II. The Hole in the Oak

Message

roryb · #41 Post by **roryb** » Wed Nov 17, 2021 7:34 am

Zan

As they work, Zan keeps his eye on the passage behind them, keeping his light aloft to see both fore and aft.

#42 Post by **dmw71** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:07 am

The Roots

"I will do it," Rawani says, unsheathing her short blade. Holliss, eager to show off the sharpness of his blade, moves to accompany the acrobat.

Haelan accepts Rawani's lantern, and holds it aloft, joining Zan in highlighting the effort of the weed-whackers up front.

Rumbling

The roots blocking the passage present no difficulty for the sharpened steel, but with each strike, an ominous rumbling noise is heard and the tunnel begins to shake uneasily.

When the hacking stops; the rumbling and shaking also stop.

After confirming the above, Ealga suspects continued efforts are safe.

And they prove to be.

Without too much time or effort, the blockage is cleared enough for the group to pass.

The group stops just short of this intersection.

Intersection

A dozen or so feet beyond what was the overgrown area, the underground tunnel widens into almost a circle shape at the intersection, and the roof begins to arch upwards rising to maybe a height of 8-feet.

The floor, now sandy, once again displays a jumbled mixture of hoof and boot prints which very much resemble the entry area.

The temperature in this area also begins to grow noticeably warmer, and the now-steamy atmosphere feels a bit humid.

Except for the floor, the walls and ceiling both appear to be made almost entirely of deep brown roots, with patches of glowing green moss.

: Intersection.jpg (46.55 KiB) Viewed 2142 times

North

The floor to the north turns muddy, and is filled with hoof-prints.

The earthen walls in this direction are filled with roots riddled with centipedes.

The roof, too, is mostly made of roots, and dips a bit, to maybe a height of 6-feet, constricting the passage a bit.

Both the roof and the ceiling in this northern branch are also covered with spotches of glowing green moss.

East

A cool breeze is felt coming from the continuation of the current passage, to the east.

The breeze carries with it the hint of an ammonia stench.

---

Actions?

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Time & Weather
CY 1011, 18th Day of Obthryme (Deep Autumn)
Current Time: Midday
Current Conditions: Cool

Marching Order ( * = Infravision )
Ealga *
Buzar *
Holliss *
Rawani
Zan
Haelan

Light Sources

Zan's Lantern: Carried by Zan (Status: Lit) (Ends: 3:34)
Rawani's Lantern: Carried by Haelan (Status: Lit) (Ends: 3:44)

Radius: 30-feet
Burn Time: 0 minutes of 4 hours (24 turns).
Note: Can be closed to hide the light.

Rolls
None.

lich_queen · #43 Post by **lich_queen** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:50 am

dmw71 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:07 am The breeze carries with it the hint of an ammonia stench.

Ealga crinkles her noise at the stench and gestures east. “Could be bat shit an’ piss we be smelling. The small, large kind I couldnae tell you,” she grumbles with a shrug.

roryb · #44 Post by **roryb** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:15 am

Zan

Zan eyes the glowing moss with interest. “One must trust the nose,” he says. “I prefer not to make the acquaintance of one that produces such an odor, at least until necessary. These tracks are curious, and I wonder if we shall meet the beings that made them. Perhaps their lair is north. With caution, I would consider that way first, making sure if we meet any that we are peaceful folk.”

Zan uses his dagger to collect some of the moss, careful not to touch it directly, and preparing one of his sacks for deposit.

#45 Post by **dmw71** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 7:28 am

The Moss

As Zan approaches the moss with curiosity, specks of red begin to emerge intermixed with the glowing green.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of red specks begin to emerge from all the different patches of moss.

Specks of red -- in pairs.

Like eyes.

THEN...

Faces

The patches of glowing moss suddenly begin to morph into faces.

Faces in all shapes and sizes and ages.

From old codgers, to young pipsqueaks, to dashing youths.

The Faces Speak!

In a cacophony of sound, all the faces begin to address the group in unison, speaking in grumbling, rumbling tones.

Droning in concert, the faces speak in common:

"Give us the shiny...

... for information..."

The faces remain animated -- twisting and contorting -- but otherwise fall silent.

---

Actions?

---

Time & Weather
CY 1011, 18th Day of Obthryme (Deep Autumn)
Current Time: Midday
Current Conditions: Cool

Marching Order ( * = Infravision )
Ealga *
Buzar *
Holliss *
Rawani
Zan
Haelan

Light Sources

Zan's Lantern: Carried by Zan (Status: Lit) (Ends: 3:34)
Rawani's Lantern: Carried by Haelan (Status: Lit) (Ends: 3:44)

Radius: 30-feet
Burn Time: 0 minutes of 4 hours (24 turns).
Note: Can be closed to hide the light.

Rolls
None.

Lance · #46 Post by **Lance** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 8:48 am

Haelan is trying to note any new information "So the foul smell indicates bats in your experience? That's very..." he get's this far, when the moss starts talking. "Well, as a cleric of Rao, I can not decline an invitation for knowledge. Though sadly I seem to lack the funds."

kalstone · #47 Post by **kalstone** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 12:08 pm

Holliss

Holliss pulls out a gold piece. "Is this shiny enough for you?" He tosses it in the general direction of the moss.

Rex · #48 Post by **Rex** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 2:37 pm

Rawani

Listens with interest as she has no coins either.

roryb · #49 Post by **roryb** » Thu Nov 18, 2021 6:26 pm

Zan

Zan proffers five more shiny gold to add to the one Holliss extends.

lich_queen · #50 Post by **lich_queen** » Sat Nov 20, 2021 6:23 am

Ealga’s eyes go wide, her voice sputtering with indignation. “Stop…stop that! Throwing all that gold away you $&@?$& ninnies. Yous jus wastin’ all that… Jus’ toss it a gold an’ see with happens first. $&@!?$&&!!”

#51 Post by **dmw71** » Mon Nov 22, 2021 10:57 pm

One Gold Coin

Holliss pulls out a gold piece. "Is this shiny enough for you?" the elf says, tossing it in the general direction of the moss.

The coin is swiftly drawn back into the earth of the wall... but the faces fail to respond.

Five Gold Coins

Thinking more "shiny" is required, Zan proffers five more gold coins, which quickly disappear into the earthen walls.

Ealga’s eyes go wide, her voice sputtering with indignation. “Stop…stop that! Throwing all that gold away you $&@?$& ninnies. Yous jus wastin’ all that… Jus’ toss it a gold an’ see with happens first. $&@!?$&&!!”

Despite the dwarven protest (or maybe because of it?), the faces linking the walls and ceiling animate and speak:

"Forgotten treasures lie buried by the river."

More shiny. More information"

The faces remain animated -- twisting and contorting -- but otherwise fall silent, seemingly awaiting further interaction.

---

Actions?

---

Time & Weather
CY 1011, 18th Day of Obthryme (Deep Autumn)
Current Time: Midday
Current Conditions: Cool

Marching Order ( * = Infravision )
Ealga *
Buzar *
Holliss *
Rawani
Zan
Haelan

Light Sources

Zan's Lantern: Carried by Zan (Status: Lit) (Remaining: 3:33)
Rawani's Lantern: Carried by Haelan (Status: Lit) (Remaining: 3:43)

Radius: 30-feet
Burn Time: 0 minutes of 4 hours (24 turns).
Note: Can be closed to hide the light.

Rolls
None.

Rex · #52 Post by **Rex** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 5:51 am

Rawani

"I wonder if this place is by the river."

roryb · #53 Post by **roryb** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:38 am

Zan

“One wonders if by the river means beside the river, or buried by the river itself, as in underneath or within it? Such are the inaccuracies of the common tongue. Either way, we should seek lower ground where water finds its way. I’m sure Ealga may find declining gradations if they are not obvious.”

The magical medium reaches in his pack for five more gold coins, offering it to the faces. “Let’s see what more facts we may learn while we have such funds to discover them.”

Rex · #54 Post by **Rex** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:45 am

Rawani

"I have no such funds."

kalstone · #55 Post by **kalstone** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 1:24 pm

Holliss

Holliss mutters under his breath, "I haven't budgeted for payments to wall faces." He tosses in 5 more gp.

#56 Post by **dmw71** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:17 pm

Five Gold Coins

Ever curious, Zan begins to pontificate over the information received so far: “One wonders if by the river means besides the river, or buried by the river itself, as in underneath or within it?" the arcane caster begins. "Such are the inaccuracies of the common tongue. Either way, we should seek lower ground where water finds its way. I’m sure Ealga may find declining gradations if they are not obvious." he continues.

The magical medium reaches in his pack for five more gold coins, offering them to the faces. "Let’s see what more facts we may learn while we have such funds to discover them."

As expected, the vines greedily accept the shiny offering and, in unison, volunteer the following:

"A silver sword lies hidden in a pillar of stone."

"More shiny. More information"

Five Gold Coins

Wanting to test the going price for information, Holliss contributes an additional five gold.

Once again, the faces lining the walls and ceiling speak:

"The horned ogre owns a treasure whose value he doesn’t understand."

More shiny. More information"

The faces remain animated -- twisting and contorting -- but otherwise fall silent, seemingly awaiting further interaction.

---

Actions?

---

Time & Weather
CY 1011, 18th Day of Obthryme (Deep Autumn)
Current Time: Midday
Current Conditions: Cool

Marching Order ( * = Infravision )
Ealga *
Buzar *
Holliss *
Rawani
Zan
Haelan

Light Sources

Zan's Lantern: Carried by Zan (Status: Lit) (Remaining: 3:31)
Rawani's Lantern: Carried by Haelan (Status: Lit) (Remaining: 3:41)

Radius: 30-feet
Burn Time: 0 minutes of 4 hours (24 turns).
Note: Can be closed to hide the light.

Rolls
None.

Rex · #57 Post by **Rex** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 4:21 pm

Rawani

"A horned ogre, that sounds dangerous."

roryb · #58 Post by **roryb** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:27 pm

Zan

"I would avoid even an un-horned ogre!" Zan adds. "I think we have plenty of information. Now let us see if it holds true! To the north it is muddy and humid, indicating perhaps a water source, or even a river. I suggest we go this way! But we should be wary of the hooved beings. We are interloping on their territory."

Lance · #59 Post by **Lance** » Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:31 pm

Haelan ponders "Could these hooved creatures be in cahoots with the ogre? Or maybe they're rivals? We should engage them with additional care!"

Rex · #60 Post by **Rex** » Wed Nov 24, 2021 5:32 am

Rawani

"Agreed and should add we should engage anything or anyone we encounter with care."

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