7. Return to the Halls

testlum says:

OOC:

The underground river we came across when we met Gog has to go somewhere, so I'm still betting there's an entrance near the waterfall, even if we didn't find one the day before.

Don't forget to factor in the verticality of Arden Vul. The underground river near Gog was around 500-600 feet below the surface of the city. And you haven't seen any secondary waterfalls on the outside of the cliff face.

Nov 7, 2025 8:57 pm

Zach morosely gets dressed, dealing with the advent of near-thirty year old joints and early-onset specter-induced arthritis. Fine with me, gang he says to the idea of looking for another way in, but no dragons, deadfalls, or and here he shudders bullywugs!

Last edited November 8, 2025 11:16 pm

Nov 11, 2025 1:51 am

"Bull-wug? That worse than dragon? No want to see that again..."

OOC:

If we're going to explore more of the surface, there's plenty of options. The forum with the tree Thrud made angry I feel like we didn't fully explore before we ran off, there was a tower with a door and a ruined building if I remember right?

Where to? Public

The forum with the angry tree

The road east of the pyramid

Southern side of the big lake

Pyramid entrance

The river island north of the palace we visited yesterday (map shows a bridge to it)

One of the buildings off of the main streets (there are a few that are close to the streets yet off of them according to the map)

Somewhere else entirely

Last edited November 11, 2025 1:52 am

Nov 11, 2025 1:55 am

matmaisan Inactive for 16 days

OOC:

Since @Burbage and @Avraham mentioned being keen to get back inside the dungeon, we could always take the standard way inside, then try to find a way out afterward.

Nov 11, 2025 10:25 am

Ella is still intent on finding the "great cavern" her beastman chum told them about, and with that, an independent means of egress, circumventing the halfling mobsters completely (that is until we can kick their buts and free the main entrance).

On a side note, Ella prepares the sleep spell this time. She’s in a throat-slitting mood.

Last edited November 11, 2025 10:25 am

Nov 11, 2025 2:27 pm

Burbage Inactive for 16 days

OOC:

Zach still thinks we should bribe that creature at the bottom of the stairs with some dead beastman flesh.

GM

Nov 11, 2025 2:53 pm

So it looks like the majority favour a return to the pyramid entrance. I'll include Zach in that, as the only route you know to Gog is via that way. Is everyone OK with that?

Nov 11, 2025 5:02 pm

OOC:

Into the pyramid it is!

Nov 11, 2025 5:41 pm

OOC:

In the interest of keeping things moving so Burbage knows where we're heading first once below, I looked back at our maps and will make another poll of unexplored areas with some options.

OOC:

The "entrance chamber", where we encountered the halfling gang, has many unexplored passages

OOC:

South of the entrance chamber, we haven't explored the western doors/passage. Caution, we ran into a gelatinous cube in this area if I recall correctly

OOC:

Dubbing this the Beastmen level, several unexplored passageways down here:

Where should we explore first? Public

1 - Entrance Room - can go through one of the unexplored passages

2 - Western hallway past baboon fresco

3 - One of the unexplored halls in the beastmen level

4 - Gog's level (unpictured, multiple unexplored routes ,Gog cautioned us that we were too wimpy for this level)

5 - Somewhere else entirely I haven't listed

Last edited November 11, 2025 5:43 pm

Nov 11, 2025 10:35 pm

Burbage Inactive for 16 days

OOC:

Thanks for listing out the options like that, @dracul104!

I voted for the baboon fresco passage, but we can also investigate the grey mist. Grimidek handled the undead we met earlier quite handily, so we do have something in our pocket agains them.

GM

Nov 12, 2025 3:57 pm

You leave the warm embrace of The Broken Head and step out into another cool, grey, rainy Lucrios day. The 30-minute hike from the inn to the summit of the pyramid gets your blood pumping, and you find yourself standing before the exquisite 20-foot-tall statue of Thoth contemplating your descent back into darkness.

Here’s a reminder of the description of the top of the pyramid from an earlier post, and a link to that post, which includes a picture.

Quote:

You ascend the marble steps to the 30’ x 30’ platform at the top of the pyramid, the floor of which is sheathed in white marble. A dark grey granite canopy rises 30’ above the platform to accommodate the enormous statue of Thoth. Purple porphyry columns support the canopy. Crouching at the foot of each column is a heavily pitted 4’-tall statue of a crouching baboon, with its mouth slightly open as if barking.

The 20’-tall statue of Thoth represents the epitome of the sculptor’s trade. Carved out of a solid block of porphyry, and topped with a white marble ibis head, the statue is truly awe-inspiring. Two grapefruit-sized lumps of shaped jade serve as eyes. The god’s arms rest flat at his side.

Directly in front of the statue of Thoth is a 10’ x 5’ section of pavement that is obviously distinct from the rest of the platform.

Please update your marching order to include Eric and Hector.

Are you leaving Billie at the summit of the pyramid again? Or, perhaps, back at the Broken Head?

---
8:30 am, Mitrasday 26th Lucrios (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 2: 13/13, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 2: 7/7, 60’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 2: 14/14, 60’
---
Eric, Labourer, 90’
Hector, Linkboy, 90’
---
Billie, Mule: 120’

Link to Jacky’s maps …

Nov 12, 2025 7:59 pm

OOC:

Zach will leave that decision to others. Zach is looking forward to putting his newly learned skills to use for loot and glory!

Jacky Thistletop

Nov 12, 2025 10:27 pm

With Hector and Eric available to help, today Jacky leaves the mule behind at the Broken Head. The stable boys should take good care of him.

Nov 13, 2025 2:07 am

matmaisan Inactive for 16 days

OOC:

Marching order looks good to me! Hector's our new lamp bearer now right? That leaves me free to keep my shield prepared.

I had forgotten we didn't explore the mist room with the sludge pool, we can swing by there if we want to take a closer look. Link to post...

Ellagel Noreddottir

Nov 13, 2025 8:40 pm

With cautious steps, the small elf ascended to the pyramid and considered the positioning of the statue’s arms, reminding herself of the pattern necessary to activate the cleverly concealed entrance.

OOC:

3a was the blocked door, and 3b was the passage those awful cephalopods took, correct? I don’t mind checking the mist filled rooms, but they send shivers down Ella’s spine! They smell of bad magic and dark offerings.

Nov 13, 2025 10:31 pm

OOC:

3a - this is the last i saw about it after a quick look back - link to post...
3b - I don't know if we're certain they went that way, but seems likely - link to post...

Last edited November 13, 2025 10:32 pm

Nov 13, 2025 10:40 pm

matmaisan Inactive for 16 days

Zach watches with increasing impatience as Ellagel fidgets with the imposing statue. Lady Epidermis, is everything all right? he calls from his position in the van.

Ellagel Noreddottir

Nov 14, 2025 11:00 am

"Zacharias Polipulis could help, perhaps. But he has grown oh so despondent, since he gained some wrinkles," she stated jokingly, a tone of false seriousness making clear this was all spoken in jest.

Her tone then switched abruptly, all suggestion of false seriousness gone: "All mortal things perish in time, Archontean swordmaster. But no greatness has come from waiting for others to open the way."

She then, switched back to a playful tone, concluding, "so get here and help me with these arms, you are so much taller!"

Jacky Thistletop

Nov 14, 2025 11:06 am