D&D 5E (IC) Vault of the Dracolich (River Gang)

[FitzTheRuke]

As the River Gang finds a comfortable place to sit and have a snack and a breather, one of the Stirge-corpses floats down the rushing stream bobbing over the rapids. The others would have long-since beat you here - this one must have been along the shore and eventually slid down the mud and into the water. At any rate, it glides swiftly along the surface and begins to fall into the rift along with all the water.

But then suddenly one of the "vines" that dangle from the ceiling quickly wraps around it and lifts it high over your heads. Thirty feet up, a large dark stalactite opens it's toothy maw and the vine-tentacle puts the stirge inside, munching. A single eye opens up on the rocky surface of the stalactite, and it blinks in the light of Dunmire's lantern, unused to such bright lights.

Several vines curl up into the air and the entire stalactite shuffles away from the light, bumping into another stalactite of similar size. This one, too, opens an eye, blinks, curls up some "vines", and shuffles around on the ceiling, vying for space against the other one.

 

[gargoyleking]

Mord watches the ceiling for a moment making sure to stay away from the vines. Waiting to see if the creatures would settle down and to see if they could move through the passageway without drawing their attention.

Squirrels are evil!

 

[FitzTheRuke]

OOC: You could probably slip up the tunnel while they are working out who gets to cling to the best spot, but they find the light annoying.

Dunmire slowly reaches for where he placed the lantern down, and moves it to block the brightest light from going "up".

 

[gargoyleking]

After a few moments he waves the group forwards. Doing his best to stay low and against the wall.

Squirrels are evil!

 

[Ancalagon]

Udit, eyes bulging, non-verbally urges the group along - then whips his head forward - *look where you are going!* his mom would say.

 

[River Song]

Casting a wary eye at the ceiling, Kurzon nods. "Lead on."

 

[FitzTheRuke]

The River Gang slips up the rocky tunnel, leaving the Rift and the Ropers behind them. A light-source and the sound of hard labour ahead causes the group to pause and douse the lantern. In the deep shadows, a dirt-covered unused Bhaalite Obelisk can be seen ahead and on the left Then the tunnel turns right and widens into a long wide cavern.

OOC: At the moment you can't be seen. Someone can go ahead and peek around the corner to the right, if they like. dc12 Stealth will keep you unnoticed.

 

[Ancalagon]

In a *very* low voice - but not a whisper, those could carry - Udit gathers the others

"I'm going to go take a look. Teleporter's an option too, but not until we know what's ahead"

Trying to use the sound of labor to hide his steps, keeping to the deeper area and keeping his eyes peeled for traps - and also to not trip on a bloody rock - Udit crept forward slowly.

Udit sneaking up to a corner with work noises : 1D20+9 = [10]+9 = 19

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Peeking around the corner, Udit spots the last thing he ever expected to see here: What appears to be the hull of a shattered sailing ship lies half buried in the left-hand wall of the cavern. Udit can tell by the hull's design that it is in an elven style, ancient and masterfully constructed.

Twelve burly troglodytes work hard to excavate the hull, leaving broken rock scattered across the ground. It appears their work has uncovered four elven relics, which are on the ground near the ship: a mystical sextant, a rune-scribed stone tablet, a spyglass, and a thick rope woven with silver.

Three human men guard the working troglodytes with crossbows, and a woman in robes inspects the relics with great interest.

No-one notices Udit.

 

[Ancalagon]

Udit's eyes widen and then narrow. Concentrate. Note the details

Those burly troglodyte... do they look like slaves? Free laborers? Warriors who know their way around tools?

The humans: how are they dressed? Specifically, does it look like those mercenaries we've faced? That woman in robes - do they look familiar? One of those cultist? If not... wizardy? Something else?