Joe
Streko Tavven (halfling)
Streko
Posts: 3,518
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Post by Joe on Aug 20, 2019 19:37:10 GMT -4
"The one time I suggest splitting up the group and no one wants to. I should have thought of that before. Very well, let's get this done then." ____________________________________________
Streko follows Shorak toward the mouth of the cave and will wait there for the others.
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Post by Dave B. on Aug 20, 2019 20:43:14 GMT -4
Shorak nods in agreement when Melethos asks him to lead on. "There are some things to be aware of, first there is a pit near where we need to climb down. I think we can climb down the pit since it appears that the ice bridge is present at the bottom or we can just go over the side of the keep." Shorak explains. "Also, I saw a humanoid during the most recent fighting at the entrance to the cave. It could have been the female drow we released or someone else. Didn't get a good enough look to tell their race or gender." He smiles a bit. "Whoever or whatever they were, they did not take my sword when it fell down into the pit, at least." With that Shorak leads his companions to the pit, near where the frost salamander was imprisoned.
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Dave W.
Adamant (Warforged)
Adamant
Posts: 4,643
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Post by Dave W. on Aug 21, 2019 1:29:24 GMT -4
Kal reaches to his side and pulls a few inches of the Rekkenmark longsword that hangs at his hip. "If you are accustomed to its use, you may borrow this, Adamant. I would appreciate its return, though," he says, thinking back the captain whose life he took what seems like a lifetime ago. "It cost me dearly to get it....” “I would be honored. And I will see it returned to you.” Adamant takes the weapon.
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Jeff
Administrator
Dungeon Master
Posts: 15,166
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Post by Jeff on Aug 21, 2019 6:10:54 GMT -4
Sem trails behind as Shorak leads the party into the chamber where the frost salamander had been bound. He indicates the pit, and only when looking hard in that spot can the rest of you see where it is. The ever-churning steam along the floor could conceal many such things. In these room two narrow windows look outside the keep. Through the left-hand window you can see the flowing fire-stream; through the right-hand window you can see the stone wall some forty feet beyond the keep and the ice-bridge that now accesses that cave opening. The ice originates from beneath the keep, and you can see that unlike the first ice-bridge, this one rises on an incline to reach the cave mouth, gradually rising ten feet as it crosses the gap. From this room, however, there's no exiting the keep directly; the hole in the floor appears to go below this level within it. Only the area near the fountain is open to that side, given the crumbled walls. Sem trails behind the party. "Kal, have you got the ring of telepathy? Does Brack still have the other? I could go back to the ship and take it from there." It's clear from the gnome's face he does not want to join you in the Cave. FYI: I'm about to bring this chapter to a close! (The next one won't be nearly as long as this one was!) I'll wait for some follow-ups before doing so.
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Dave W.
Adamant (Warforged)
Adamant
Posts: 4,643
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Post by Dave W. on Aug 21, 2019 7:51:45 GMT -4
“Kal, perhaps Sem should go tell the dragon what we are about so he doesnt think we have just run off. And maybe gently introduce our real fear for Histra?”
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Ken
Belarin Malizia
Belarin
Posts: 5,691
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Post by Ken on Aug 21, 2019 9:01:52 GMT -4
"I don't think we can get to the ice bridge from here," says Belarin. "I left my grasshopper legs behind in my previous life. Back by the fountain, I think?" “Kal, perhaps Sem should go tell the dragon what we are about so he doesnt think we have just run off. And maybe gently introduce our real fear for Histra?” "Well, I certainly would appreciate that, Sem," he says.
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Jeff
Administrator
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Post by Jeff on Aug 21, 2019 9:25:30 GMT -4
Sem nods at Belarin. "True, I'm probably the only one he won't spray with his sleepy-time breath if they go back in there—or worse—so I might as well. In any case, he'll be happy to hear you're going to get that petitioner for him." Sem quiets his voice again even as his tone becomes academic. "I have no real idea why he's calling the person that, by the way. I suppose it might just be a term of respect, as Alazphraxilark has implied that the Traveler's Needle was placed there by his ancestors, probably before the Age of Giants." He shakes his head. "You have no idea how old this thing must be, Belarin! It's truly a treasure, the sort of thing the greybeards at Morgrave or Wynarn would drool over...but curiously, no one seems to think it's a relic that could jut be carted away. Which seems right. It's rooted not in the stone floor of this keep—whatever this keep used to be—but in the fabric of the Prime Material and whatever plane is temporarily pinned to it. You have to be here to study it, and obviously it's best to pick a time when the pinned plane isn't trying to kill you...."
"What was I saying?"
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Brian
Melethos (tiefling)
Melethos
Posts: 5,085
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Post by Brian on Aug 21, 2019 9:41:46 GMT -4
"You were going to tell the dragon that we accepted his charge," Melethos says. "And I think you need not accompany us. Go back to the ship, talk with Brack. He has the other ring. If he wants to give it to you, let you be our communication point, I see no problem there. Hopefully we will not be long."
He looks to the others. "I agree with Belarin. Back to the fountain. Maybe we can find an easier way to the bridge from there."
He nods to Shorak, and the two of them lead the others back to the fountain and start looking for a path to the Cave.
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Darren
Kalarian d'Deneith (human)
Kalarian
Posts: 7,310
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Post by Darren on Aug 21, 2019 10:09:00 GMT -4
"Yes, Sem, go let the dragon know we accept, then get the ring from Brack. It will be a comfort to have you in my head while I'm potentially going mad." Kal smiles.
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Jeff
Administrator
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Post by Jeff on Aug 21, 2019 10:29:19 GMT -4
Sem says, "I should probably mention that Zafnou is still at large. I asked Alazphraxilark about her, and he's not concerned in the least. I think now that her boyfriend's been slain, she'll make herself scarce. Just be on the lookout for her; I suppose no one alive would know better how to unlock those braziers, right?"
Sem starts off, then turns. "Be careful. Really. Remember what the real goal is: Histra, the Eye, and getting back to Sharn." The gnome gives Streko a smile.
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Joe
Streko Tavven (halfling)
Streko
Posts: 3,518
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Post by Joe on Aug 21, 2019 19:24:26 GMT -4
Streko winks back at Sem, acknowledging him, then take a deep breath, steeling himself. "Let's get on with this. Time is another enemy we face, let's not forget that."
He follows Shorak toward the fountain room.
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Post by Dave B. on Aug 21, 2019 20:49:20 GMT -4
Shorak shrugs and leads with Melethos. "I just assumed the pit led to the same bridge. It certainly was cold enough down there. But, it probably would be easier for everyone to climb down where we can better see the cave and the ice bridge leading to it." Shorak walks to the crumbling wall and looks for the best access point to climb down to the bridge.
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Jeff
Administrator
Dungeon Master
Posts: 15,166
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Post by Jeff on Aug 22, 2019 9:00:57 GMT -4
Leaving Sem and the dragon behind, Shorak and Melethos leads the party towards the fountain chamber and an open view of the ice-bridge and the cave beyond...
Coming up next: Chapter 17. (Sometime today...)
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