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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nthal" data-source="post: 7824459" data-attributes="member: 6971069">The Little Cabin in the Woods – 10/3/2019 Surprise can be a wonderful thing.  The new and the unexpected is what sustains a Sensate.  That unique experience is to be savored and treasured. But it can also be found in the most ordinary places.  Things you thought you knew, or things that you expect to be ‘normal.’ It is simply that; a surprise.  But what you do with it, is something else.The first thing I remembered hearing was the sound of someone in severe pain.  As my mind began to focus, my senses were flooded with other information.  The smells of cooking, the weight and warmth of something sitting on my chest, and especially the sounds of someone’s pain, manifesting in a shrill and desperate tone.“Ohhhh….my head.  What have I done?” I heard the gnome gasp somewhere nearby.I opened an eye and down at my chest.  There I found Gossamer, sitting quietly, taking space and giving off a tremendous amount of heat.  His head turned back and forth watching the camp around him as he sat with his legs curled underneath him.  He was clearly watching over me, and he duly noticed my questioning eye, and he met my gaze.The wizard appears to be in an indelicate state this morning.--He was drunk, so that’s a hangover.And I assume that are in a similar condition?--Actually…no.  I only have a small problem.And that is?--You are preventing me from getting up and finding food.Gossamer looked at me with what I think was an amused expression, and he slowly stood, stretched and walked over me to the log my head laid on.  I propped my self up on my elbows and looked around.  I apparently slept on that log, with my head on a cloak or other piece of cloth.  And somehow, I had laid there, balanced throughout the evening.  It might have had to do with Gossamer essentially pinning me down and preventing me from turning over and landing on the ground.Looking around, I first saw Beepu.  He sat on the ground, with his head between his hands, while he rocked his body back and forth.  He was loudly moaning something in gnomish.  I swung my legs over to the ground, stood and stretched my arms high while I looked for my other companions. The next one I found was Iesa, who was quietly snoring, with his back to another log and his arms spread apart and draped on it, while he sat on the ground, his legs stretched out.  Mo was with him as well, but he was fast asleep, his arms wrapped around Iesa’s neck as he clung to the man.Near him on the ground in a large heap was Torin.  He lay flat on his back with a silly grin on his face, and without the slightest care of the world, let alone the local goings on.Of Daneath there was no sign, and I guessed he would turn up eventually.  So, I started to follow my nose to where the cooking was.  Not far from the fire I was at, was another fire pit, that was rectangular in shape, and with rocks lining the rim.  Across the rocks, were rods, grates and spits.  Some meat was already sizzling on hot iron plates set across the rods, and there were pans full of…I gulped.  I recognized the substance in the pans, as I watched a goliath quickly mixed the contents together.  He then cracked another white oval on the edge and spilled the yellow and clear contents and mixed it together with the rest.  Before I could turn away, the male spotted me.“Still green after your bout with Torin?”“Wha…oh no.  I survived that fine.  It’s just I—”“—Wanted to try my eggs; Well, give me a moment to season them properly.”I didn’t want to say anything; it seemed rude, so I smiled gamely and watched.  Unlike the ones in the Inn in Triboar, he was adding far more ingredients.  Spices were added, then some fresh cooked meat that was already  diced was mixed into it.  Finally, I saw that he reached towards some coals, and pulled out something round wrapped in burlap.  As I watched, he peeled off the cloth with hands that seemed impervious to the heat.  Inside was a root, that he quickly cut into pieces and threw them in the pan. The smell was spicy, with the hints of cured meat and smoky wood.  Before long, he handed me a plate with a fork, full of the eggs with the fixing.  All with the broadest smile on his face.I took a deep breath.  I was a Sensate; I was supposed to try new things.  And if nothing else, I knew cooking with the right materials could turn the average to magnificent.  I just hoped it would change the vile to tolerable.  So, I took the plate, and quickly before I could change my mind, I speared some of the fluffy material, closed my eyes and shoved the fork in my mouth, fully expecting to be poisoned.The texture was the same, but the flavors exploded in my mouth.  I could taste the sharp seeds from the cured meat, salt, and peppery spices.  All of them melded together into something that was far more wonderful than that plate in Triboar.  I found myself wolfing down my plate quickly, eager to savor more of the flavor.“Hah!  Seems you like it!” the goliath exclaimed.“That’s better than the last time,” I head behind me as I watched Daneath approached, still fitting a vambrace on his arm.“What happened last time?”“She turned green, ran through a kitchen, and emptied her stomach on a nearby tree.”“Well, glad to know I can cook better than THAT,” the Goliath laughed.I could feel my cheeks flush red, as I tried to finish my mouthful to get a word in.“Well, that was the first time she ever even had eggs!”“And what does this make?”“Her second time,”The goliath roared with laughter “Only the second time!  I am glad to broaden your horizons then!”I finally cleared my mouth, “Eggs aren’t…a common meal where I’m from.  But these are indeed, better than the first.” And I elbowed the warrior in the ribs, giving him a stare that I hoped could curdle his blood.“Well, Beepu was right after all.”“Huh?  How?”“You’ve changed.”I pursed my lips together, considering that and retorted “Well, did you find your codpiece, or did you dent it again?”“Not a problem this time.  I could at least remember the evening.”“I hope it doesn’t take your edge off,”“I should hope not!  We can’t besmirch Big D the lover!” Chimed the now conscious Iesa, strolling over to us, while feeding Mo on his shoulder.“Really?  Let’s not get carried away.  How’s Beepu?”“Miserable.” Iesa replied, pointing to the hunched over gnome by the log and fire.“He’ll feel better with some water, and a guide on our way.” Daneath said.“Yeah I talked with him already, once we are set, he’ll lead us in sight of the cabin, but no closer.”“Why is that?” I asked.“Respect for Ravalan’s privacy.  I guess we get to be the rude ones.” Iesa said with a shrug.“Well,” I started and thought a moment.  “Get that ale barrel we had last night, and pry off the lid with the tap.“Oh?  Have a solution in mind?”I nodded with a grin, and with that Iesa was off looking for the barrel.  I had just finished the eggs when he rolled it up and stood it on end and removed the top lid.I looked inside critically and took a whiff.  The smell of Ale was strong and had to go.  I flexed on the light strands and started to pour energy into the barrel, and soon the ale stains and the smell were gone.  Iesa looked at the barrel questioningly, and then looked at me expectantly.  A small group of goliaths had also stopped, wondering what I was doing.I then grasped the medallion of my faith and said a quick prayer pulling on lighter strands, and in a moment, the barrel began to swell with water.  The nearby goliaths saw the surge, of water and scattered.  I thought I had scared them, but I realized that they were running for buckets, pots, mugs; anything to hold more water.I held on to the incantation, and let them grab their fill as gallons of water flooded the interior of the barrel. So did Iesa and Daneath each filling a mug and swallowing down the water.  I then twisted the strands and closed off the magic and halting the flow of water.  The goliaths smiled and thanked me for the clean water, while Daneath grabbed the moaning gnome and brought him to now half full barrel.“Ow.  Stop moving.  Stop BREATHING.  It is too loud.”“I better hold your pack Beepu,” Iesa said, slipping off the important things from Beepu, without him really noticing.“Yes.  Yes.  It is too heavy.  Now what I need is a lot of water.  This drinking thing has gone—”<<SPLOOSH!!>>The gnome quickly sputtered to the surface and coughed.“What the?  I meant to drink you imbeciles!”------That was early in the morning, but by midday we had made significant progress westward.  Our guide, Kolth, new the lands well, and unlike Roggins was an honest guide.  He was also remarkably patient, as Beepu was frequently winded in trying to keep up with the long legs of our guide.He wasn’t much of a conversationalist either, and with the pace he kept, I really didn’t have much energy to ask questions.  But eventually we reached some hills and started to ascend.  And before long, he brought us to a halt, and pointed ahead.  There on a hillside was a lone cabin; its lower footings in stone, and the upper sections in wood.“There,” Kolth said simply.  He then nodded and started to make he way down the hills.“Thanks again!” Iesa called, and Kolth simply waved his hand behind him, not even turning.We climbed up the hill to the cabin, and once we made it to the front door, it was clear something was amiss.  The front porch was littered in leaves and debris, some of it blocking the front door.  We didn’t need to say anything to each other, but this didn’t bode well for a simple introduction.Daneath, Beepu and I were looking around for any other clues, while Iesa opened the door.  It creaked open on rusty hinges and Iesa peered inside.“That’s a…problem,” Iesa said after a moment.“What is?  What’s inside?” Daneath asked and he moved towards his brother to peer over his shoulder.“Well, that’s just it.  The inside is…missing.”“What?” Beepu said, and he pushed his way and was looking around the Iesa’s knees.  “Well now.  I was not expecting…that.”“Oh, out of the way,” and I pushed Daneath aside and looked within.The walls were full of shelves full of bric-a-brac and layers of dust.  Jugs, skins, and other items hung from hooks or ropes from the ceiling.  And that was as normal as it got.  I blinked a couple of times as I realized, that in this single room cabin, there wasn’t a piece of furniture.  No bed, no tables, no chairs.But more importantly, there was no floor.  Instead, there was a yawning pit that extended wall to wall of the cabin.  I looked down, and I could see a pool of water, but it must have been fifty feet below where the cabin floor should have been.  As I stared, I could see that there was a passage way leading away from the pool.“Alright, that’s new,” I said.  I waved Gossamer inside, and he found a beam to perch on and he looked down.  Foggle soon joined him, while Mo stayed on Iesa’s shoulder.Beepu spoke up.  “That would explain the state of the exterior, if Ravalan fell down there.”“Meaning he didn’t come back up again,” Daneath said.“Ok, well I don’t see a corpse either so he might have wandered deeper within,” Iesa said peering at the water below.“How does someone miss the fact that your ground that your home is built on is gone?” Daneath asked aloud.I bend down and looked at the earthen walls of the pit, and the rock layer below it.  I could see chisel or pick marks in the rock; flat cuts and sharp breaks in the stone.“Someone dug under here.  And the rocks have been moved away,” I said.“Someone mined here to get to Ravalan I would say.  Not at minor endeavor either,” Beepu said nodding.  “But why?”“I guess we’re are going to need to go down and ask,” Iesa said and he started to uncoil some rope attached to his pack.“No need I can get us down safely,” Beepu said waving his hand.“What about back up?” Daneath asked.“Not needed.  There must be an exit elsewhere.  There were tools used here, so it was a humanoid species that did this.” Beepu replied.“Wait, why does that mean there’s an exit?” Iesa asked confused.“Because someone had to know that Ravalan was here at all, to plan to dig under him.  You cannot do that randomly from below without reason.”“He’s got a point,” I said.  “Let’s do this.”Beepu nodded and closed his eyes for a moment.  He then pulled a feather from his pouch and started to wave it around as he chanted.  In a moment he opened his eyes and looked at us.“Alright…jump down.”“Just like that?” Daneath asked dubiously.“Yes.  Why do you doubt me?”“It’s new.  I don’t like new things,” Daneath replied.“You will endure!  Now move,” and Beepu pushed the big man with all of his strength.Daneath didn’t budge, and instead looked down with concern.  All the while Beepu continued to push.  Daneath then took a breath and stepped off the ledge, causing Beepu to fall on wooden planking outside the cabin.As I watched, he slowly drifted down towards the opening in the wall below, and he would also sail over the water.  Iesa watched his brother and then he also stepped off into the air and drifted slowly down.  Beepu turned to look up at me, smiled and just jumped off the edge.I shrugged and stepped off the wood and into the pit.  I stumbled on the edge a moment though and nearly tripped, but the magic took hold and I felt myself slowly sinking in the air.  But unlike the others I was heading straight down towards the middle of the water.“Great,” I said as I realized my mistake.  I was resigned to becoming wet but then I heard Iesa say those magic words…“What the?”I looked down, and below me I saw the water shimmer, and I could see…something began to form.   I could see through it, like a clear pond with just enough ripples so you tell there was water there.  but it was growing upwards.  I could see some bits of wood as well, rise and hang in the air as a cubed shape of protoplasm took form below me.That doesn’t look good.--You think?!?“Guys, I’m going to need some help here!” I said, my legs were now running, desperate to change my direction to a wall; anywhere but the middle of the cavern where the cube was.Iesa glared at Beepu, “Told you we needed to use rope,”“It is not my fault she is clumsy and cannot jump,” Beepu said archly.“So not the time!” I yelled and I started to cast and throw energy at the object.  A purple blast streaked out and struck the translucent foe.Daneath stepped forward and swung with his sword, carving a slice of goop off.  But the cube reacted, extending part of its form to strike the big man’s shield.  Daenath then moved into the room, trying to draw the thing into following him, as he moved around the edge of the pool.  Meanwhile, Beepu threw another bolt of fire at it, striking and burning a divot in the surface.  Iesa in the meantime threw the rope at me and missed.  He cursed and quickly pulled it back and prepared to throw it again.I didn’t want to be the one enveloped by the thing, and I threw more energy at it hoping to hurt it.  I tried to find purchase on anything so I could move away from a gelatinous doom, but I was nowhere near a wall or anything beyond the closing pool.  Daneath swung again slicing more parts off and was again repelled by the monstrosity’s strike.  But he again retreated, and the mindless foe pursued slowly.This time with a much better toss, Iesa got the rope to my hand, and he pulled me towards him.  I clung onto it fearing for my life.  I let out my breath my feet hit the ground.  I then turned and threw another bolt of energy at it.  Meanwhile, Beepu and Daneath both continued to swing with swords and bolts of flame.  Daneath connected with it and its form lost cohesion, melting as foul liquids spread into the pool, leaving behind an acrid smell in the air. “I hope that Ravalan didn’t fall into that thing,” Iesa said as he watched the form melt away.“I do not think he did.” Beepu said, turning to face the passageway that led deeper, and holding his arm for Foggle to land on.“Why?” Daneath asked turning to follow the gnomes gaze.I turned as well to look down the passageway.  There were palisades set into the rock, covered with rock and dirt.  More importantly was that their orientation was angled in a way that would prevent the cube from drifting down the passage, without tearing itself to pieces. “Someone set that there after the cube was placed here,” I said.Beepu nodded “Precisely.  And that cube was not here when they dug underneath the cabin.  So, someone is very clever.  But not wise enough to leave guards behind.“I suppose we will need to teach them the error of their ways then,” I said with a smile.As long as you don’t trip again…--Oh shut up!Session notesThe aftermath of the goliath part was legendary, considering my rolls on not getting drunk.   Not falling into a gelatinous cube...that was pretty bad.</blockquote>

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