bwatford

Thodin advanced to the position near Riffraff, handing the torch to Sunny. Riffraff edged forward to peer around the corner, only to discover Sunny at his side, the torch's glow dispelling the shadows.

The chamber to the east...

Alcove to the west....

Sunny glanced into the western alcove, which housed grates on the floor and various architectural tools hanging above on pegs. Among these tools were rusted chisels, hammers, plumb bobs, squares, compasses for drawing circles, levels, mallets, and saws. Notably, a few pegs were conspicuously empty. The alcove seemed to serve dual purposes: a storage area and a showcase reflecting the owner's skill. It appeared that the alcove itself, an architectural feature, may have been embellished with the very tools that brought it into existence, representing the enduring cycle of creation and utility in ancient craftsmanship.
 

The Cairn HillsThe Cairn Hills refers to the rolling hills and valleys surrounding Diamond Lake, and they are rife with hundreds of burial sites and ruins, the remnants of a civilization long forgotten. Local youth like to dare each other to explore various cairns as a rite of passage, though they have to evade the roving patrols of soldiers from the Garrison and The Bronzewood Lodge to do it. Every decade or so, someone comes across an undisturbed cairn and lives to tell the tale.
(Two hours E of Diamond Lake)
8:20 pm
MoondayMonday the 9th of ReapingJuly, 595 CY

Lingering Poison Effects: Everyone except for Thodin and Allatia has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, saves, and ability checks. Allatia has disadvantage on strength-based attacks, damage, saves, and ability checks.

Map Information: Please use directions (N,S,E,W,NE,SE, etc) when moving. (i.e. I move 2 squares N and 4 E).

After a rather quiet night among the stones, the group awoke to a much more stable environment. The arcane storm had passed, and the disruption was significantly lessened today. Following a quick meal, they packed their gear with purpose as they prepared to embark on the narrow trail leading into the heart of the mountains.

The trail, much narrower than the pass, often wound around large boulders rather than over them, limiting visibility to just around the next bend, while at other times, one could see for miles. As Noodle once again assumed the lead, he pondered the origins of the trail; it seemed to have been carved by a stream or creek bed, now long dried up, which made sense. He also wondered if Question, the automaton, was arriving at the same conclusions.

After collecting a few soil samples, it was Deidre who trailed the scout, who confirmed the hypothesis to be correct. They were indeed tracing the path of an ancient creek bed.

Over the next few hours, they trekked across the rugged terrain, eventually rounding a bend to pause for lunch and a brief rest. The terrain proved to be much more challenging than the pass, with the uphill climb taxing their legs, while at other times, it was a downhill journey, one could say.

During the break, Noodle and Deidre quickly noticed the slender, towering rock formation in the distance. It seemed to be their destination, still about half a day's journey away. If it was indeed the lost outpost depicted in the cave drawings, it promised to be a remarkable discovery.

The sight of it invigorated the group, adding a briskness to their pace as they drew nearer to the distant structure. A few hours later, the old creek bed opened into a vast valley flanked by steep cliffs, a landscape that might have once been a gorge. Here, they beheld the spire, a daunting pillar stretching into the clouds. Question swiftly calculated and informed the group that the spire stood at an astounding height of 3000 feet. Give or take a few for agreed upon variances.

Noodle swiftly noted the structure's flat top and the weathered stone bridge appearing to link it with the eastern cliffside. As the group approached, they realized daylight would fade within hours, yet they continued as close as possible.

The structure was a marvel; its enduring stance, remarkable height, and sheer presence raised numerous questions.

Noodle halted the group roughly a quarter mile from the base of the spire, observing that they were exposed in the valley and darkness would soon fall.

The most straightforward route involved scaling the eastern mountain to cross the weathered stone bridge leading to the summit of the spire. Question promptly contributed her usual data analysis. The ascent from the valley to the bridge via the narrow, zigzagging path up the mountain would require two days, posing a significant challenge due to the steep incline and reduced oxygen levels. However, if they opted for a slower pace, extending the journey to four days, the climb would be considerably less demanding. Nonetheless, the automaton expressed skepticism about finding any sustenance during their hike. She also warned that they would probably reach the snowline before arriving at the bridge. 

At that moment, Noodle noticed a mysterious gleam at the base of the spire. The setting sun cast the perfect light on it, but the gleam vanished as the sun dipped below the horizon, likely from something metallic.

The group needed to set up camp in the open. They faced a decision: begin the mountain climb at dawn or investigate the shiny object at the spire's base that caught the sunlight.

Choices lay before them...

Rultmoork
Unknown distance from the BadlandsSome peoples call it the Wasted West, others just call it the Wastes or the Mana Wastes, but the locals who live within or on its fringes just call it the Badlands. An appropriate name for what goes on within.

The magical turmoil and strain has warped the terrain into supernatural badlands. Travelers report entire patches of dunes where all magic falls dead one day and is augmented the next. The absence of ley lines makes spellcasters nervous, and some spells perform at maximum capacity or sputter out for no discernible reason. Teleportation, shadow roads, and other magical forms of transportation are extremely risky, since without guiding ley lines, teleporting travelers can find themselves going nowhere, stranded in unintended locations, or even stranded between worlds.
5:00 pm
Day 2

* Unless a spellcaster uses a bonus action to make a concentration check to manipulate the twisted magical energies resonating from the badlands when casting a spell other than a cantrip, there is a 29% chance today of an unpredictable result.

Scene Information: The group is a quarter mile from the spire, there is one hour of daylight remaining.

As Thodin alerted the group to the danger, Allera was preoccupied with devising a solution to their predicament, one that was currently just beyond their grasp, both literally and physically.

Simultaneously, Riffraff edged just enough to peer down the opposite way, with Armando closely following. The vast area to the east remained devoid of anything, yet the northern part of the chamber was still out of sight. However, Riffraff noticed an alcove on the eastern side of the central pillar.

The east face of the central pillar featured a niche running from the floor to the ceiling. The niche's walls are fitted with pegs, some vacant, others holding ancient architectural tools. On the niche's floor rest two large drain grates, their purpose as yet unclear.
 

The Cairn HillsThe Cairn Hills refers to the rolling hills and valleys surrounding Diamond Lake, and they are rife with hundreds of burial sites and ruins, the remnants of a civilization long forgotten. Local youth like to dare each other to explore various cairns as a rite of passage, though they have to evade the roving patrols of soldiers from the Garrison and The Bronzewood Lodge to do it. Every decade or so, someone comes across an undisturbed cairn and lives to tell the tale.
(Two hours E of Diamond Lake)
8:17 pm
MoondayMonday the 9th of ReapingJuly, 595 CY

Lingering Poison Effects: Everyone except for Thodin and Allatia has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, saves, and ability checks. Allatia has disadvantage on strength-based attacks, damage, saves, and ability checks.

Map Information: Please use directions (N,S,E,W,NE,SE, etc) when moving. (i.e. I move 2 squares N and 4 E).