Author Topic: Campaign #1 - Somewhere on the Sword Coast (Read 2593445 times)

Joy · « **Reply #735 on:** October 13, 2025, 05:03:39 am »

[Hidden Rolls]

[Time: Tuesday, Spring 25, 1400, 9C Calm Inside, -12C Windy, Light Snow Outside]

Caltrops and bearings were spread and Ashley spent the next hour scouring the mine looking for anything of value that's not mining equipment and she found a lot of mining sundries and household items, pick axes, rope, cups, torches, paper, quills, ink, an empty ledger in good condition, three bundles of arrows, a mace, hammer, mining outfits in small and medium sizes, candles, two barrels with some kind of dwarven beer still in them, lots of scrap metal both iron and dwarven metal which is just as heavy but stronger and has a deep bronze hue, wood, lots of lanterns and nothing more of value. Any of the above could be taken or borrowed and would not necessarily be missed.

"I found a bunch of junk but nothing more of value, let's finish resting (About 7 hours) and get to the next level. I also figured out the elevator, I don't know how I know but it looks complicated but seems trivial how the elevator works, I'm not sure how we're going to lock it once we start lowering it, but there's a guide chain that raises and lowers it from the platform so that shouldn't be a problem. I also found several passages up and down but they all look like chutes, raises, stopes, drifts leading to other tunnels that are all dark. They all seem clear with consistent layers of dust that haven't been disturbed in many years."

[You can rely on Ashley to look for areas of interest and places to investigate further.]

Yulya · « **Reply #736 on:** October 13, 2025, 02:54:42 pm »

Yulya is satisfied and returns to resting.
Good work Ashley! Please decide what to take in the mean time. Cat can you make us another meal? We should eat while we can undisturbed.

Alice · « **Reply #737 on:** October 13, 2025, 05:00:16 pm »

Alice looks at the items Ashley found. She tries to analyze the bronze-hued ore, tossing a few scraps of it in her mouth like popcorn and probes it like a sommelier tasting fine wine.

Oh yeah Ashley!
We found that copper ore sample you have within the giant ooze we defeated. Composition-wise it may be a valid ore sample for Harbin but it lacks provenance. Meaning we have no idea where its unfortunate former owner that got eaten got it from. Which makes it pretty worthless. We gotta document where exactly we took the samples and write it down. The paper will be useful for that. It's better than nothing but if we find another source of copper ore, we should substitute this sample with one of documented collection location.
Alice still isn't convinced about Ashley's qualifications as ore prospector.

The ale barrel peaks her interest
Wouldn't count that worthless!

She hands out freshly Alice-cleaned cups to everyone
Cheers! To more dead enemies and harvested ears!

Alice proceeds to hone more arrows and produce poisoned ones from the cooked blast component in the remaining time.
Help me hone more arrows, Cat! We got a lot!

Cat · « **Reply #738 on:** October 14, 2025, 06:56:26 am »

Quote from: Alice on October 13, 2025, 05:00:16 pm

The ale barrel peaks her interest
Wouldn't count that worthless!

She hands out freshly Alice-cleaned cups to everyone
Cheers! To more dead enemies and harvested ears!

Ohh Beer Nya! How could we have overlooked that Nya!
Cat gladly takes a cup and downs it in one go

Quote from: Alice on October 13, 2025, 05:00:16 pm

Alice proceeds to hone more arrows and produce poisoned ones from the cooked blast component in the remaining time.
Help me hone more arrows, Cat! We got a lot!

Right Nya almost forgot that Nya!
Cat hones her arrows and helps Alice create poisoned arrows.

Yulya · « **Reply #739 on:** October 14, 2025, 02:40:59 pm »

Quote from: Alice on October 13, 2025, 05:00:16 pm

The ale barrel peaks her interest
Wouldn't count that worthless!

She hands out freshly Alice-cleaned cups to everyone
Cheers! To more dead enemies and harvested ears!

Yulya politely takes the cup for a toast and then gives the beer back to Alice knowing she would drink a second cup just like Toblens brandy.

Joy · « **Reply #740 on:** October 15, 2025, 03:03:01 am »

Quote from: Alice on October 13, 2025, 05:00:16 pm

We found that copper ore sample you have within the giant ooze we defeated. Composition-wise it may be a valid ore sample for Harbin but it lacks provenance. Meaning we have no idea where its unfortunate former owner that got eaten got it from. Which makes it pretty worthless.

Ashley looks through her bag frantically and finds the ore, it's beautiful green and blue hue with glints of orange clearly indicates copper. "Oh nice, wait WHAT!? You mean I need to document where it's found?"

Then she gets a knowing look on her face and nods with a smile as Alice tries to give her the ledger but she pushes it back at her.

"Duh, Harbin already knows that. Leave the questing you your big sis Ashley." Refusing Alice's ledger and offer of alcohol, Ashley pats Alice on the head then heads over to the elevator to make sure she can work it.

"Ale? Yuck, I have this strange craving for tea though, let me know if you find any."

Cat and Alice get busy honing arrows, knowing they can poison 10 of them from the poison they made, and based on Alice's assessment of the potency, it's better than the stuff she made previously.

[This poison is 1d4, you have the following total:

-[16] HONED ARROWS +1
-[5] POISONED ARROWS +1d2
-[10] POISONED ARROWS +1d4
-[10] BLUNT ARROWS
-[39] ARROW

How many more do you want to hone/carry? The quivers only fit 20, if you carry two quivers, it will weigh twice as much Let me know how much each of you will carry and how many you will hone.]

At the elevator...

[INVESTIGATION/THIEVERY/TINKERING 1d20+2=14]

It's not difficult to understand what to pull and which lever controls the lock, she's figured it out in no time and heads back to report and guard as everyone continues to rest.

"We're all set, as soon as you're all ready, let's descend."

[Interactions Required]

Joy · « **Reply #741 on:** October 15, 2025, 01:49:43 pm »

Quote from: Alice on October 13, 2025, 05:00:16 pm

Alice looks at the items Ashley found. She tries to analyze the bronze-hued ore.

The most amazing thing happens as Alice injests the ore, she now fully understands what Dwarven metal tastes like and has gained the remarkable ability to identify if dwarven metal was used in the composition of any metallic item, within reason.

Alice · « **Reply #742 on:** October 15, 2025, 01:55:09 pm »

Alice memorizes the peculiar taste and swallows another hand full.
Not bad, complex composition, rich in rare earth trace elements! This stuff should be useful!

Quote from: Joy on October 15, 2025, 03:03:01 am

Ashley looks through her bag frantically and finds the ore, it's beautiful green and blue hue with glints of orange clearly indicates copper. "Oh nice, wait WHAT!? You mean I need to document where it's found?"
Then she gets a knowing look on her face and nods with a smile as Alice tries to give her the ledger but she pushes it back at her.
"Duh, Harbin already knows that. Leave the questing you your big sis Ashley." Refusing Alice's ledger and offer of alcohol, Ashley pats Alice on the head then heads over to the elevator to make sure she can work it.

Alice rolls her eyes at this predictable outcome and downs her own cup, Yulya's and Ashley's.
More for me, I expected nothing else. Too bad the barrel is so heavy, I'd also have taken this with us!

Alice looks at the ledger and hands it to Yulya.
This is supposed to be worth 15 gp? What a joke. In any civilized world this would be expendable material for children worth a few coppers. Actually way too valuable for Ashley's doodles...

Alice decides to take her own notes on paper before Ashley tells Harbin she collected samples 'somewhere in the mountain'. After all is finished, Alice and Cat move the two heavy bags with equipment into the elevator.

Are we all set? I hope it's worth going down there instead of letting them all starve. And by 'worth' I of course mean ear-wise!

Cat · « **Reply #743 on:** October 16, 2025, 06:43:08 am »

Quote from: Joy on October 15, 2025, 03:03:01 am

head then heads over to the elevator to make sure she can work it.[/i]
"Ale? Yuck, I have this strange craving for tea though, let me know if you find any."

Cat shrugs
Nyaa it's not the world' greatest but not bad either Nya! I'd like to have tea Nya but it's so expensive Nya! We'll probably have to wait until we're back in Neverwinter Nya!

Quote from: Alice on October 15, 2025, 01:55:09 pm

Too bad the barrel is so heavy, I'd also have taken this with us!

Nyahaha even you'd get drunk if you chug down dwarven beer like that Nya! Let's save it for our return Nya! Then you can have 3 more cups Nya!

Cat carries the bags onto the elevator
That's a lot of gear Nya we'll be slow Nya but now we have stuff for an extended siege Nya! We gotta check every tunnel Nya the last thing we want is getting ambushed from behind Nya! Be vigilant Nya! The enemy can attack from all sides Nya even from above and below Nya and watch for traps Nya!

Cat pats an anxious Yulya on the shoulder
I'm counting on your wisdom Nya! Let's go down there Nya!

Yulya · « **Reply #744 on:** October 16, 2025, 02:49:55 pm »

Fully rested but not overly enthusiastic Yulya packs up the tent and helps moving all equipment onto the elevator

Quote from: Alice on October 15, 2025, 01:55:09 pm

Alice looks at the ledger and hands it to Yulya.
This is supposed to be worth 15 gp? What a joke. In any civilized world this would be expendable material for children worth a few coppers. Actually way too valuable for Ashley's doodles...

Yulya carefully packages the ledger in her backpack. She still feels like she is stealing some treasure.
Uhm paper and books generally are very expensive. I learned to write on a wax board and even by this I felt very privileged! Is paper really this abundant in other worlds?

Quote from: Alice on October 15, 2025, 01:55:09 pm

Are we all set? I hope it's worth going down there instead of letting them all starve.

Yulya catches herself sympathizing with Alices genocidal ideas and only hesitantly steps on the elevator. She rummages in her pockets and takes a 1sp candy for consolement
Its all for the lost girls remember the lost girls - heroic deeds...

Yulya keeps repeating those words to herself like a mantra and casts GUIDANCE on herself checking every crack and crevice for traps and ambushes on the way down with growing paranoia.

Joy · « **Reply #745 on:** **Yesterday** at 03:03:17 pm »

[Hidden Rolls]

[Time: Tuesday, Spring 25, 2100, 9C Calm Inside, -16C Windy, Light Blizzard Outside]

Everyone finishes resting in complete peace and moves toward the elevator. It's not terribly comfortable, the guard rails are short and the open front gives no sense of safety, but the elevator feels secure and solid. As everyone steps on the elevator Ashley unlocks it, then steps on the platform and tells cat to grab the small chain and start the descent. Yulya casts Guidance on herself as a last measure before you begin.

The elevator descends smoothly as the large chain moves with the platform and the smaller control chain easily moves under light pressure, descending into the depths of the mountain. After a few minutes all light is gone, Ashley casts Truesight and describes what she sees.

"It looks like swiss cheese down here, lots of passages, mined out veins, these all must be accessible from the first level because after that platform left us, we've pretty much been suspended in space with no landings for at least 20ft in any direction."

As you descend hundreds of feet, minutes pass and Cat sees that she can hook the chain on a metallic peg making it impossible to move by tugging the small chain, thereby making this 10x15 ft platform a fine resting place for the party if suspended mid-level. No monsters or anyone else can come up this way, the chain is covered in a thick grease, and so it feels very safe. Certainly no one could survive the fall from the first level.

"Oh wow, This is a natural cavern, now we're suspended away from anything close enough to see, it's like we're in a black abyss."

You estimate you've traveled a good 1000 meters down before any glimmer of light shines from the depths.

"Okay, we're reaching something with light, that glowstone again, and the elevator looks like it's going into dug area again, It shouldn't be much longer."

Everyone sees that glimmer of light grow until it's no longer dark and you've arrived at another well built level very similar to the one you left, Wooden platforms and false floors hiding long since chased ore veins and passages to deeper into the depths of the mined drafts. Glowstone lanterns glow happily along the walls. Again there are tones of supplies and ore barrels near the elevator. The Western wall of the shaft chamber has collapsed shelves and a mass of broken supply crates recently opened. The Dusty kegs that were neatly stored have fallen and partially spilled out, whether intentionally or not, onto the floor. A strong scent of dwarven ale hangs in the air. It hangs so thick that flame light may not be the best option here.

Cat feels the elevator hit a stop, and it's now at level two ground level. It won't budge lower.

[Time: Tuesday, Spring 25, 2200, 9C Deathly calm]

The ceiling of this level is a good 30ft up marked with stalactites and the occasional drip marks a small pad of flowstone on the floor. Based on the flowstone and the rate of seepage, this level was dug centuries ago. Thought the elevator looks newer than that, the cool sterile air may be masking its true age. It also could have been that the Rockseekers refurbished the elevator more recently.

[Perception 1d20+5+1d4=CR]

Yulya is certain she sensed nothing to worry about. It feels utterly deserted other then the footsteps in the dust just off the platform. The steps are a mix of humanoid boots and another more ominous set of prints. Vaguely humanoid, larger than a orc, and with clawed toes.

[Insight 1d20+7=18]

The footprints as well as a slight odor sparks Yulya's memory of old tomes she once studied and well understood by the church, these are ghouls.

[Ghouls are the undead remains of an ancient race of elf-like beings. When they determined their race was no longer sustainable by normal means, they were bent on obtaining immortality. Having no clear path, they turned to the dark arts and paid the ultimate price. After living hundreds of years beyond their already long lives they became corrupted by the dark magic. Though intelligent, they've become feral in the depths and dark places they dwell, places even orcs dare not tread. Unsatisfied by the lesser animals, and unable to bear the light, even the light of the moon, they seek out dwellings where the occasional living humanoid may go and wait in the dark, sometimes decades, for their prey.]

There was a scuffle here not too long ago, traces of blood run off in all directions.

"It looks like the levers are set to rest the elevator on this level. I don't know if that means the bandits stopped here or were stopped by something."

[Interactions Required]

Alice · « **Reply #746 on:** **Yesterday** at 04:37:00 pm »

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 03:03:17 pm

Everyone sees that glimmer of light grow until it's no longer dark and you've arrived at another well built level very similar to the one you left, Wooden platforms and false floors hiding long since chased ore veins and passages to deeper into the depths of the mined drafts. Glowstone lanterns glow happily along the walls. Again there are tones of supplies and ore barrels near the elevator. The Western wall of the shaft chamber has collapsed shelves and a mass of broken supply crates recently opened. The Dusty kegs that were neatly stored have fallen and partially spilled out, whether intentionally or not, onto the floor. A strong scent of dwarven ale hangs in the air. It hangs so thick that flame light may not be the best option here.
Cat feels the elevator hit a stop, and it's now at level two ground level. It won't budge lower.

Alice looks around.
Hmm, I imagined this mine to have several deeper levels, but that the first one already is this deep is unexpected. Does that mean we can't go lower with the elevator?

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 03:03:17 pm

It feels utterly deserted other then the footsteps in the dust just off the platform. The steps are a mix of humanoid boots and another more ominous set of prints. Vaguely humanoid, larger than a orc, and with clawed toes.
The footprints as well as a slight odor sparks Yulya's memory of old tomes she once studied and well understood by the church, these are ghouls.

Alice listens to Yulyas description with interest,
Ghouls? Never heard of it. Do they have ears? Sounds like what happened to the Men of Iron...
They're undead but still have a physical body, right? Any weaknesses? If they can't stand light, we should carry light sources. Can you give me a light rock, Yuyla?

Alice again takes rear guard.
Cat goes in front and you two in the middle. No running off into certain death, Ashley!

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 03:03:17 pm

There was a scuffle here not too long ago, traces of blood run off in all directions.

Alice inspects the traces and tastes the blood to determine if it is human
Cat can you tell what happened here? Where did they go?

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 03:03:17 pm

"It looks like the levers are set to rest the elevator on this level. I don't know if that means the bandits stopped here or were stopped by something."

Alice grins.
Well, I hope so! I hope they were eaten by those ghouls!

Yulya · « **Reply #747 on:** **Yesterday** at 06:53:42 pm »

Going deeper and deeper, Yulya wonders if she will ever see the sunlight again.
I wonder whats the purpose of all the ale. Are they having a party down here?

Yulya noties the ghoul tracks with unease.
I imagined we would meet some undead creatures down here. At least I have no issues exterminating them! Be vigilant! Those creatures lurk in dark corners! The areas around glowstones should be safe.

Quote from: Alice on Yesterday at 04:37:00 pm

Alice listens to Yulyas description with interest,
Ghouls? Never heard of it. Do they have ears? Sounds like what happened to the Men of Iron...
They're undead but still have a physical body, right? Any weaknesses? If they can't stand light, we should carry light sources. Can you give me a light rock, Yuyla?

Yulya tries to remember what she learned.
Uh yes they have a physical body that is not immune to physical attacks. Undead are usually weak to sunlight holy symbols and holy magic aimed at repelling them. But they cannot be poisoned as they are already dead. They do not possess a normal metabolism. Their existence is only upheld by magic. So do not waste poisoned arrows on anything that looks undead! Regarding ears it depends on their state of decay but they will not be pretty!
Yulya almost has to smile at Alices priorities. Even though childish they do lighten the mood. She casts LIGHT on a small rock and hands it to Alice before she continues to search the are with extreme ~~prejudice~~ paranoia.
Let us investigate the area around the elevator first before we proceed South. Slow and systematic!

Joy · « **Reply #748 on:** **Yesterday** at 09:55:49 pm »

Ashley looks at the levers, "We're not bottomed out, if I pull this one we can go lower, it's a level stop."

She pulls another lever and the platform is trapped between stops. "It's not going anywhere now."

Cat · « **Reply #749 on:** **Today** at 10:22:37 am »

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 03:03:17 pm

As you descend hundreds of feet, minutes pass and Cat sees that she can hook the chain on a metallic peg making it impossible to move by tugging the small chain, thereby making this 10x15 ft platform a fine resting place for the party if suspended mid-level. No monsters or anyone else can come up this way, the chain is covered in a thick grease, and so it feels very safe. Certainly no one could survive the fall from the first level.

Cat looks confident
Nya I didn't expect it to be this deep Nya but it does give us a secure retreat Nya!

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 03:03:17 pm

Everyone sees that glimmer of light grow until it's no longer dark and you've arrived at another well built level very similar to the one you left, Wooden platforms and false floors hiding long since chased ore veins and passages to deeper into the depths of the mined drafts. Glowstone lanterns glow happily along the walls. Again there are tones of supplies and ore barrels near the elevator. The Western wall of the shaft chamber has collapsed shelves and a mass of broken supply crates recently opened. The Dusty kegs that were neatly stored have fallen and partially spilled out, whether intentionally or not, onto the floor. A strong scent of dwarven ale hangs in the air. It hangs so thick that flame light may not be the best option here.

Nyahaha is that enough ale for you Alice Nya? You could drink it all and turn into an ale ooze Nya! Well we will not die of thirst here Nya!

Cat looks over at Ashley and Yulya
At least Alice and me Nya!

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 03:03:17 pm

There was a scuffle here not too long ago, traces of blood run off in all directions.

Quote from: Alice on Yesterday at 04:37:00 pm

Alice inspects the traces and tastes the blood to determine if it is human
Cat can you tell what happened here? Where did they go?

Cat investigates and sniffs the traces to see which creature was wounded and which direction they likely went and if there are any traces leading to the elevator.
Nyaa looks like a fight between humans Nya and those undead Nya!

Quote from: Yulya on Yesterday at 06:53:42 pm

Yulya tries to remember what she learned.
Uh yes they have a physical body that is not immune to physical attacks. Undead are usually weak to sunlight holy symbols and holy magic aimed at repelling them. But they cannot be poisoned as they are already dead. They do not possess a normal metabolism. Their existence is only upheld by magic. So do not waste poisoned arrows on anything that looks undead!

Cat nods
Nya good to know Nya! We have several lanterns Nya and lots of oil Nya! I would have liked to exploit our darkvision advantage to humans Nya but it looks like the enemy prefers darkness Nya!

Cat positions herself South of the elevator while the others investigate the area around it. She sniffs the air and listens for unusual sounds.

Author Topic: Campaign #1 - Somewhere on the Sword Coast (Read 2593445 times)

Joy

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Yulya

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Alice

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Cat

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Yulya

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Joy

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Joy

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Alice

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Cat

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Yulya

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Joy

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Alice

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Yulya

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Joy

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Cat

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