Arothir: It’s similar, yes
Arothir: I dunno
Arothir: I can’t control where you’re staying
Arothir: but it is getting dark
* That’s the Tab key, Dave
Shenvallei: What season was it when I left. Oh winter I guess.
Shenvallei: If its getting dark already.
Alusair: “Right.. Four of us, two watches. I’m on second.”
Arothir: Well, in this case, it’s getting dark because there’s a massive mountain blocking the sun.
Arothir: Van volunteers to take the first watch
* That’s the Tab key, Dave
Shenvallei: “Dont bother we can watch. You two get some sleep.” To Jesebel and Van.
Arothir: Van looks at you, Shen
Arothir: “You sure?”
Alusair: “Sod that.”
Shenvallei: “Yes go ahead.”
Alusair: “You never have one person on a watch if you can avoid it.”
Shenvallei: “Luna is with me.”
Shenvallei: “Ill be fine.”
Arothir: Van shrugs. “You’re the boss.”

• Alusair sighs, curls up in her cloak in the corner and mutters about “sodding clueless”. “Your funeral, wake me up for my shift.” *
  Shenvallei: Ill wait for total darkness and then find a good vantage point and remain still.
  Shenvallei: Is there a moon?
  Arothir: There is
  Shenvallei: And I tell Luna to meow if she sees any danger.
  Arothir: She meows in acquiesance
  Arothir: Your watch passes uneventfully
  Shenvallei: I enter where everyone is resting.
  Shenvallei: Is anyone awake?
  Arothir: Nope
  Shenvallei: “Alusair your watch.” I say.
  Arothir: Alusair wakes up?
  
• Alusair gets up and wanders to the makeshift barricade, leaning on the wall and watching out through the missing wall. *
  Shenvallei: rememorize/meditate for the final 4 hours.
  Arothir: You do so
  
• Alusair picks up a piece of rubble, takes a quick glance behind her, and pitches it towards Shen or Van. *
  Shenvallei: I rise as silently as I can.
  Arothir: (Wtf…someone was born with 4 arms and 4 legs?)
  Arothir: Shen is the lucky one
  Shenvallei: (yeah the indian girl?)
  Arothir: The rock pings off Van’s armor
  Arothir: and he rises, panicked looking
  Arothir: Yeh
  
• Alusair waves him forward *
  Shenvallei: I move towards Al and whisper “what is it?”
  Arothir: Van heads over as well
  Alusair: “Out there.. by those trees.”
  Shenvallei: look in that direction
  Alusair: “Watch close, you should see ‘em..”
  Arothir: Spot check
  Alusair: [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [16,5] = (21)
  Shenvallei: [1d20+4<!- Official Roll ->] => [15,4] = (19)
  Arothir: you both see shadows moving away from the village
  Shenvallei: “They seem to be retreating.”
  Alusair: “I don’t like it. They didn’t even come near.”
  Shenvallei: What direction are they from the village? North?
  Arothir: They’re southeast
  Arothir: The north leads to that circle
  Shenvallei: Which direction leads to the town on the map and which leads to the portal we came thru. Just so I can get an idea.
  Arothir: SE is towards the town
  Arothir: MAP TIME
  Arothir: Sorry
  Arothir: Touchpad
  Arothir: no real mouse
  Arothir: :P
  Arothir: The red is the sighting
  Alusair: “Suddenly I’m not sure the town is the best place to investigate.”
  Shenvallei: “Aye.” I continue to watch the shadows.
  Arothir: The shadows eventually dissapear
  Alusair: “We’re really not equipped for this kind of operation.”
  Shenvallei: “We can at least gather information.”
  Alusair: “True.”
  Arothir: Van: Tell me about it…
  Alusair: “Investigate that circle on the map, then?”
  
• Alusair looks at Van, “I think, when we get back to the Cage, you and I are going bow shopping.” *
  Shenvallei: “Im heading back to finish up. North sounds good to me.”
  Arothir: Van laughs
  Shenvallei: I head back to finish resting.
  Arothir: You are all rested!
  Arothir: Jess seems to be sleeping quite well
  Shenvallei: “Time of day?”
  Arothir: It’s probably 9 AM
  Shenvallei: minus “s
  Arothir: I got it :P
  Shenvallei: That late?
  Arothir: Yeah
  Shenvallei: I gnaw on a piece of jerky waiting for Jesebel to awaken.
  Arothir: So you wait?
  Alusair: ... Wake her up once everyone’s pretty well ready to go
  Shenvallei: yes another hour.
  Arothir: She wakes up
  Shenvallei: Ive been ready since daybreak.
  Arothir: ...apparently well rested
  Arothir: Everyone is all ready!
  Alusair: Head north
  Alusair: re-buff.
  Shenvallei: All the while from the point we depart I continue to search for snares/traps.
  Shenvallei: I go first.
  Shenvallei: So nobody else runs into one. Single file.
  Arothir: You do so…
  Arothir: You manage to avoid many, many snares and traps
  Arothir: You’re on the road about an hour…
  Shenvallei: Does the map indicate the distance to the circle?
  Arothir: The forest on one side gives way to water filled flats
  Arothir: The map is not to scale
  Arothir: the flats are lines with greenish rows occasionally
  Shenvallei: as in cultivation flats?
  Arothir: Yes.
  Alusair: “This.. isn’t.. going.. to end.. well..”
  Arothir: Fortunately, you pass them with all due haste
  Alusair: “I have a bad feeling about this.”
  Arothir: Van: ...I think I read somewhere that you’re not supposed to say that…
  Arothir: You keep going…
  Arothir: It starts getting quieter
  Arothir: And darker
  Arothir: Listen checks
  Alusair: [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [12,5] = (17)
  Shenvallei: [1d20+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [12,2] = (14)
  Arothir: You both hear chittering in the trees and off to the sides of you
  Alusair: “Hey, Shen, where’re you keeping that broom handle? Incase something happens to you, I mean.”
  Shenvallei: Actually Ive had it in my hand the whole time.
  Alusair: oh
  Alusair: nevermind that then
  
• Alusair draws her sword. *
  Shenvallei: I stand ready not moving.
  Arothir: You do.
  Arothir: Suddenly, Jess yelps
  Arothir: There’s a large thud behind you
  Arothir: Then in front, as two large logs drop down on the path
  Arothir: A handful of gnomes come swarming out of the woods
  Shenvallei: I scream. “YYYYEEEEAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!”
  Arothir: ...okay, So Shen screams
  Arothir: INITS
  Shenvallei: Initiative [1d20+4<!- Official Roll ->] => [1,4] = (5)
  Alusair: [1d20+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [20,2] = (22)
  Arothir: MORGAN!
  Alusair: sorry, stepped out
  Arothir: Your go.
  Arothir: No problem
  Alusair: Glance behind
  Alusair: or wherever Jess is
  Arothir: Directly behind you
  Arothir: Almost having been squished by the log
  Arothir: She’s almost clinging onto you
  Arothir: protecting you from backstab attempts
  Arothir: :P
  Alusair: ... Yes.
  Alusair: Closest gnome is how far away?
  Arothir: Close enough to hit
  Alusair: K.
  Alusair: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [12] = (12)
  Arothir: That’s a hit
  Alusair: [1d10+6+3+6<!- Official Roll ->] => [4,6,3,6] = (19)
  Arothir: The gnome’s head splatters
  Alusair: And take a step to put myself between the next closest one and Jess
  Arothir: THEY SWARM
  Shenvallei: “YYYYeeeeaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!!!!!!”
  Arothir: Shen screams more
  Arothir: Two of the axes find their way underneath Van’s armor
  Arothir: He grimaces in pain
  Arothir: SHEN!
  Shenvallei: Can I hit 4 with one sleep spell?
  Arothir: Sure
  Shenvallei: Do it.
  Arothir: You do
  Arothir: Two of them collapse
  Arothir: Van finally snaps to his senses, but is so stunned by the axes buried under his chestpiece, he fails to swing properly at one of the remaining gnomes.
  Arothir: Alusair!
  Alusair: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [18] = (18)
  Alusair: [1d10+6+3+6<!- Official Roll ->] => [3,6,3,6] = (18)
  Alusair: Same drill, move to block.
  Arothir: You do
  Arothir: Two more remain
  Arothir: SHEN
  Shenvallei: 2 more?
  Shenvallei: I drop the broom, draw my bow and fire an arrow at one of them.
  Shenvallei: [1d20+5<!- Official Roll ->] => [11,5] = (16)
  Arothir: You hit!
  Shenvallei: [1d6<!- Official Roll ->] => [6] = (6)
  Arothir: It collapses, gurgling blood, with an arrow in it’s throat
  Shenvallei: “YYyyeeeeaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!!!!!”
  Arothir: Van looks confused as why Shen keeps screaming
  Arothir: Despite this opening, the gnomes stabbity knife glances off the armor, and Van spins and slams the haft of his polearm into it’s face, knocking it back into a tree
  Arothir: There remain two sleeping gnomes
  Shenvallei: Disarm them.
  Alusair: I agree. Disarm them.
  Alusair: Break their thumbs.
  Arothir: you do so
  Arothir: They wake up
  Arothir: Screaming jibberish
  Alusair: and bind them
  Arothir: It’s a simple process to bind them
  Shenvallei: Slap them across the face.
  Arothir: You can, through the screaming, make out “AHHHMIESSSSSSSSSSSS”
  Arothir: Shen
  Arothir: Reflex save
  Alusair: ”....”
  Shenvallei: [1d20+4<!- Official Roll ->] => [17,4] = (21)
  Alusair: Alex.
  Alusair: I hate to say this
  Alusair: but scream back at them. In their own language.
  Alusair: :P
  Arothir: You do so
  Alusair: Scream back the traditional greeting
  Shenvallei: What was the reflex save for?
  Arothir: They blink
  Alusair: I suspect he tried to bite you
  Arothir: ...One of them tried to bite your hand
  Arothir: :P
  Alusair: “turns away from the gnomes They’ve got nothing of use to say. Just swearing and curses.”
  Shenvallei: “You speak their language?
  Alusair: “I speak alot of languages.”
  Alusair: “Truthfully, its not hard to pick up. Once you get the syntax down, alot of its just differing inflections.”
  Arothir: They seem to be talking amongst themselves now
  Shenvallei: Ill search the dead bodies.
  Arothir: you do so
  Arothir: Nothing really of value, outside of a pound of rice
  Alusair: ”...”
  Alusair: Retrieve two of the axes that were buried in Van
  Shenvallei: I take the rice.
  Alusair: [1d8+3<!- Official Roll ->] => [7,3] = (10), cure light wounds on Van
  Arothir: You do so
  Arothir: Van looks good as new
  Alusair: Pick up the gnome on the left.
  Arothir: and he thanks you
  Arothir: he screams and hisses at you
  Alusair: Put him against a tree
  Alusair: and nail him to it with his own axe
  Arothir: he screams
  Alusair: with his feet about two feet off the ground.
  Arothir: Then falls silent
  Alusair: Do the same to the other
  Arothir: They are mounted.
  Alusair: “Lets go.”
  Shenvallei: “YYYYeeeeaaaaarrrrrrgggggghhhhh!!! cough cough cough“
  Alusair: “You’re.. getting there… Shen.. but not quite.”
  Arothir: Van: ..he’s practicing?
  Shenvallei: “Ive heard a good warrior has a battle cry. Did you like mine?”
  Shenvallei: Continue walking north.
  Shenvallei: Same order, same plan.
  Arothir: you do…
  Arothir: More rice paddies…
  Arothir: No more snares…
  Arothir: You finally come upon an old stone ruin
  Shenvallei: Is anyone working the rice?
  Arothir: The walls are crumbling, and there’s a rough floorplan of what used to be a tower
  Arothir: and no
  Arothir: Nobody works the rice here
  Arothir: apparently
  Shenvallei: How big is the ruin?
  Arothir: It’s probably 50×50
  Shenvallei: Slowly head towards it.
  Arothir: You do so
  Arothir: There are few rooms intact
  Arothir: but a few of the center walls are complete and standing
  Alusair: “Somethings not right here..”
  Shenvallei: “Why?”
  Alusair: “Just a gut feeling.. I can’t explain it..”
  Arothir: Van looks more curious than anything
  Arothir: “Never seen a ruin like this before!”
  Arothir: Jess is looking at it like it’s something she’s never seen before
  Shenvallei: I search for anything interesting. Glyphs, runes, anything.
  Alusair: Look around the ruin.. check for doors, hatches in the ground that might lead somewhere..
  Shenvallei: Ill cast a detect magic as well in the direction that could reveal the most.
  Arothir: You see no glyphs…but the whole place feels slightly maigc
  Arothir: There’s a hatch in the ground in the center of the tower
  Arothir: it seems frequently used
  Alusair: Crouch at the hatch, waiting for everyone to finish their sweep
  Shenvallei: Ill head over to Alusair and inspect the hatch as well.
  Arothir: Van eventually saunters over, having engaged Jess in conversation about the newness of the place
  Shenvallei: (must eat can we take a 15 min break?)
  Arothir: Sure.
  Arothir: hrm
  Alusair: Hmm
  Arothir: Quack?
  Alusair: Mooooooooo
  Arothir: Sup?
  Shenvallei: back eating
  Arothir: Ah, welcome back!
  Shenvallei: ty
  Arothir: Hrm
  Alusair: Hmmm
  Shenvallei: a pair of burritos better and Im recharged :P
  Arothir: Awesome
  Arothir: hrmmm
  Arothir: So, you’re gathered around the hatch
  Shenvallei: “Well we are here to investigate, we may as well see whats down there.”
  Alusair: “Nothing else for it …”
  Shenvallei: Ill do a quick search to make sure it isnt trapped and then try to pry it open.
  Arothir: You search it and find no traps
  Arothir: STR CHECK!
  Shenvallei: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [6] = (6)
  Alusair: “As much as I’ve enjoyed not running into any snares up topside.. I’m going to take point down there.”
  Alusair: “In the open I can get around you if I have to.. but down there, probably not so much.”
  Arothir: Shen strains at pulling the lid up
  Arothir: And fails
  Shenvallei: “Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrunnnt!”
  Alusair: “Let me…”
  Alusair: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [14] = (14)
  Alusair: oh, neat.. its tomorrow
  Alusair: happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…
  Shenvallei: ? really?
  Alusair: yeah
  Arothir: Happy birthday Bossman
  Alusair: whatever, carry on
  Shenvallei: Tommorrow as in Wednesday?
  Arothir: Alusair damn near rips the hatch off it’s hinges
  Alusair: no
  Alusair: as in today, tuesday
  Alusair: january 6
  Shenvallei: Jebus! Happy Birthday!
  Alusair: “See? Not hard at all.”
  Arothir: Van: A bit showy, don’t you think?
  Alusair: “Look. Once it starts to go, you can’t really stop it if it suddenly decides to snap.”
  Arothir: Van: I think I read the same about sanity…somethere…
  Alusair: “Ain’it the truth?”
  Alusair: look down
  Arothir: It is…stone
  Arothir: There’s quite a drop…no ladder
  Alusair: “Lovely…”
  Arothir: You can just barely see the floor
  Shenvallei: Uncoil my rope.
  Shenvallei: Tie it around the latch top.
  Shenvallei: And let it hang down.
  Alusair: Head down it
  Shenvallei: Same.
  Arothir: You do so
  Arothir: It’s a long, narrow hallway
  Arothir: There are a number of columns along it
  Shenvallei: Does it go in both directions?
  Shenvallei: Or does it end where the rope hangs down?
  Arothir: It ends where the rope heads down
  Alusair: “Well.. this should be fun..”
  Shenvallei: “Its safe to come down I think.”
  Arothir: Van: ...It’s been a while since I’ve gone Crypt delving…
  Arothir: Jess: Me too!
  Alusair: “Good, I’m sure it’ll be memorable…”
  Arothir: Jess: Gosh, I remember the first time I got killed by a Lich!
  Arothir: Jess: I hope that doesn’t happen again… it would be so bo-ring.
  Arothir: She slides down the rope gleefully
  Arothir: Van simply climbs down
  Shenvallei: “Whats the old saying? Great risks, great rewards.”
  Shenvallei: “Can you two see?”
  Alusair: “No dyin’, Jess. Not allowed. Sorry.
  Arothir: Van nods
  Arothir: Jess, unfortunately, despite her worldly knowledge, can’t.
  Alusair: Is Shen still holding that staff?
  Alusair: err
  Shenvallei: I have a torch.
  Alusair: broomstick?
  Shenvallei: “I have a torch if you would like Jesebel.”
  Alusair: “I’ll one-up your torch.”
  Shenvallei: yes Im still holding the broomstick.
  
• Alusair pokes the end of the broomstick. *
  Arothir: The broomstick’s end now looks like it’s ablaze
  Arothir: However, it’s only emitting light, not heat.
  Alusair: “Any more problems?”
  
• Alusair draws sword and starts down the tunnel before anyone can come up with anything. *
  Shenvallei: “Praise be to Bast! Right Luna?”
  Arothir: Van: Uh…what’s that?
  Shenvallei: I hand the broomstick to Jesebel.
  Arothir: Luna meows
  Arothir: Alusair
  Arothir: You turn and face…well… the best way to describe it is a slowly flapping red, disembodied head with fangs
  Alusair: with wings?
  Arothir: Yes.
  Alusair: or just hair like tentacles
  Arothir: Wings.
  Alusair: Gods
  
• Alusair squeaks out an “Aww FUCK” and swings. *
  Arothir: Initiatives!
  Alusair: [1d20+2<!- Official Roll ->] => [10,2] = (12)
  Alusair: YES! An average roll!
  Arothir: lawl
  Shenvallei: [1d20+4<!- Official Roll ->] => [18,4] = (22)
  Arothir: Shen!
  Arothir: GO!
  Shenvallei: First things first.
  Shenvallei: Knowledge: Dungeon Creatures [1d20+7<!- Official Roll ->] => [7,7] = (14)
  Arothir: You realize it’s something called a Vargouille.
  Arothir: They’re poisonous, and capable of turning things into well…themselves.
  Shenvallei: Intelligent?
  Arothir: Yes.
  Shenvallei: Blast it with a Scorching Ray [1d20+4<!- Official Roll ->] => [10,4] = (14)
  Arothir: The scorching ray lances into the things eyes and it crumbles to dust on the ground.
  Alusair: “Just lovely. Absolutely lovely.”
  Alusair: “Nice shot, by the way.”
  Arothir: Van: Very impressive. What the hell was that thing?
  
• Alusair mutters, “Never just one.. always more..” *
  Shenvallei: “Im not sure. Ive heard of a monster called a Vargouille. It could have been one.”
  Shenvallei: Draw my bow.
  Shenvallei: “Right behind you Al.”
  Arothir: Van ducks down and scoops up the dust of the Vargouille, putting it into a pouch, which he ties to his belt.
  Shenvallei: Do I know what the dust might be useful for?
  Arothir: Int check
  Shenvallei: [1d20<!- Official Roll ->] => [10] = (10)
  Shenvallei: +7 if my knowledge helps
  Arothir: You’re not quite exactly sure what Van picked it up for
  Arothir: He turns to you
  Arothir: Van: Just in case there are any pressure traps, this’ll be good for holding them down or something.
  Arothir: Van: I read it in Volo’s guide to Dungeon Crawling
  Arothir: So, then…
  Arothir: Do you…go forward?
  Shenvallei: “Good thinking Van!” I smile.
  Shenvallei: And yes forward we go.
  Arothir: You step beyond the shadow of the first pillars
  Alusair: yes.. go forward..
  Arothir: On your left and right, recessed into the walls
  Arothir: are coffins
  Shenvallei: I search for any writings identifying who the tombs belong to.
  Arothir: On your right, however, the coffin is half out of the recess, it’s lid cracked open, and a pile of leg bones is found in the corner outside the coffin
  Arothir: Any writings there might have been have long been destroyed by the ravages of time
  Shenvallei: Ill see if I can slide the top of the broken coffin off.
  Arothir: You can remove the rest of the broken coffin
  Arothir: Str check?
  

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