Feb 28, 2025 9:00 pm
OOC:
It's funny you say that, I was actually thinking of trying the torch... Remote valley of Timberhollow
load previous
Feb 28, 2025 10:52 pm
OOC:
Out of combat basic magics do not need Test rolls, just time. Basically Tests are for then there is a major consequence for failure and/or when pressure or circumstances make success difficult. The more chance of failure and the worse the outcome if you fail the more a Test is needed. At this point Cass can heal everyone in a couple minutes w/o a Test roll.I often let ranged weapon users carry a simple knife or club as backup but a torch will do in a pinch. This is all a story so creative license is allowed and the actual gear is not my major concern.
After the battle is done Cass heals everyone while Alden takes a moment to decipher another message has been carved onto the arch at the descent. Entered at 2 tunnel goes up to bottom of image, Descent beyond 1 heading down to the right of image, candles south of descent
Water weeps where sorrow sleeps,
A voice long lost, a wound too deep.
Fire burns a safe haven to make,
The heat safuses the structure safe.
To open the gate, to cross the line,
Shall you mend, or break, the shrine?
Beyond the archway you find a cavern with a roughly flat floor. Across the floor are candles arrayed in a complex pattern with aged lines connecting them. As you study this you note that the ceiling is covered with cracks that somehow remind you of the pattern on thee floor but not matching exactly.
Mar 1, 2025 12:21 am
Alden studies the patterns, trying to understand how they could heal the shrine. Maybe by lighting the correct candles? Repairing the ceiling?
Rolls
Puzzle test (Perceptive, Educated) - (3d6)
(233) = 8
Mar 1, 2025 6:53 am
John shifts around in his battered armor, still functional but heavily damaged. Striking his blade against a stone he ignites the blade again and looks down the way the mud creature went.
"Well we almost got the thing, I’ll be in front again."
He joins the group, and gives them all a reassuring nod.
"I think we did good for our first time, we’ll do better the when we find the creature again."
He gives them all a smile and waits to start leading the party further in.
"Well we almost got the thing, I’ll be in front again."
He joins the group, and gives them all a reassuring nod.
"I think we did good for our first time, we’ll do better the when we find the creature again."
He gives them all a smile and waits to start leading the party further in.
Mar 1, 2025 7:50 am
Cass joins Alden is studying the lines and candles. "Yes, we should light the candles, and look for an opportunity to mend the shrine, whatever that means. We should light them as we descend further, but let’s make sure we do so in the right order."
OOC:
Cass has the Perceptive trait; can she discern a pattern or see something else significant?Mar 1, 2025 11:06 pm
OOC:
Even with low rolls w/o a "success" you can still lean things based on character trats/background.@Octavian, I just skipped finishing off the other mud creature, see earlier post.
Mar 2, 2025 12:32 am
Alden looks around trying to understand if there are more places to explore. He is looking to investigate but not disturb any ruins.
" 'Here lies a great stone that weeps water even in the driest of summers' " - Alden quotes what they learned at the village. - "I believe that's the mud creature we defeated. But they also told us that the shrine’s oldest texts suggest it is the remnant of a forgotten guardian, a being of living stone that once stood watch over the valley. Some believe its grief stems from a betrayal long ago. We need to investigate this, preferably without fighting with it, I think."
He also remembers the kids song:
"Deep in the hollow, past root and stone,
A door stands waiting, alone, alone.
Knock three times and whisper true,
But never step beyond, or it takes you too."
He looks for that door to knock 3 times.
" 'Here lies a great stone that weeps water even in the driest of summers' " - Alden quotes what they learned at the village. - "I believe that's the mud creature we defeated. But they also told us that the shrine’s oldest texts suggest it is the remnant of a forgotten guardian, a being of living stone that once stood watch over the valley. Some believe its grief stems from a betrayal long ago. We need to investigate this, preferably without fighting with it, I think."
He also remembers the kids song:
"Deep in the hollow, past root and stone,
A door stands waiting, alone, alone.
Knock three times and whisper true,
But never step beyond, or it takes you too."
He looks for that door to knock 3 times.
Mar 2, 2025 5:37 am
John gazes around cavern, letting Cass and Alden take the lead with their superior knowledge of magics. He eyes the candles, they would be pretty easy to light.
Mar 2, 2025 2:43 pm
Cass considers the engraving they just saw. "Ok, so you think the betrayed guardian is grieving own here somewhere? And these candles are, or lead to, a shrine that seals it away, or maybe gives it a refuge? Well, I hope its grief hasn't driven it mad. And I hope this isn't the betrayer sealed away, as opposed to the guardian."
And then with perhaps naive optimisim, or foolishness? she adds, "Well, only one way to find out!"
She studies the lines connecting the candles, looking for the candle that seems to be the first one to light. She will then proceed to light them following the lines, hopefully in order.
And then with perhaps naive optimisim, or foolishness? she adds, "Well, only one way to find out!"
She studies the lines connecting the candles, looking for the candle that seems to be the first one to light. She will then proceed to light them following the lines, hopefully in order.
Mar 2, 2025 9:29 pm
All of this makes Des visibly on edge. He watches Cass interacting with the candles, then wanders back up toward the descent, careful not to go further. He readies and an arrow, watching from a distance.
Mar 2, 2025 11:39 pm
As Alden walks up to the doorway he can see down the passage beyond and sees another open doorway below. He notices the air wafting up is both warn and humid. Knocking on the stone elicits no further reaction.
Cass studies the diagram and tries to reactivate it. Roll a test
Cass studies the diagram and tries to reactivate it. Roll a test
OOC:
I will proceed with Cass's stated intent tomorrow, adding a roll if needed, if nothing else changes. Mar 3, 2025 12:28 am
Cass continues to light candles, hoping to repair the shrine, complete this ritual, or otherwise put this grieving guardian to rest. If the lines and candles seem to be creating a ward that they could get inside of, she recommends they do so before she lights the last candle. She says, "'Fire burns a safe haven to make' might mean that the fire of the candles can protect us? I am unsure. Well, haha..." she says, laughing blithely -- or perhaps naively -- "I guess we'll find out! Isn't it exciting?"
Rolls
Cass: Test DC: 5 - Basic - (2d6)
(44) = 8
Mar 3, 2025 12:37 am
John wanders over seeing that Cass is lighting the candles.
"I don’t really know what’s going on but if you need me to do something just let me know."
John chuckles to himself, feeling more comfortable when he was fighting the mud creature than with these mysterious puzzles.
"I don’t really know what’s going on but if you need me to do something just let me know."
John chuckles to himself, feeling more comfortable when he was fighting the mud creature than with these mysterious puzzles.
Rolls
Helping Cass - test - (2d6)
(12) = 3
Mar 3, 2025 12:51 am
Des looks suspiciously at the whole situation, but moves near Cass. He will follow her lead if there is a recognizable place to stand.