flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 1, 2023 0:10:00 GMT -6
(OOC — so it appears we have a lengthy, 5' wide passageway down to the Chnélh, and might be able to compactly fit two per rank. If this is so, Mi'kimu suggests we proceed so, with himself and Bálesh at the forefront, Mi'kimu having exchanged his axe for Fi'ru's spear. Should the Chnélh attack us, we can constrain their actions by remaining in the passageway; should they flee before us, we should be able to rearrange a broader front to oppose them. This is Mi'kimu's suggestion.)
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 1, 2023 0:10:45 GMT -6
(OOC — btw, can't see the image in the recent post.)
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Post by xerxez on Jul 1, 2023 8:29:51 GMT -6
Will try to right that bad image today and give you all a proper setup as well as respond to your individual posts.
Yes, a very narrow 5' wide stone stair, looks very much in use, as in regular traffic.
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 1, 2023 18:35:48 GMT -6
((5' wide is pretty tight for two abreast. Unless they're both armed with piercing weapons. Do we have two spearmen to go first?))
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Post by xerxez on Jul 2, 2023 14:26:46 GMT -6
Here is an illustration of the party at the top of the hill inside the crowning ruin. I will be responding to your posts in a little while. Been very busy and decided to take an art break to provide a visual, crude though it be. We do not have our Internet set up yet, when we do I will be able to post from my laptop which will help me with images. Hopefully I can also do some webcam games in realtime with people then if anyone is interested.
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Post by makofan on Jul 2, 2023 17:24:55 GMT -6
Balesh will lead the way
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 2, 2023 18:16:10 GMT -6
((Very impressive! I might be able to play the occasional webcam session.))
N'Rasa took second rank.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 2, 2023 18:47:27 GMT -6
Bálesh and Mi'kimu ready their weapons and begin the descent, moving slowly down the time worn steps. The others follow in the marching order used upon the trail hitherto. The smoke burns your eyes a bit. A murky yellow glow fills a chamber at the bottom of the stair... There is also a musky smell which cloys the air... Upon reaching near the bottom step Bálesh and Mi'kimu suddenly see a landing/chamber ...it is 30 feet long north and south and 20 feet wide east west. The ceiling is about 9 feet high. A glance tells you another stair descends at it's other end. A cooking fire is at the bottom of the stair you are on. Huddled in the chamber are five hairy white ape humanoids...Chen'l. There are two adult males, a female and two young... At your appearance one of the males beats it's chest and bellows, acting fierce. The other male is younger and hangs back but is also snarling while the female looks at you in terror and shields her little ones. A small snake cooks on a stick over the fire. Vortumoi, upon hearing the beasts, calls down. VORTUMOI: " Destroy them -- we don't want them drawing the whole jungle down upon us."
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Post by xerxez on Jul 2, 2023 18:50:27 GMT -6
GM Note: There is no need for dice. Your party can easily kill the mutant apes if you wish.
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 3, 2023 9:36:34 GMT -6
Mohammad comments, " If the lead Ape is protecting his family and if we can communicate with it we can tell them we come in peace and are passing through. " Mahammad pulls out a canteen of water and also some food and puts in on the ground near the ape and signals to them that this is a gift. HE then says in brief common also maybe some hand gestures we now leave no combat.
( trying parlay using his high charisma)
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 3, 2023 11:10:02 GMT -6
((I'm not cool with this exterminating women and children thing...))
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Post by makofan on Jul 3, 2023 12:57:33 GMT -6
Balesh waits to see if a peaceful approach works
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Post by xerxez on Jul 3, 2023 13:53:43 GMT -6
((I'm not cool with this exterminating women and children thing...)) ((Glad to hear it I would have been disappointed if you were! Although Vortumoi is in command of the expedition, your characters are not bound to follow his order where it goes against your alignment or conscience. Dramatic conflict is somewhat inevitable here but I'm interested to see how your characters resolve it.))
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Post by xerxez on Jul 3, 2023 14:05:35 GMT -6
Mohammad comments, " If the lead Ape is protecting his family and if we can communicate with it we can tell them we come in peace and are passing through. " Mahammad pulls out a canteen of water and also some food and puts in on the ground near the ape and signals to them that this is a gift. HE then says in brief common also maybe some hand gestures we now leave no combat. ( trying parlay using his high charisma) (Assuming there is some brief discussion with the front rank about this and you either are given passage or hand the gifts up to Bálesh...) As your party signals peaceful intentions, and lays items upon the ground to quell the fear of the Chen'l, you witness some flicker of what looks like deliberation in the eyes of the alpha... He ceases his chest beating and looks at the items, then your party ...wary as if fearing a trap. You feel perhaps if the stair was clear, your effort might come to fruition, as your actions have definitely had effect.
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 3, 2023 14:13:10 GMT -6
Mohammad points to the gifts and point to the ape as if saying these are yours. Mohammad then says "thank you we will be going this way. Friend" Mohammad starts to move slowly to the exit. Keeping a eye on the ape
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Post by makofan on Jul 3, 2023 18:16:52 GMT -6
Bálesh follows Mohammed's example
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 3, 2023 19:21:55 GMT -6
[OOC — love the illustrations, especially the one with the party at the entrance to the tomb!]
From the map, it looks like we can move through the room and continue on our way down the stairs as long as these creatures let us pass. Mi'kimu would prefer not to leave a trail of bloodshed behind the party as we descend.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 3, 2023 21:26:25 GMT -6
As the party moves warily into the room making no move to attack, the Chen'l family moves back against the far wall, also holding attack.
Your numbers are too great apparently for the alpha and younger males to risk attack, and you've also managed to become less threatening to them by your tactics.
Although they show no signs of understanding Mohammad's words, they do seem to have a dim awareness of his tone and the hand gestures of pacification he makes.
Your party is able to enter and exit the landing and as the rear rank moves down the other stair you soon hear sounds of hurried escape, leaving you in silence in the torch lit depths.
(I will prepare the next post.)
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Post by xerxez on Jul 4, 2023 8:05:46 GMT -6
The map continues. I have reverted to standard scale, 1 square = 10 ft. This image will make more sense once you have read and viewed the image in the next post, immediately hereafter.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 4, 2023 8:27:52 GMT -6
Descending the second stair you come into a small square chamber with a barrel ceiling about ten feet high. The room is 20' North and South and 30' wide East/West. Strange carvings of mysterious figures run along the east wall, depicting a weird inhuman figure handing a scroll to a hooded man. A priest is also depicted performing some rite. You can tell that the west wall was similarly adorned once but much of it has crumbled away...in the glow of your light you see that a vast natural cavern lies outside the chamber, filled with relatively fresh water, as if some underground lake or reservoir. The action of the lake has, over the centuries, weakened the west wall and sent a section of it tumbling, exposing the cavern. Your torch light can illumine about 30' of the lake water...beyond that it continues into darkness. In the north wall is set a large double door of most curious design. Ornately carved and painted trim in the Bednálljan style surrounds the door. In heavy relief on the double door, split down it middle by the seam, is a stone carving of a giant, fierce looking spider like creature... As you all gaze upon it Vortumoi speaks. VORTUMOI: "I know not what weakness possessed your tribe a moment ago, but I would advise you follow my orders more strictly down here. But no matter, a few filthy apes are not worth discord in our present state. Hmmm...if my sense of Bednálljan tomb craft is right, this is an antechamber to the grave itself. These wall carvings are typical for Ksárul worshippers...no doubt the hooded figure receiving the scroll is Béjordi, who must have fancied himself a recipient of the Hidden Knowledge. As for the doors, I am puzzled. The archives contain nothing about this strange design. Well...what do we do? Walk in I suppose. But we must inspect this place carefully...mind your step."
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 4, 2023 16:24:09 GMT -6
Mi'kimu returns the spear to Fi'ru, and carefully moves to inspect the design on the west wall — or rather, what remains of it. Can he tell if it was a mirror image of the design on the east wall, or did it depict an obviously different scene? In any case, he'll tread carefully.
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Post by makofan on Jul 4, 2023 18:03:28 GMT -6
Is there any obvious opening mechanism?
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Post by xerxez on Jul 4, 2023 19:27:57 GMT -6
Mi'kimu returns the spear to Fi'ru, and carefully moves to inspect design on the west wall — or rather, what remains of it. Can he tell if it was a mirror image of the design on the east wall, or did it depict an obviously different scene? In any case, he'll tread carefully. Fi'ru takes the spear, eyeing the hole in the west wall and the lapping water of the underground lake suspiciously. Mi'kimu cannot make out exactly what the wall image was but he can see it was not the same as that on the east surface.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 4, 2023 19:30:45 GMT -6
Is there any obvious opening mechanism? There is no apparent handle. The seam is sealed with age.
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flightcommander
Level 6 Magician
"I become drunk as circumstances dictate."
Posts: 370
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Post by flightcommander on Jul 4, 2023 22:03:46 GMT -6
"Hmm. Fi'ru, stand away from the waters. You are right to be wary of them — do not stand there gawping like a fool!
Mi'kimu turns to consider the double doors. "We might need a shim to pull these doors open, unless there is a secret mechanism we have yet to find."
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 5, 2023 4:15:41 GMT -6
N'Rasa spoke up. "It could mean something entirely different to a Bednálljan, but in our tribe that is very much like the symbol of a Spider-Man -- someone who keeps spiders for their silk. I see no handles on the doors, so we will need to find another way to open it. But first..."
She carefully tapped the floor ahead of her with her 5' pole to make sure it was safe as she crossed to the door. Once she made it there, she tried to use Clairvoyance to see what was on the other side.
((Dang, I didn't refresh and see that all these people had posted ahead of me. I guess N'Rasa looks foolish for tapping the floor in places everyone else already walked...))
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Post by xerxez on Jul 5, 2023 8:01:56 GMT -6
N'Rasa spoke up. "It could mean something entirely different to a Bednálljan, but in our tribe that is very much like the symbol of a Spider-Man -- someone who keeps spiders for their silk. I see no handles on the doors, so we will need to find another way to open it. But first..." She carefully tapped the floor ahead of her with her 5' pole to make sure it was safe as she crossed to the door. Once she made it there, she tried to use Clairvoyance to see what was on the other side. ((Dang, I didn't refresh and see that all these people had posted ahead of me. I guess N'Rasa looks foolish for tapping the floor in places everyone else already walked...)) (Good thinking! I will PM you what N'Rasa sees You who are magic users are wise to remember your powers down here! Note: I must make a spell success roll for you...you have a 40% chance of success.) Edit: (Having no bonuses for her Psychic Ability, N'Rasa's first attempt to use Clairvoyance fails on a roll of 94. The spell can be used three times daily- do you wish to use it again? An unsuccessful try still counts as a cast spell for this purpose. The floor shows no evidence of being trapped by the way.)
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Post by dtspurrier1 on Jul 5, 2023 10:32:56 GMT -6
Mohammad stands there ignoring the Shaman banter about tribe weakness. Murdering things because it stands in our way is not a good policy to follow. Mohammad stands guard ready for action
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Post by scottenkainen on Jul 6, 2023 14:56:22 GMT -6
N'Rasa does not try again right away, but examines what appears to be half-circular holes on the sides of the spider-doors.
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Post by xerxez on Jul 6, 2023 22:11:00 GMT -6
N'Rasa does not try again right away, but examines what appears to be half-circular holes on the sides of the spider-doors. These are decorative carvings.
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