will listen. If not, we shall guess, and try to puzzle through this, on your behalf, and on behalf of Cloudhaven and its murky future. Maya is out there somewhere, using her pets to carry out destruction. We want to stop her. We want to pull whatever light we can out of this darkness. I will confer with my friends, we will, as I said, try to puzzle this out. If you figure out how to give us direction or hints, we are all ears."

Just in case some of her friends can't figure out what happened, she relates she hit a barrier she cannot see.

"Could be in a zillion pieces, or could have been swallowed by a 'saur," the elf replies to the halfling. "Or, it could be buried somewhere in this mess. Shall we go on a search in the area, figure out if we can find the journal, or remnants thereof?

"Anybody else have any ideas?"

She checks under the table for the book, or loose pages. Perception: 15.

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7  Perception: d20+9=14 ; Spellcraft: d20+6=19 ;
Thursday February 8th, 2024 8:18:05 PM
Kaze walks up close to the "Five." Are they gathered around something that may be holding them in this place?

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=29 ; d20+9=27 ; d20+9=14 ; d20+9=10 ; d20+4=22 ; d20+9=11 ;
Thursday February 8th, 2024 8:32:38 PM
Dinner Massacre

Marest wonders, "if it was just two 'Saurs that did them in?" She then begins to search for the missing Journal or Journal pages, and perhaps puzzle out what happened.

Skill Checks:
Perception: (1d20+9) = 29 (NAT 20), 27, 14, 10
Survival: (1d20+4) = 22
Knowl (Dungeoneering): (1d20+9) = 11

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19  d20+8=10 ;
Thursday February 8th, 2024 8:53:54 PM
[ooc] Didn't see anyone else take the first 2 journals, apologies if I missed it. Colt will happily agree to take the two books in his pack. [/ooc]

" A barrier you can't see?" Colt steps forward with outstretched arm to experience the barrier for himself. If he doesn't encounter the wall he goes to the door and opens it. If he encounters the invisible barrier he does the mime in a glass box thing for a few moments.

In either case he returns to help Yofiel, et al, search the area.

[ooc] Wow 10 perception. [/ooc]

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Thursday February 8th, 2024 9:48:42 PM
"Whenever I loose something, I try to think about the last place I remember seeing it, so we have to ask ourself, where was the last place we remember seeing that journal."

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Friday February 9th, 2024 12:26:21 AM
Grim's natural inclination would be to bully them aside, but phantoms, ghost, apparitions and such don't scare.

"If it is a magical barrier, maybe magic can bring it down. It it's some undead power, maybe some banish undead magic would push them aside. Maya may have put up the barrier to keep snoopers like us from bothering her newly acquired laboratory."

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Friday February 9th, 2024 9:32:43 AM
Dapple is worried that the last journal has been destroyed.

Kaze ponders if there is a reason why the council members are clustered in front of the door.

Marest wonders how many dinosaurs were involved in the masacre.

Colt , also stopped by the invisible barrier, takes up miming.

Ezekiel tries to remember the last place he saw the journal. For some reason, he is unsuccessful.

Gim wonders if magic might be the answer to removing the barrier.

Yofiel , with the help of the others, looks for the journal, but don’t find it. She assures the ghosts that the party wants to stop Maya and help Cloudhaven.

A vision floods your senses. It is vivid, intense, and fear from it seeps into you:
Ellie cowers behind a table. She is covered in blood. Tears stream down her face. Her breathing is uneven, panicked, sobbing gasps. She puts her mace down beside her and, with shaking hands, pulls out her journal. She fumbles to open it to a blank page. Fingers smear the book with blood, staining the white of the pager. Her writing is a messy scrawl, barely legible.

“If you’re reading this. We’re sorry. We didn’t know. Made a terrible mistake. Labs. Experiments. Dangerous. Can’t fall into the wrong hands. You must b—“

An allosaurus rears up from behind the table, its sharp teeth sinking into Ellie’s shoulder and neck. She just manages to drop the journal before there is a scream and a sickening crunch.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Friday February 9th, 2024 11:29:59 AM
Dapple turns toward the ghost of Ellie. "How awful!" she says. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. To all of you."

Clerics of Wardd aren't known for their piety, but Dapple tries to think of some spell or ceremony she can use to lay the dead to rest.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=23 ; d20+12=18 ; d20+12=17 ; d20+12=25 ; d20+9=19 ; d20+6=22 ;
Friday February 9th, 2024 1:52:42 PM
The After Math

Marest moves to the invisible barrier and tries to discover what it is and how it maybe manipulated. She first looks in the surrounding environment/area to discover dimensions, where the barrier meets the ground and the cave sides to see if its flush with the environment and just is to stop progression forward.

Marest asks her friends, "Does everyone have detect magic to validate this barrier as a magic construct?" Marest will spend 3 rounds to determine the properties of this barrier.

She then tries to attempt to disable the device if that is what it is.

Skill Checks:
Perception: (1d20+9) = 23
Spellcraft: (1d20+ 12) = 18 , 17, & 25
Knowl (Dungeoneering): (1d20+9) = 19
Disable Device = : (1d20+6) = 22

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Friday February 9th, 2024 9:35:21 PM
Kaze shakes his head. "The room that lady was in. Is it here or somewhere in Culverwood?"

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Friday February 9th, 2024 10:35:31 PM
Colt returns to the council of shades. "Nod if i get it right. Shake your head for no. Is the invisible wall your doing? Is it Maya's? Is there another way down? "

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0  d20=5 ;
Friday February 9th, 2024 11:35:48 PM
((Perception 5+11=16))

Siolo shakes his head back to reality as the vision ends. He is stunned for a moment as the feelings from the vision abate. Once he is fully himself once more, he looks around with a purpose. "I'm going to look to see if that occurred around here."

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19  d20+8=19 ;
Saturday February 10th, 2024 2:01:05 AM
It is hard for Grim to feel sorry for the five. If the town had turned to The Great One when founded, this would not have happened, but there was no one there to show the The Way. Despite that, though, Greed for money brought this on, and that's hard to excuse with 'We didn't Know'.

"Mess with the Devil, you get burned. Mess with Monstrologers, you get eaten," he says, facing the five.

Grim waits for any Detect Magic results.

Perception +8 (watch for danger) = 19

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 


Saturday February 10th, 2024 10:28:45 AM
Dapple feels sympathy for the council members and wonders if they can be put to rest.

Marest investigates the barrier. It reaches from floor to ceiling, and is flush against the wall. It completely covers the end of the hallway, including the door. There does not appear to be any way to disable it. The wall is invisible, made up of a force that resists any attempts to pass through it.

Kaze wonders about the room in the vision. From what you could see in the vision, the room was cavern-like: rough stone walls, stone floor, a damp coolness similar to the feel of this level of the enclosure. There were long wooden tables where people, including the council members, were eating when the attack occurred. For those of you who have spent time in Cloudhaven, this room does not look familiar.

Siolo looks around. But doesn’t see any spaces in the area where this attack could have occurred.

Grim chastises the council members, telling them that they are to blame. In response, you feel a wave of shame and regret. You do not spot any danger.

Colt asks the council some questions:
“Is the invisible wall your doing?” The council members nod.
“Is it Maya's?” They shake their heads.
Is there another way down? They shake their heads.

The council members seem receptive to your questions. You get a feeling of determination and resolve as you answer them.


Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Saturday February 10th, 2024 7:18:30 PM
In Grim's world, such tribe members that caused such death and destruction to the tribe would be ostracized, their memory a permanent shame to their clan, their clan living in shame (if any survived) for many generations.

Since these spirits are not mere phantoms doomed to repeat a single action until doomsday, and have demonstrated some sentience, he responds to the sense of shame and regret while the others try to figure out a way through the invisible force wall.

"Death is the payment for your crime, but if you want to amend your error and regain some honor, you will have to drop this wall and let us through. We can always take the long way around to the jungle floor entrance and come up that way, but by doing that, you all here will be forever an enemy to Cloudhaven, even if only in memory. Drop this wall and let us through, we will tell your story to Cloudhaven with the regret and sorrow you seem to show here. It's up to you how you want Cloudhaven to remember you."

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Saturday February 10th, 2024 11:52:38 PM
"Grim's pretty, well, grim, but he's got a point. You need us to get to Maya, and we need to see the rest of this place. We know we're not ready to face a T-rex in a fight, but we intend to stop Maya. So why don't you let us go by?"

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Sunday February 11th, 2024 10:49:34 AM
Siolo notices Colt's breakthrough in communication. "Is there something here that you want us to find?"

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Sunday February 11th, 2024 11:57:44 PM

"Ellie, the allosaurus attacked you in an area below this one, right? Nod your head if my statement is correct. Shake your head no if I am mistaken." If yes: "Was is on the kitchen level?" If no: "Was is on the labs level?" If no: "Was it on the cages level?"

To the Five. "Is there great danger on the kitchen level?" If yes: "Do we need something we can find on this level to deal with that danger?" If yes, then she will construct a series of questions dealing with the layout of the area, and seek to narrow down the range in which to look. If no: "Will passing your barrier cause further harm to the survivors of Cloudhaven?" She awaits those answers.

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Monday February 12th, 2024 11:19:12 AM
"Are you waiting for us to do something before we pass?" Dapple adds to the questions.

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31  d20+10=11 ; d20+10=26 ;
Monday February 12th, 2024 1:05:43 PM
"Oh yeah, I'm the magic guy," says Ezekiel.

He casts detect magic on the barrier.

Spellcraft: 11.

Ignore second roll.



Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Monday February 12th, 2024 6:08:41 PM
Kaze watches his new friends talk to the ghosts. "Grim has it right. While you five had a hand in this, we can help make the people left in Cloudhaven see that you were just trying to protect them and the region. Somehow we need to continue in finding this Maya lady, and stopping her before she does something worse."

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=29 ; d20+9=28 ; d20+9=10 ; d20+9=25 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=11 ; d20+9=24 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=16 ;
Monday February 12th, 2024 8:36:03 PM
Something Speculative this way...

Marest, watching her friends decipher what has happened is fascinated at the process they have come up with. Watching, Ms, Yofiel, Marest picks up the jist of how to communicate with the Dead Five.

Waiting her turn, Marest closes the distance between herself and the Ghosts, proceeding to engage them with her set of questions:

"Nod your head if my statement is correct. Shake your head if I am mistaken, please. I have a few questions, that perhaps you can lend clarity to...they are:

1) Was the Barrier enacted to stop the Dinos from reaching the plateau?
2) Was the Barrier enacted to stop the Monstrologer?
3) Do you think the barrier was successful?

"

Marest using the knowledge skills will think about the answers she receives from the Ghosts and what she over heads them answering her friends through the lens of her skill set.

Skill Checks:
Knowl (Arcana) = (1d20+9) = 29 {NAT 20}
Knowl (Dungeoneering) = (1d20+9) = 28
Knowl (Engineering) = (1d20+9) = 10 {NAT 1}
Knowl (Geography) = (1d20+9) = 25
Knowl (History) = (1d20+9) = 23
Knowl (Local) = (1d20+9) = 23
Knowl (Nature) = (1d20+9) = 11
Knowl (Nobility) = (1d20+9) = 24
Knowl (Religion) = (1d20+9) = 23
Knowl (The Planes) = (1d20+9) = 16


Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 7:10:36 AM
Colt watches the interactions with the ghosts. Their barrier seems to be a case of closing the breakwater gates after the storm has smashed all your boats.

[ooc] I'm loving the background and mystery here. Colt just wants to see the next rooms. [/ooc]

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 9:58:52 AM
Grim tells the ghosts that they can regain some of their honor if they allow the party to pass; otherwise, their shame will haunt their memories.

Colt requests that the ghosts allow the party to pass. They sadly shake their heads in response.

Kaze also tried to reason with the shades, telling them that the party is trying to right some of the damage done to Cloudhaven and to make sure that no more occurs. At the mention of stopping Maya and helping Cloudhaven, you set a feeling of hope from the shades.

Ezekiel casts Detect Magic. He sees strong magical auras around the shades and the wall. The magic seems to be connected--the shades challenging their magical energy into the invisible wall.

The party asks the following questions and receives responses from the ghostly figures.

Siolo asks, Is there something here that you want us to find? The ghosts shake their heads in an adamant ‘no.’

Yofiel asks, Ellie, the allosaurus attacked you in an area below this one, right? The ghost of Ellie nods her head.

Was it on the kitchen level? She nods her head again.

Is there great danger on the kitchen level? The shades are noncommittal in their response.

Do we need something we can find on this level to deal with that danger? They shake their heads.

Will passing your barrier cause further harm to the survivors of Cloudhaven? They nod. The vision of Ellie--blood soaked, panicked, hiding--fills your mind. You once again see what she has written in her journal, “If you’re reading this. We’re sorry. We didn’t know. Made a terrible mistake. Labs. Experiments. Dangerous. Can’t fall into the wrong hands. You must b—“

Dapple Are you waiting for us to do something before we pass? The shades shake their heads.

Marest asks Was the Barrier enacted to stop the Dinos from reaching the plateau? The shades shake their heads. A feeling of guilt a sadness drifts from them.

Was the Barrier enacted to stop the Monstrologer? A slight, noncommittal nod that suggests that might be part, but not all of the story.

Do you think the barrier was successful? Again, the shades are noncommittal.

Despite your questions and attempts to convince the shades to allow you to pass, the wall stays in place and they do not move from their position in front of the door.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 10:35:53 AM
Dapple rubs her temples. "Well," she says. "Either they're stuck here, with the barrier still drawing whatever energy they have, or they don't think we can handle whatever's down there."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 11:23:54 AM

To the Five, Yofiel says, "So, you have erected the barrier to keep Ellie's journal out of the wrong hands? Yes, or no?"

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 4:49:02 PM
Something More Speculative...

Marest, continues to communicate with the Dead Five using the same protocols established earlier:

" Without the barrier, are you able to reach the bottom of the plateau aka the Jungle through the Cage area from here? "

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 5:13:16 PM
"Ah! There I some kind of magical barrier here that is hidden from sght," says Ezekiel. "Also their our spirits or ghosts here. The magic are connected!"

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 9:22:35 PM
Colt perks up at Marest's question. If the answer is yes, we can fake defeat and try again starting at the bottom.

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 10:26:03 PM
Kaze feels excited when the ghosts appear to be willing to help the party. But that turns to confusion as nothing seems to happen

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Tuesday February 13th, 2024 10:43:02 PM
Siolo awaits the apparitions to answer the questions of his allies. He hopes that his allies will figure out the best next steps.

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 12:36:23 AM
Grim hefts his falchion, swing it back and forth a couple of times, then states plainly, "I think we are done here. If they guard the last journal against possible use from Maya or any other Monstrologer, that's fine with me. We've found our mystery, time to go. Once Maya is dealt with and the Monstrologer threat no more, we can come back and give the news, for which they may let us through. But what do you plan to do with the last journal? It's not going to lead us to Maya."

He then looks at Colt and asks, "How do we know they can't just leave this door and go to the other and do the same thing?" and shrugs. He's ready to head back out.

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 9:33:22 AM
Dapple speculates about the reasons why the spirits refuse to bring down their wall.

Marest asks, Without the barrier, are you able to reach the bottom of the plateau aka the Jungle through the Cage area from here? The spirits shake their heads.

Colt considers ways that they could circumvent the spirits.

Siolo waits for the spirits to respond to others.

Gim expresses his frustration with the situation. His focus is on Maya.

Ezekiel shares his magically-informed discoveries with the rest of the group.

Yofiel asks, So, you have erected the barrier to keep Ellie's journal out of the wrong hands? The spirits mournfully shake their heads.

A vision overwhelms you, the images hitting you in rapid succession. A flash of a lab full of dinosaurs in overcrowded cages. Equipment. Notes about the ways that the dinosaurs have been enhanced. A campfire. Ellie’s notebook, her final works, “If you’re reading this. We’re sorry. We didn’t know. Made a terrible mistake. Labs. Experiments. Dangerous. Can’t fall into the wrong hands. You must b—“


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 10:58:05 AM
Dapple turns to the Five. "Could you remove the barrier if you chose to?" she asks.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 4:04:09 PM

Yofiel writes down Ellie's final words in her journal.

Then she asks more.

"Did the last journal then fall into Maya's hands already?"

"Should the labs be cleaned out?"

"Should the cages be cleared of anything still remaining?"

"Can we trust Rothlorian?"

"Did you trust him?"

Yofiel trusts Rothlorian, but wants to get their take.

Also, in the vision, she pays particular attention to "Notes about ways that the dinosaurs have been enhanced." As it's likely the party will meet the results of such enhancements, she wants to be as forewarned as possible. She jots down what was communicated.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 8:36:26 PM
Can’t fall into the wrong hands. You must b—

Marest wonders aloud, in the direction of the Council Ghosts, does Miss Ellie's last word happen to be Blocked?


Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 10:29:10 PM
Siolo begins getting a little frustrated. "What's left to do?" says exasperatedly.

Kaze (JonS) HP 32/32 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 10:36:23 PM
Kaze looks around the room, and then moves to where he can see some of the other chambers, "Is there any chance one of these side rooms holds a secret door, would make sense given who this facility was designed by."

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 10:53:03 PM
"'You must b...,'" reads Ezekiel. " We must be what? Bread? Apples? Very small rocks?"

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 11:26:43 PM

"Likely leave back the way we came, soon, Siolo," Yofiel answers. "My thought is to read through the five journals back in Cloudhaven - also let's take as much of the rest of the library here as possible with us. Unless one of us has a flash of inspiration, we may be nearing the end of asking useful questions, or of receiving responses giving us greater insight. 'Must guard' against allowing passage seems to be the message, among others. A bit more patience, druid. I am with Grim, at least in another moment or so."

"Kaze, if you want to look for some, go ahead. A trap door would be of particular interest. But let's see if we can be out of this level in about 15 minutes, and out of the complex in the next 30. A sleeping guard awaits for us to get past, and I don't want it to finish digesting its food until we are well away."
=========
The bard has additional ideas, but wants to go over them with the party once they are away from these spirits of the deceased.

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Wednesday February 14th, 2024 11:34:36 PM
Grim remains patient while the group tries to pry out the last drop of information from the phantoms, as hopeless as it seems. Grim doesn't think there's anything left alive to worry about, but curiosity is a powerful force, motivating people to do things they probably wouldn't do otherwise.



Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 9:43:54 AM
Siolo is starting to get impatient with the situation.

Grim is patient with his friends. He feels that conversing with the spirits is useless, but he understands that they are curious.

Kaze wonders about secret rooms that might contain answers.

Ezekiel speculates about the unfinished word in Ellie’s note.

Dapple asks, Could you remove the barrier if you chose to? The shades nod.

Yofiel suggests that they may need to study the journals in order to solve the mystery of the ghost’s motivations. She asks a string of questions:
Did the last journal then fall into Maya's hands already? The spirits shake their heads.

Should the labs be cleaned out? Instead of nodding or shaking their heads, the shades send you a vision. A campfire. A burning candle. Smoldering embers. A fire burning in a large fireplace. A bonfire. More flames. Then the final few sentences from Ellie’s journal: Labs. Experiments. Dangerous. Can’t fall into the wrong hands. You must b—

Should the cages be cleared of anything still remaining? After this question, the shades send you the same images as the did in response to your previous question.

Can we trust Rothlorian? Do you trust him? The shades nod. You feel guilt and relief emanating from them.

Marest asks the ghosts, does Miss Ellie's last word happen to be Blocked? Ellie’s shade shakes her head. Once again, the party receives visions of fire.


Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 11:00:36 AM

'Did you intend to say 'You must burn them?'" Yofiel asks Ellie.

If Ellie nods in affirmation, she continues, "Do you mean the documentation of the experiments?"

If so, she asks, "Would you want us to burn Ellie's journal?"

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 12:56:53 PM
"Ah," Dapple says as understanding strikes her. "That last sentence must say 'They must be burned.' Which brings up the question of how to burn everything with us still inside the complex."

Kaze (JonS) HP 36/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 1:54:06 PM
Kaze looks at Ellie, "Are the creatures in egg form, or have they hatched? That might be the way to destroy them, if they are still in eggs."

I needed to update my other character with the charts showing how he got his stats and hp, so I did it to Kaze too

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 1:57:21 PM
Colt nods too. "They want us to burn it all down. And since we can't get there from here. We'll have to go around the butte, and come in from the jungle. Let's go. I don't want to be in here when the T-rex wakes up..."

Despite the last statement, Colt turns to face the council again. [b]"Was the T-rex at the upper cave entrance yours? Is there a way for us to control him?"

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 5:44:18 PM
"Burn them?" asks Ezekiel. "Did they find a witch? I guess Maya might be called a witch, though I thought she was more druish. I could be mistaken though."

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 10:14:38 PM
Burn!

Marest is getting the feeling, the Ghosts are suggesting we "Burn! it all!"

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 11:22:46 PM
Grim rarely chuckles but he does a little with Dapple's comment. "We don't need to burn the whole complex, just any writings and lab equipment. Put it all in a pile in the lab and burn it. For the rest of the complex, we just cave in the entrances."

He waits for their answers, wandering if they'll be able to take a ride on a trained Greater Thunder God.

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Thursday February 15th, 2024 11:55:01 PM
Despite the fact that the ghosts were giving the crew some direction, Siolo was uncomfortable. Burning things, by itself, was not something that he preferred doing. The information this lab provided, while certainly of questionable ethic, could be used for good relationship between Clouhaven and and the surrounding nature. He didn’t want it to fall into bad hands, but if destroyed, it couldn't fail into good hands.

The only things Siolo expressed was a, "I don't know all."



Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Friday February 16th, 2024 10:04:11 AM
Yofiel asks Ellie Did you intend to say 'You must burn them?' Ellie’s shade nods its head vigorously.

Do you mean the documentation of the experiments? All of the shades nod.

Would you want us to burn Ellie's journal? The spirits shake their heads.

Marest also comes to the conclusion that Ellie must have meant to write the word “burn.”

Ezekiel figures that Maya is witch-like enough to merit burning.

Dapple and Colt speculate about the logistics of burning everything in the complex.

Grim suggests that the party does not need to burn everything, just the lab equipment and notes. The shades nod.

Siolo is concerned about the ethics of destroying the knowledge that the lab holds.

Kaze asks "Are the creatures in egg form, or have they hatched? They start shaking their heads and then nod.

Colt asks Was the T-rex at the upper cave entrance yours? They shake their heads.

Is there a way for us to control him? They shake their heads again and a vision of Maya patting the nose of a T-Rex fills your minds.

You seem to have made a breakthrough with the spirits. They and the wall of force remains, but hope emanates off of them.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Friday February 16th, 2024 11:38:17 AM
"Right," Dapple says, "Well, I guess we're carrying things for a while. Then setting them on fire. We're gonna need oil or something to keep the fire going and make sure everything gets burnt."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Friday February 16th, 2024 2:24:28 PM

"Will you drop the barrier if we agree to get rid of the experimental documentation?" asks Yofiel.

Kaze (JonS) HP 36/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Friday February 16th, 2024 9:04:17 PM
Kaze is ready to pick up and pack whatever is needed at this point


Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Friday February 16th, 2024 10:42:32 PM
Next Steps...

"Wow! I feel like we finally made a breakthrough and are all on the same page..." exclaims Marest. "Question, is what are the next steps? I do not get the implied feeling they are gonna drop that barrier until those rooms are molten liquid, eggs, creatures, notes, lab equipment, etc.." Marest continues. "If the barrier is meant as the explicit barrier from here down, then we will have to go another way and destroy it all from another point, with this barrier keeping everyone and everything safe here. I am sure Grim has some ideas on how this task may be accomplished."

"Ok, since we have these Ghosts here as a resource, let's plan out the next steps and use our resources wisely," states Marest.

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0  d20=5 ;
Friday February 16th, 2024 11:28:43 PM
Siolo heaves a big sigh.

"I'll go check on the guard outside to see where we stand. I'll be right back."

Siolo sneaks to the entrance to check on the t rex.

((Stealth 5+6=11))



Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Friday February 16th, 2024 11:58:18 PM
Grim shrugs, "We've made the offer to destroy the notes, it's up to them to drop the barrier. If they don't, we leave. Nothing's getting by them to the lab anyway. We come back later when we have the means to destroy these phantoms, then go in. It's just that simple."

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Saturday February 17th, 2024 12:17:27 AM
"But we don't have to kill them. We can just go around...." Colt stops to think. Then he addresses the council.
"Can Maya get around the wall? And is she up here. Or down below?"


Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents  d20+5=14 ;
Saturday February 17th, 2024 12:08:32 PM
Dapple considers the supplies that the party will need to gather in order to burn the lab.

Kaze is ready to go!

Marest asks Grim for advice about how to get around the barrier and suggests that they should plan their next steps carefully, asking the ghosts for help if necessary.

Siolo checks on the T-Rex. He makes a bit of noise getting there, but, fortunately, the dinosaur remains sleeping peacefully, undisturbed by the commotion.

Grim suggests that if the shades continue to obstruct them, they will destroy them once the party has the resources to do so.

Colt considers the possibility of going around the spirits.
He asks, "Can Maya get around the wall? The shades shake their heads.

And is she up here. Or down below? The shades do not answer and waves of fear and uncertainty come off of them. They do not seem to know where Maya is.

Yofiel asks the spirits Will you drop the barrier if we agree to get rid of the experimental documentation?

Their answer is slow in coming, as if the shades seem to be conferring with each other. The moment drags on, and, then, in unison, they nod, and you are overwhelmed by a feeling of hope and resolve. The guilt and sorrow is still there, but it is lessened by belief that this, at least, they can see this one thing put right.

OOC: Ignore the roll at the top of the post. Rolled accidentally.


Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Saturday February 17th, 2024 7:22:39 PM
Maya

Marest suddenly gets a weird twist of epiphany look on her face. She then turns to look at her friends and companions as she begins softly, "Friends, what if Maya has set this up to get at those notes herself? Ww could be playing right into her hands on this...just a thought!"



Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Saturday February 17th, 2024 10:19:06 PM
Colt grins. "That is devilish! But it doesn't seem likely. Even if it is so, the council could keep up their wall and we can burn whatever we can access from the jungle below.
What intrigues me is that the council doesn't know if Maya is above or below the shield. They must think she's got some way around it."

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Sunday February 18th, 2024 12:53:35 AM
Grim wanders about Colt's memory and points it out. "Maya was up above harrassing and mocking us not long ago. Then, as it seems she's a druid of sorts, vanished into a tree. Not likely to show up down here. So we know she's not inside there," pointing at the door. "They've got it blocked. Her pet outside was to keep us from getting in and destroying what she figures she'll get later. Beating her too it may bring her out, rather than us have to hunt her down."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Sunday February 18th, 2024 9:03:49 PM

The elf is relieved. She feels for the poor spirits, and senses the strength of their repentance from what initially seemed a good idea to them. Further, Yofiel is amazed that even after death they have the resolve and wherewithal to have been able to erect and maintain this barrier. They seem to have kept it up for several months thus far. Where do they draw the energy?

If she sees Siolo, she asks how things are above. She hears her friends' thoughts and ideas. Then she turns back to the Five.

"Thank you. Unless any of my friends object, we agree to do as I have said. Is there something else you think you should communicate to us before you lower the barrier for us to go in? I do not know how you do it, but, really, I find your powers of communication amazing, despite the divide between the living the dead.

"So, again, shall we wait for more communication from you? If not, shake your head, and, please, lower the barrier. If so, nod, and we will try to work with you to figure out what it is," the bard proposes.

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Monday February 19th, 2024 2:48:28 PM
"If she can go into trees up here, can she come out of trees elsewhere?" asks Ezekiel. "If she can tree-a-port to the lower entrance, she could come in from below, unless there is another barrier on that side."

"Wait, if you put the barrier up before, why not lower for us, then put it back up? Open it like a door, then shut and lock it again. That would work, yes?"

Kaze (JonS) HP 36/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Monday February 19th, 2024 3:41:37 PM
Kaze is a little lost at the conversation about Maya and her powers. He looks at his arms and legs and then says aloud, "She became a tree, what an interesting thing to turn yourself into...although if you needed to pass the time, it would be a pleasant way to do it."

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Monday February 19th, 2024 9:35:15 PM
Grim snorts at Kaze's comment but says nothing else, expecting the druid in the group to explain.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Monday February 19th, 2024 10:24:38 PM
Darwing a Blank.

"Marest shrugs and states that she is currently out of ideas", turning to her compadres for suggestions.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 5:48:12 AM

"Kaze, I asked my mother about it. Her mother, my grand, is a druid. I have not seen her for some years, but mother tells me Maya must have used a spell called Transport via Plants," explains Yofiel. "So, no, as far as we know, Maya is not a tree. But she does travel through trees, and that not like a monkey might. You step into one tree, and end up in another similar tree miles away in a moment."

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 9:19:09 AM
Marest is concerned that Maya might be manipulating the group.

Colt doesn’t believe that is the case. But he is intrigued that the ghostly council does not seem to know where Maya is.

Grim reminds Colt that they have seen Maya out and about. If she cannot get past the council’s wall, then she can’t be further down in the complex.

Ezekiel conjectures that she might have used her ability to teleport through trees to move to an entrance in the lower level. He suggests that the spirits could lower the door for them and then put it back in place.

Kaze thinks it could be relaxing to spend time as a tree.

Yofiel explains to Kaze that Maya is not actually a tree. She promises the spirits that she and her friends will destroy the notes and experiments in the lab. She asks the spirits if there is anything else the group might need to know before they proceed.

The spirits send you one more vision. They are younger than they appear now, though some are more changed than others depending on their race. They’re simply dressed and look a little worse for wear, but they’re all smiling and the mood is light as they sit together around a round tavern table, drinking ale.

“That ghoul almost took a bite out of you, Ellie,” Oznif says, nudging her shoulder.
“No way!” she replies, nudging him harder, jostling him so that his ale splashes. “I was just distracting it for the rest of you. Didn’t want to have all the fun myself.”

They all laugh.

“This could work,” Silvyr says.

Shanaer narrows her eyes slightly. “What could work? Using Ellie as bait?”

“Us. As a group,” he clarifies. “This could work.”

“This does work,” Ellie says. “We’ve been traveling together, fighting together for a few months now.”

“And no one has died. Yet,” Taim adds. “I suppose that’s a win.”

“It’s more than that,” Ellie says. “I can feel it. We’re going to do great things together. Help a lot of people. Protect a lot of people.”

“Make a lot of coin?” Oznif says hopefully.

“People first,” Silvyr says. “We have to promise to put people above coin. If we are going to work, we have to swear that we’ll do what we can to protect. Even if there is no coin in it for us, that’s where our energy needs to be. Always.”

The mood becomes serious. “Let’s make a pact, then,” Ellie says. “Always protect. Whenever and however we can.”

The vision fades and a great rush of magic washes over you.

The council remains, but the greenish light is dimmed, their figures more translucent, less defined. The weight of regret, responsibility, and resolve remains around you, but it is lightened by feelings of hope and peace that emanate from their faded forms.

The invisible wall is gone.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 11:29:12 AM
"All right," Dapple says. "Let's see what's down there--and what we need to burn."

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 12:57:16 PM
"I would like to be a tree," says Ezekiel. "But not if we're going to go burn things. I'd be very flammable."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 2:46:32 PM

"'Always protect. Whenever and however we can.' - Good words," says Yofiel.

She thanks each of the five by name. "We shall see if we might live up to this aspiration," she says.

"Everyone ready?" she asks her friends. "Grim, do you want to take the lead here?"

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 8:01:44 PM
"Was there more food? We don't want to march on an empty stomach."

[ooc] Colt's ready to go. [/ooc]

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19  d20+8=27 ;
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 8:56:59 PM
Grim moves to the door expecting the phantoms to move out of the way. He doesn't purposely walk through one but expects them to move. If they don't, he stands in front of the one in the way, face to face, and glares at it until it moves.

Providing he makes it to the door, he turns the knob (or just pushes it inwards/outwards), wide open.
Darkvision 60'
Perception + 8 = 27

Kaze (JonS) HP 36/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 10:26:22 PM
Kaze gives the ghostly figures a bow, then draws his sword, and straps on his shield ... "Well, lets go see what trouble we can get into."

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Tuesday February 20th, 2024 10:42:14 PM
"Just so you all are aware, the trex is still asleep." Siolo says quietly when he returns.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 3:26:46 AM

"Food? Well, Colt, we are going to the kitchen level, right? Maybe not fresh food, though."

"Thank you for checking, Siolo."

If Grim Ripr faces off directly with Taim CrowSky - half-orc vs half-orc, then Yofiel holds her tongue. If against one of the other faded dead adventurers, the bard takes his arm, and leads him the shortest way around the group as she says in a sing-song voice, "This way, dear." Once past the spirits, she graciously releases his arm to let him lead on.

Bow ready, arrow nocked. Same marching order as before. Everlasting torch lit up again, held by the bandolier across her chest to cast light forward.

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 10:01:11 AM
Dapple is ready to head downstairs to see what’s down there and what needs to burn.

Ezekiel think he would like to be a tree, but not if there is fire involved.

Yofiel thanks the members of the council and urges Grim to take the lead.

Colt is peckish but ready to go.

Kaze bows to the ghosts and then arms himself.

Siolo lets the group know that the T-Rex is still asleep.

Grim is ready to stare down the council members, but their ghostly forms move out of the way, clearing the way for the party to reach the door.

He pushes the door open, and you descend down a tunnel. The stone is natural, roughly hew, and everything is eerily quiet; there is a smell of rot that gets stronger as you walk.

In the light of Yofiel’s torch, Grim easily spots two bodies--one dinosaur, one humanoid--the stone stained with blood around them. As you approach, you recognize the lifeless body of Silvyr Norro, his stomach is torn open, his hands still gripping the shaft of a beautifully crafted guisarme that--as his last act, it seems--he used to sever the head of the raptor, whose body lies not far from his.

A trail of blood leads from Silvyr’s body down the tunnel.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 11:36:30 AM
"Oh, how awful," Dapple says upon seeing the bodies. "Should we burn the bodies, too, do you think?"

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31  d20+10=20 ;
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 6:59:34 PM
Ezekiel will detect magic.

Spellcraft: 20

"Seems like a waste of meat, but the thunda lizard is probably bad by now," says Ezekiel. "Probably best to burn it. Shouldn't we give Silvaro a proper a burial or something though?"


Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 7:49:26 PM
"He deserves a decent burial. I think they all do. The thunder lizard, ugh. That's just bad. We burn that -- later. Let's see what else is below first. "

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 8:07:38 PM
Siolo points to the trail of blood leading away from the body. "What are the chances that is a good sign?"

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30 
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 8:14:03 PM
Darkvision

Marest, with her Smoked Goggles firmly nestled in her hair atop her head, has Darkvision up to 120 feet.

Marest will descend to the next area in the middle of the group unless asked to go up front.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=24 ;
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 8:19:58 PM
A trail of blood...

Marest looking at the trail of blood uses her perception skill is notice is the blood is dried or otherwise. (Perception check: (1d20+9) = 24)

Marest tries her best to notice if the environment has been sealed against time and aging for it was sealed by magic. Thinking to herself, "I wonder if everything down here is not alive anymore? This gives her the idea to cast the magic spell Message to be able to still get communication going between her friends if they get separated.

Spells Cast:

Message:
Targets one creature/level = 4
Duration 10 min./level =40 minutes



Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19  d20+1=13 ;
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 8:52:54 PM
Grim stands over the scene and adds his orcish values to the conversation.
"Best leave them as they are. Remove them, you remove the history of what happened here. Leave them as a memorial, the fearless warrior defeating his enemy with his last strength. The bones will tell the story of their folly, but also of their desire to make amends. From room to room we chizzle into the walls the story, and here we describe the terrific battle and the consequences of their mistake. You tell of the folly, but you tell of the bravery. You can't have a more distinctive memorial than that."

He eyes the quisarme in comparison to his. His is of orcish make, sturdy and grotesque, while his is sturdy and refined. He reaches down and hefts the weapon, getting the feel. He applies his knowledge in determining how much better it is from his.
Appraise + 1 = 13

Kaze (JonS) HP 36/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Wednesday February 21st, 2024 9:34:31 PM
Kaze looks at the scene and agrees with Grim, "Leaving them here, at least for a moment, is probably best. Once we've got everything sorted out, then we can begin burying people."

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 9:29:16 AM
Dapple expresses sympathy for Silvyr and wonders if they should also burn the bodies.

Colt suggests that Silvyr deserves a proper burial, but agrees that the raptor ought to be burned.

Grim states that Silvyr’s body should remain where it is as a memorial to the warrior--a warning of his foolishness and a testimony of his strength.

Kaze agrees it is best to leave the bodies where they are. At least for now.

Siolo points out the rather ominous trail of blood leading to the lower levels.

Marest notices that the blood is dried. Her best guess is that the blood gushed from the gash across Silvyr’s stomach as he chased after the raptor. She also notices some blood stains smeared across the wall, where it seems he seemed to steady himself as he struggled to make his way down the hallway.

She wonders if there is anything alive in the lower levels. She also casts Message to so that the group can keep in contact. OOC Who are you targeting with the spell?

Grim and Ezekiel appraise Silvyr’s quisarme. Grim finds that it is finely-crafted: elegant, balanced, the blade sharp and well-honed. It is not as brutal looking as Grim’s current weapon, but it could be powerful to wield. Ezekiel casts detect magic, and detects a magical aura of conjuration around the weapon.

About a hundred feet in front of you, the tunnel ends with a large metal. The door is open, hanging slightly ajar, the metal dented and damaged.


Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 11:29:10 AM
"No prize for guessing what did this," Dapple says, running her hand over a dent.

Kaze (JonS) HP 36/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7 
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 1:56:02 PM
Kaze looks at the door and then the dent, "Not sure I'd want to run into the dino that left that, especially in the dark."

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 7:01:33 PM
"That's a mighty blade you've got there, Grim. With it, you won't just be a conjurer of cheap tricks, but hopefully expensive tricks! Or at least moderately price tricks."

Ezekiel casts light on Kaze's armor. "Fear not, for while the man who stands in darkness is blind, the man who stands out in darkness is photosynthesis!"


Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19  d20+8=27 ;
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 8:47:14 PM
Ezekiel informs Grim, in his own way, that Silvyr's guisarme is of better quality and potentially carries magic powers, confirming his suspicions as he gets the feel of it. The balance is better and the bland seems keener.

"This weapon is better put to use against Maya rather than helping prop up the old owner's skeleton. It will be fitting if it helps send many more of Maya's minion's to feed the worms." He puts his own away in it's shoulder strap and moves to the dented door.

Grim pushes the door open as he utters, "The man who stands out in the darkness is the perfect target."
Perception +8 = 27

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 8:48:21 PM
correction:
The balance is better and the blade seems keener.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=24 ;
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 9:35:33 PM
Another Step...

Marest points at Dapple, Yofiel, Grim, & Kaze for the message spell. Using her perception coupled with her darkvision, (Skill check = 1d20+9 = 24) , Marest tries to determine what in behind the dented door.



Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Thursday February 22nd, 2024 11:53:22 PM
Siolo nods at Grim, "I agree. The bodies will tell w tale, both good and bad, the truest story of our lives."

Siolo pulls out his shield and advances toward the door, but awaits his more hardy allies to go first.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  d4=1 ; d20+13=25 ;
Friday February 23rd, 2024 1:12:11 AM

[OOC: I wrote a post last night... looks like it disappeared]

The bard is pleased that the spirits stepped aside so that Grim did not end up walking right through the echoes of their earthly forms. She is not sure what he might have intended, but their grace resolved the moment irenically.

Yofiel also casts message, including Colt, Siolo, Ezekiel, and Marest. Between the two tall women, they have the whole party including in messaging.

The elf has her own position on the eventual disposition of the bodies, but feels no need at present to add to the opinions offered.

She follows a row behind, and looks to see what can be discerned as Grim pushes open the door. As earlier stated, bow in hand, arrow nocked, as the shaft points to the floor to the left of the half-orc's legs.

Perception: 25
[Ignore d4 - was trying to modify mod cell immediately below]

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Friday February 23rd, 2024 9:51:32 AM
[ooc] Thought I posted last night too, but not seeing it here. [/ooc]

As usual Colt and Foggy bring up the rear. He scoops up some small detritus from the floor. After he passes the council, Colt turns and waits. He pitches the detritus to see if the invisible wall has been re-established.

Colt and his dog move silently in the party's wake until everyone stopped at the dented door.

[ooc] Did the dents in the door come from blows to this side or the far side. [/ooc]

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Friday February 23rd, 2024 9:51:37 AM
Dapple and Kaze examine the dents in the door, summarizing that whatever made them was large and very likely deadly.

Ezekiel tells Grim that Silvyr’s guisarme has magical properties. He also casts light on Kaze’s armor.

Grim takes the guisarme, determining that the party will make better use of it in their fight against Maya than Silvyr can in death. He pushes open the door to the next room.

Siolo agrees that the party should leave the bodies for now. He advances toward the door, but waits for Grim and others to go first.

Marest casts message on Dapple, Yofiel, Grim, and Kaze. Yofiel casts message on Colt, Siolo, Ezekiel, and Marest. She follows behind Grimm as he pushes open the door, bow ready should the need for it arise.

Colt follows the group, Fogbank trotting behind him. He observes that the metal is buckled out, which suggests that the impact came from the other side of the door.

You peer through the door and see a large room, carved out from the stone walls of the complex. The smell of rot hits is stronger here. It was clearly once a kitchen, but the space is now in disarray. There is a large pot of stew, splattered across the floor and crusted over--white, green, and purple splotches of mold spreading across the top of it. Utensils and broken dishes litter the floor. Large tables, now smashed, have been pushed against the far door, as though in a hasty and unsuccessful attempt to block the entrance.

Blood is smeared across the floor. Most of the footprints in it appear to be reptilian, but you do see a pair of boot prints as well. By the smashed tables, you see a female humanoid body. Long blond hair, once so pale it was nearly white, is dark and matted with blood. Both legs have been torn off, leaving only ragged stumps of torn muscle and broken bone. Blood pools around the body, streaks of it leading from the door, as though she tried to pull herself forward even as she bled out. In one hand, she grips a throwing axe.

Local knowledge check (DC 17) Highlight to display spoiler: {Based on the hair alone, you recognize the body as Shanaera Wysagella.}

There are two small alcoves off of the main room. One contains dishes, glasses, and cooking utensils. The other contains some bags, boxes, and crates.

OOC- edited to include Colt

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Friday February 23rd, 2024 12:14:53 PM
"What a mess," Dapple says. Her halfling heart is dismayed over the waste of so much food--until, that is, the group discovers the dead body, and then she gets really upset.

"I guess we should burn this spoiled food along with the dangerous stuff," she says. She turns to look at the body. "Poor lady," she murmurs.

Kaze (JonS) HP 36/36 AC 19/Touch & Flat Footed AC 14/ CMD: 18/ CMB: 6/ Grapple: 7  Local Knowledge: d20+1=20 ;
Friday February 23rd, 2024 2:33:51 PM
Kaze shakes his head, "I've heard of this woman. It's sad to find her here and in such a state. I agree that burning the rotten and spoiled foods is prudent. For some predators, that is their favorite meal."

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  d20+14=29 ;
Friday February 23rd, 2024 4:47:57 PM

Though she knows the Five are deceased, Yofiel starts when she sees the mangled elfin body. One tear slides down the corner of her eye. "Shanaera Wysagella," she murmurs. "I saw her name on so many of the parchments in the town's archives." A few more tears follow the first, and the other eye also tears up. "She made building plans, and had some local maps, and had a fair hand for writing." She kneels, setting bow and arrow to the side, and touches the blood-matted hair. Reaching into her haversack, she pulls out a brush, and a water flask. She first dry-brushes, to see if the blood can be coaxed out. If need be, she will add water to the brush to break up the clots and bits harder to remove. The elf does this only to clean one long lock of hair, to see it as it was. She holds the length of it in her two hands and prays a short quiet prayer in elvish for the repose of the soul. She kisses the white-blonde hair, then sets it gently down.

Yofiel picks up the bow and arrow and rises again.

"Fire creates smoke, and can smother if contained. Yes, we will need flames at some point. When needed, let us start small, and see how the caverns handle ventilation."

As an afterthought, the bard casts detect magic and begins scanning the area around Shanaera.

Knowledge, local: 29 (vs DC17)

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=23 ;
Friday February 23rd, 2024 4:54:42 PM
Kitchens

Local knowledge check = 23

Marest sees the body of Shanaera Wysagella by the smashed tables and still holding her axe. "What a gruesome scene." Marest says through her message spell to Dapple, Yofiel, Grim, and Kaze.

Marest casts Detect Magic on the alcove with the bags, boxes, and crates. "Marest then says, "How did the reptiles leave if the area is barricaded?"

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29  d20+14=27 ; d20+14=22 ; d20+14=19 ; d20+14=29 ; d20+14=17 ; d20+14=21 ; d20+14=28 ; d20+14=29 ; d20+14=33 ; d20+13=18 ;
Friday February 23rd, 2024 4:55:45 PM

For Detect Magic, here are 9 Knowledge, Arcana checks: 27; 22; 19; 29; 17; 21; 28; 29; 33

And a general Perception check for anything else going on in the local environment: 18
===========

Responding to Marest, Yofiel offers, "Well, out through the door we just came through, and out through the door the Five had subsequently barricaded. It might have been open for a while, then closed up again." She turns and asks, "Grim, did the doors take anything special to open that may gainsay my surmise?"

Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31  d20+10=25 ;
Friday February 23rd, 2024 10:21:16 PM
"I can do that too!" says Ezekiel as he joins in the detecting of the magics.

Spellcraft: 25

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Friday February 23rd, 2024 11:29:42 PM
Siolo similarly is taken aback with the sheer brutality of the scene. He stares at the wounds that the dead woman suffered, wondering how it happened. His delve into learning about animals has caused a detached curiosity.

His focus is broken by Yofiel's rights. He then watches with interest.

Once she is done, he asks "What kind of rights are those?"

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19  d20+8=19 ;
Saturday February 24th, 2024 1:48:01 AM
Grim shrugs at Yofiel's question. "There was nothing to it, I pushed them open. We all passed through and I didn't notice they were going to close back on their own. It's a good guess they are still open. The phantoms can raise their protection barrier again but that may not stop smoke. Depends on what sort of magic is used."

Grim reconnoiters the area to make sure it is safe from 'things'.
"Watch that mold, could be harmless, but could be flesh-eating."

Perception + 8 = 19

Co-GM Jess--Welcome to the Facility - Maps and Documents 
Saturday February 24th, 2024 9:47:02 AM
Dapple is upset by the waste of so much spoiled food, she suggests burning it. She is also dismayed by Shanaera’s horrific death.

Kaze agrees on both counts, noting that the spoiled food might attract savangers.

Yofiel cries over and cares for the fallen elf. She remembers Shanaera’s work as a town planner and attempts to wash one lock of hair, getting most of the blood out, and then says a prayer over the body.

Siolo is also taken back by the brutality fo Shanaera’s death. He asks Yofiel about the rights she just performed.

Grim informs Yofiel that the doors throughout the compound have opened easily. He’s not sure if the council’s wall of force could stop smoke. He also warns the group to keep away from the mold growing on the stew.

Marest comments on the gruesomeness of the scene, and casts detect magic on the storage alcove.

Yofiel and Ezekiel cast Detect Magic .

There are no magical traces in the storage room. However, on further inspection, there are some provisions that do not seem to have spoiled or been destroyed. The group finds dried fruit--mango and pineapple--which is leathery, but sweet, and some salted meat. There are also some dried grains and jerky.

You detect an aura of moderate transmutation magic around the throwing axe that Shanaera has gripped in her hand.


Ezekiel (BrianW) - AC 17/13/14; HP 31/31 
Saturday February 24th, 2024 2:53:44 PM
"Another magic weapon!" says Ezekiel. "This time of the transmutation variety."

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Saturday February 24th, 2024 10:44:56 PM
"And food! This time dried. " Colt smiles. He wonders whether there's enough food to allow the party to get to the elevator through te jungle if the T-Rex wakes up, but he doesn't say anything about it.

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Sunday February 25th, 2024 2:04:40 AM
Grim heads over to the door leading to the next room.
ooC: What's its condition?

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Sunday February 25th, 2024 8:07:09 PM
Colt snatches a handful of dried mangos and follows Grim to the next door. He wordlessly offers some to the barbarian on an outstretched palm.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Sunday February 25th, 2024 11:32:07 PM

"What kind of rites?" The elf echoes Siolo's query. "I sang a song our ancestors sang when we mourned the loss of one of our women. It calls us to remember her life, her deeds, her ways, her essence. The song includes a prayer for good to come to her in the life which follows this life. And we say at the end the meaning of her name, and ask that our tears convey her to joy."

If no one else does so, she picks up the axe, puts inside an empty bag, and ties it to the outside bottom of her haversack. If someone else wants to carry it instead, she is fine with that.

She joins a few of her companions, restocking her food supplies from the preserved stores in the kitchen.

Then Yofiel joins Colt, following behind Grim, arrow again readied.

Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Monday February 26th, 2024 10:11:35 AM
As I made several decent rolls on Knowledge, arcana on Friday's post, is she able to discern more about the axe? Yofiel would have spent many rounds delving into what she might learn of it.

Dapple [AC 18; HP 28/28] (Kathy) 
Monday February 26th, 2024 11:30:49 AM
Dapple leaves the magic detection to those who know more about magic. She sorts through containers of edible food, stacking them well away from the spoiled stuff. "When we leave," she says, "we should try to take some of this back to Cloudhaven. We're still a bit short of supplies."

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Monday February 26th, 2024 6:49:46 PM
Colt turns away from Grim and the door for just a moment to reply to Dapple. "I don't know, Dapple. If we're going to be here for a while -- while we burn it clean, then -- I think -- we should just leave the food here."

Grim Ripr 4th (JonathanT) AC 17 Tch 11 HP 51/51 CMD 19 
Monday February 26th, 2024 7:20:34 PM
Grim looks at Colt's outstretched hand offering dried mangos pieces and then slaps the bottom side of Colt's hand catapulting the dried mango high and arcing into an open maw that clamps down on the pieces that make it in.

Chewing on the mango that made it in, he mumbles a Thank you.

Colt Human Rogue (Tim) AC 16 T 14 FF 12 HP 31/31 CMD 19 
Monday February 26th, 2024 7:28:50 PM
Colt's surprised, then unexpected delighted by Grim's slap. He laughs.

Marest (Jon-Paul) AC:13 (T:13, FF:10), CMD:13, Saves:(F:7/R:4/W:7), HP:30/30  d20+9=13 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=19 ; d20+9=21 ; d20+9=17 ; d20+12=30 ; d20+12=25 ; d20+12=28 ; d20+9=22 ; d20+9=17 ; d20+9=21 ; d20+9=27 ; d20+9=14 ;
Monday February 26th, 2024 8:37:06 PM
The Kitchens

Marest chimes in, "I believe you will find that most of their weapons are magical." Marest will mosey over to the food finds and add some of the dried fruit leathers and Salted meats into her pockets.

Asking, " Lady Yofiel, were you able to find Ms. Shanaera Wysagella's missing legs so we can lay her to rest, Whole?" Marest continues "Any idea where the rest of the bodies lie?"

Marest makes a few additional Perception checks to see about the fruits & salted meats as well as MIssing bodies / body parts.

Skills Checks:

Perception = 1d20+9 = 13, 23, 19, 21, & 17

Spellcraft = 1d20+12 = 30, 25, & 28

Knowledge Arcana = 1d20+9 = 22, 17, 21, 27, & 14


Yofiel (Kim McCoy), female elf bard 4th AC 16/16/14 HP: 29/29 
Monday February 26th, 2024 11:29:24 PM

With Grim eating the Colt-provided mangoes, Yofiel is also somewhat amused.

She turns as Marest asks her a question. She bows her head, sighs. The bard then lifts her head enough to look into her friend's eyes. "Ask the boys to split open the nearest dinosaurs, and check their stomachs."

Regarding the party's conversion about food distribution, the elf surmises, "Depending upon how much edible food is stored here, we may or may not be equipped to haul it all back. Yes, do let us take some. There may be future advantage if we can leave some here - but covered over, hard to access. With the way to the kitchen now open, others, and other critters, may again show up on this level. Can we defer the full decision until we have gone lower down still?"

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0  d20=4 ;
Tuesday February 27th, 2024 12:47:48 AM
"Oh," Siolo says simply to Yofiel.

When she moves on to other people and parts of the room, Siolo begins searching for any journals or notebooks.

((Perception 4+6=10))

Siolo (Joe) - AC 19/12/17 ; HP 28/28 , NL 0 
Tuesday February 27th, 2024 12:48:57 AM
((Oops it is supposed to be +11, so a 15 overall))

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