Adventure: A Tale of Two Domains (DM:Luinnar, Judge:renau1g)

[covaithe]

Quagmire studies the bleak landscape grimly. "Dramatic," he drawls. "Whoever be t'blame fer this place, ain't much they won't do. Best be wary." He hands Sir Exsixten a dried strip of the whatever from the unidentifiable breakfast is most likely to be meat, and continues on.

 

[Dekana]

Jax, who has been quivering ever since he say the giant skeleton, hangs back near the wolf pups.
"M-maybe I'd better wait here. To u-uh, guard the dogs." The kobold's knees shake and he makes no effort to go any further.

Sir Jax, The Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Exsixten

 

[Luinnar]

He walks over to the tree and uses his axe to hack a thick chunk of bark off the outside, then hollows out a low area near the base of the tree. That done, he drops to all fours and picks the pups up one-by-one by the scruff of his neck - with his mouth.

When the axe strikes the tree, it starts to emit loud thumps, like the ones heard before. Soon the thumps stop as the tree is fully disemboweled.

[sblock=Nature=20 (passive or rolled)]
You examine the tree and find that it is actually a Quickwood (also known as a spy tree). It emits loud thumps or booms when intruders enters their territory. It can become accustom to people and creatures, thus it can be used to determine from a "stranger" or a "friend". It was obviously planted here to let someone know when intruders have arrived.
[/sblock]

 

[TwoHeadsBarking]

Andras sighs as Sir Exsixten noisily guts a tree. "Oh, good," he mutters. "Why wouldn't we want to let everyone know we're coming?"

He then turns to the kobold, "Come along, Jax. Anyone going through this much trouble to scare off passers-by probably has some really valuable trinkets hidden away, right?" The genasi grins, "Besides, you'll probably be more protected with us than you will be on your own. Safety in numbers, and all that. Unless you think those pups will be able to defend you."

 

[nerdytenor]

Rendered speechless by the grim scenery, Dorn can only nod in agreement.

 

[Luinnar]

GM: The group will need a light source

As you push through a slender crack in the sunburnt walls of the canyon you discover that it widens into a dangerous looking passage. The air is dark and dry, with dust drifting up from your every footstep to scratch at your eyes and lungs. The passage is jagged, with two long stalactites near the entrance that give you the impression of a cruel, fanged mouth opening wide to bite you.

As you push on through the passage you enter a room-like cave. Many evil symbols of power and pain are deeply marked into the walls here. Their terrible appearance causes a shudder to run through your body for a brief moment. The darkness in the passages ahead seems unnaturally deep, having an almost liquid appearance.

A foul and evil looking statue of an old hag stands at the center of the room. She is holding a human skull in her left hand that looks quite real. Deep in its blackened eye sockets are tiny flickers of light. There appears to be no natural explanation for this strange phenomenon. You cannot escape the feeling that there is more to this statue than it appears. The old crone's right hand is tightly clasped around a gnarled walking stick. Its many grooves and curves reminds you of the shriveled flesh of a mummy.

[sblock=Perception=25(rolled or passive)]
You notice that the skull has a small line like crack running around the top. It looks like it can be opened.
[/sblock]

GM: Note: Nested sblocks with the same skill check use the same roll.

[sblock=Arcana=20(rolled)]
You examine the runes and find they they appear to be a trap of some kind focused on the statue. You should be able to disable the runes, at least for a small amount of time. (using another arcana check).
[sblock=Arcana=25]
The runes also seem to be powering the unnatural darkness ahead, this should be able to be disabled as well. (using another arcana check)
[/sblock]
[/sblock]

 

[Iron Sky]

As it gets dark a small mechanical voice says:

<LUMINOSITY INDEX SORT FAILURE, ENHANCIFY>

A second later, Sir Exsixten walks over to a wall and slams his head into it, causing a panel to pop off his forehead and filling the room with light from a blinding spotlight.

<ERROR, ACTIVATION LEVEL TOO HIGH, GYRO MOUNT TUMBLE REACTION INHIBITION OVERRIDE OVERRIDE FAILED, CREDITING BALANCE BALANCE. ROUNDING ERROR - SURFACE DETECTION SENSORS INDICATE ALL SURFACES ROUND. TRACING TWIN BLOT EMETTIER FRACTIONAL ALGORITHM VERTEX-SPLINE ACTUATION MODES...>

Sir Exsixten stumbles around the entrance to the room like a drunk for a while.

OOC: Delver's light provides permanent bright 20 light from Sir Exsixten.

 

[Luinnar]

GM: Added in arcana sblocks to my previous post.

 

[nerdytenor]

Dorn looks upon the statue with trepidation. This can't be good, he thinks. (Arcana 16 )

 

[Dekana]

Jax takes heart at Andras's suggestion of treasure, and he forces himself to follow the others into the cave. When he sees the mummy-like statue, he almost wishes he stayed outside.