Chapter 1: The Whispering Cairn

Basil_Bottletop · April 17

Armando Railwalker Gnomish Warlock

The misfire as the creature slithered into hallway was due in part by its sheer ugliness. Armando hadn't a proper idea of where to aim and shooting blindly was as awful as shooting skyward. He opened his mouth to apologize to those that might feel as though they were properly targeted, but no words came out. Instead, he watched as the creature swallowed the lamp and his own eyesight slipped from vivid colors and distinct details, to that of the dark sight. Muted greys and blurred approximations filled his view.

The voice startled him and he looked around to see if anyone else had heard it too, only to see that most of the others were already pressed back into the fray. Armando let go of his crossbow and it swung wildly back beneath his arm. Scurrying forward to match the distance that Allera held in the hallway, he was able to truly see what frightened them all. It's worm-like body and slithering fleshy movements reminded him that there were other creatures of the deep that might enjoy such treats.

The gnome made a fist and pointed his thumb in the direction of the creature. Under the cover of complete darkness, Armando's confidence somehow shined. His four fingers flicked outward and an opaque-blue spitfire shot out from his palm in the direction of the creature, just as he uttered a noise that sounded like pushing water through ones teeth.

Mechanics

Main Hand: Empty
Off Hand: Empty

Action: Casting Eldritch Blast
Bonus Action:
Move: Moving to the spot E of Allera
Manipulate: drop weapon

bwatford · April 17

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

with DM BWatford

Despite the darkness, Riffraff could still discern the creature and hurled a stone, sidestepping to avoid the trajectory of Alatia's spells and Armando's erratic crossbow bolts.

Thodin alerts his companions to the creature's location for them to target, as he swings his warhammer back towards the beast. The hammer strikes the creature's rubbery flesh, producing a dull thud.

Temporarily blinded, Sunny clenched her eyes shut, focusing inward. A tingling sensation crept up her spine, heightening her senses to an extraordinary level. The indomitable warrior advanced, her arm swinging with might… only to awkwardly pat one of the statues spewing forth storms.

Clearing her mind, she peered into the gloom. Allera’s eyes could discern the form of the beast, yet the tome had deemed it untouchable. Undeterred, she engaged in a mental duel with the beast’s hive mind. Her consciousness brushed against several within the collective, failing to inflict harm but succeeding in sowing seeds of confusion.

Armando clenched his hand, thumb jutting out towards the shadowy figure. Even shrouded in darkness, his assurance was palpable. With a swift gesture, his fingers splayed, releasing a stream of cobalt flames from his hand, accompanied by a sound reminiscent of water forced through clenched teeth. The surge of power struck the entity, severing a writhing appendage that thudded to the earth, its movements stilled.

For now, the danger had passed.

THE WHISPERING CAIRN

The Cairn Hills
(Two hours E of Diamond Lake)
8:07 pm
MoondayMonday the 9th of ReapingJuly, 595 CY

WE ARE OUT OF COMBAT

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).

Active Maps

WHISPERING CAIRN

Bookkeeping

PASSIVE PERCEPTION

INITIATIVE

Not in Use!!

MECHANICS

MINOR MALLEABLE
Takes 7 hit points of bludgeoning damage from Riffraff's sling.
Takes 5 hit points of bludgeoning damage from Thodin's warhammer.
Takes 4 hit points of psychic damage from Allera's Mind Sliver. (reduced to 0 immune)
Takes 2 hit points of force damage from Armando's Eldritch Blast.
Has taken a total of 34 hit points of damage.
IS DEAD

CONDITIONS

ALATIA
Has disadvantage on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

ALLERA
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

ARMANDO
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

RIFFRAFF
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

SUNNY
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

DESCRIPTIONS

Not in Use!!

ALATIA CARNWHEAT

Hit Points: 10/10
Hit Dice: 1/1
Warding Flare: 3/3 *L
Spell Slots: (+5, DC 13) *L

1st Level: 0/2

DM Inspiration: 1/1

ALLERA LORABELIS

Hit Points: 8/8
Hit Dice: 1/1
Arcane Recovery: 1/1 *L
Spell Slots: (+6, DC 14) *L

1st Level: 1/2

DM Inspiration: 1/1

ARMANDO RAILWALKER

Hit Points: 9/9 (gnome cunning)
Hit Dice: 1/1
Pact Magic: (+4, DC 12) *L

1st Level: 1/1

DM Inspiration: 1/1

RIFFRAFF

Hit Points: 5/9
Hit Dice: 1/1
DM Inspiration: 1/1

SUNNY

Hit Points: 15/15
Hit Dice: 1/1
Rage: 1/2 *L
DM Inspiration: 1/1

THODIN EVERSHARP

Hit Points: 13/13 (RESIST: poison SAVADV: poisoned)
Hit Dice: 1/1
Divine Sense: 3/3 *L
Lay on Hands: 5/5 *L
DM Inspiration: 1/1

JubalBreakbottle · April 17

PC

Thodin Eversharp Dwarven Paladin 1

A few seconds after the creature stops moving, Thodin prods it with his hammer to double check. Satisfied that it's dead, he stows his warhammer and asks the troop, "What is this thing? Anyone know?"

He pulls out another torch and tinderbox from his backpack and creates some light without much fuss. "I've never seen anything like it. Did everyone hear it talk, too?"

He continually swivels his head to keep an eye on the Tee intersection and his new companions. "Riffraff, you still hurt? Do we want to try to take a break down here, or do we want to retreat to that sarcophagus room? Some of you are still feeling the effects of that poison gas, too eh?"

Mechanics

Main Hand Empty
Off Hand Shield

Use Object Stow warhammer
Move -
Action Ignite a torch
Bonus Action -

Cointhief · April 17

Sunny Suel Barbarian 1

16.14.16.8.10.10 | init +2 | AC 15 | HP 15/15 | HD 1

Animal Handling +2, Athletics +5, Intimidation +2, Perception +2, Performance +2

Rage: OX

Sunny held out her hands, stumbling around gently slapping the various faces she came across. "So, if this thing swallows light does it crap darkness?" was her astute inquiry, hoping beyond hope someone would fish out the cleric's lantern from the void monster's gullet.

Poison Effects: -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, saves, and ability checks.

(Blinded)

Dixi · April 18

PC

Allera Lorabelis Half-elf Wizard 1

Allera watched the probings of the dead meat pudding very carefully. Then repeated (now in a calmer tone, though, able to think clearly). "This monster is called Malleable. Scholars still argue about where it came from and what it truly is but the monsters are sentient. Sentient mass of... bodies? It absorbs any sentient creature it comes across and grows until killed. Nasty thing. Let's hope it was the only one here."

She looked back then forward again. "We went so far already, even fought for the right to pass. Would be a shame to turn halfway. Besides, the poison back in the chamber might still be there. I am for moving forward."

Allera did not leave the spot right away, however. "Not sure if this thing ... craps at all. But it did swallow our light. If we can cut it open and get light back..." Judging by her facial expression, Allera would rather travel in the darkness for the rest of the expedition than touch this pile of meat.

Mechanics

Main Hand: Empty
Off Hand: Empty

Action:
Bonus Action:
Move:
Manipulate: Your one free object interaction goes here.

MysteriousMiller · April 18

Riffraff

Ratfolk, Scoundrel - Rogue 1

AC: 15 | HP: 5/9 | Init: +3 | PP: 15

Sneak Attack: 1d6 | DM Inspiration: 0

As the creature fell, so did Riffraff...down to his knees with his head in his hands, overwhelmed with emotion! He'd never been so scared, so relieved, so elated.

Slowly he rose to his feet. Then he rushed over to Alatia, grabbing her and hugging her and peppering her with snotty kisses. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I REALLY thought I was a goner!" he squealed excitedly.

Turning to Thodin and Alatia, he rubbed an arm across his teary, snotty face then nodded thoughtfully. "I could use a little time out, but I agree...we may as well do that here rather than chance the gas once more."

But before he sits down he pulls out a knife and heads for the creature, determined to slice it open. "First things first though...let's see what's inside this hideous thing!"

Mechanics

Main Hand: Empty
Off Hand: Empty

Action: Gut the Malleable
Bonus Action: none
Move: to the corpse
Manipulate: pull out dagger

Notes: -2 on STR saves,att,dam, ab.ch

After this I'm happy to take a short rest

Basil_Bottletop · April 19

Armando Railwalker Gnomish Warlock

Armando hovered over the corpse of the Malleable, as best one can when they are only a few feet tall, and watched it in its stillness. Allera's recounting gave it context, but it very quickly became too layered for Armando to understand. It was a thing that tried to eat them and if it had eaten them then it would just get larger and eat again. He could understand that. A guppy did that. One could net one out and feed it scraps for months, fattening it up until it was meaty enough for a meal. The meal would be terrible, but it would be a meal.

He thought to poke the thing with his boot, but thought against it in the off chance it still had some fight left in it. There were creatures too that could lose a limb and keep on going. People too. Instead, he just listened and stared. When Riffraff approached, Armando moved to the opposite side so that he could see what his intentions were, even though they'd been voiced just moments ago. That first slip of the blade into the fleshy exterior gave Armando the willies and he shivered. The more cutting, the more wet fleshy bits flopped about, the more it repulsed him. But he couldn't look away. Deep down, he knew he wanted to know what was inside this thing too. It ate to keep alive and it lived down in the bottom of a long forgotten tomb. He needed to know what else might be down here that it just hadn't caught yet to eat.

Mechanics

Main Hand: Empty
Off Hand: Empty

Action: Casting Eldritch Blast
Bonus Action:
Move: Moving to the spot E of Allera
Manipulate: drop weapon

bwatford · April 22

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

with DM BWatford

Thodin's torch cast a much-needed glow in the surrounding passage as the ratfolk expressed gratitude to those who had saved him from the creature. In gratitude, the rogue drew a blade and prodded the creature's flesh until a solid clink was heard. He then sliced into the mass to extract the still-lit lantern. The ordeal was exceedingly repulsive, and Riffraff couldn't tell if he had reached its stomach or merely layers of flesh. The creature's anatomy was unfamiliar, lacking any recognizable organs or structures.

After Allatia got the ornate lantern back, she tried her best to clean off any residue, but it seemed futile. So, she ensured at least the handle was clean, held the lantern aloft once more, and proceeded to the corner to discover what awaited her to the east and west.

To the west, Allatia observed a chamber, its ceiling bathed in what seemed to be natural sunlight, casting light upon a spinning wheel adjacent to a short red metal pedestal. Atop the pedestal was what appeared to be a jet-black stone egg, roughly the size of a small boulder, adorned with a gold glyph, its details indiscernible from this distance. However, the presence of a large patch of yellowish-brownish mold growing on the floor was of greater concern.

To the east lay a larger expanse, yet she could discern nothing noteworthy there, save for the smooth stone flooring.

THE WHISPERING CAIRN

The Cairn Hills
(Two hours E of Diamond Lake)
8:12 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).

Active Maps

WHISPERING CAIRN

Bookkeeping

PASSIVE PERCEPTION

INITIATIVE

Not in Use!!

MECHANICS

Not in Use!!

CONDITIONS

ALATIA
Has disadvantage on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.
Has a Everburnign Yellow Lantern.

ALLERA
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

ARMANDO
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

RIFFRAFF
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

SUNNY
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

THODIN
Has a torch lit (60 minutes remaining)

DESCRIPTIONS

Not in Use!!

ALATIA CARNWHEAT

Hit Points: 10/10
Hit Dice: 1/1
Warding Flare: 3/3 *L
Spell Slots: (+5, DC 13) *L

1st Level: 0/2

DM Inspiration: 1/1

ALLERA LORABELIS

Hit Points: 8/8
Hit Dice: 1/1
Arcane Recovery: 1/1 *L
Spell Slots: (+6, DC 14) *L

1st Level: 1/2

DM Inspiration: 1/1

ARMANDO RAILWALKER

Hit Points: 9/9 (gnome cunning)
Hit Dice: 1/1
Pact Magic: (+4, DC 12) *L

1st Level: 1/1

DM Inspiration: 1/1

RIFFRAFF

Hit Points: 5/9
Hit Dice: 1/1
DM Inspiration: 1/1

SUNNY

Hit Points: 15/15
Hit Dice: 1/1
Rage: 1/2 *L
DM Inspiration: 1/1

THODIN EVERSHARP

Hit Points: 13/13 (RESIST: poison SAVADV: poisoned)
Hit Dice: 1/1
Divine Sense: 3/3 *L
Lay on Hands: 5/5 *L
DM Inspiration: 1/1

JubalBreakbottle · April 22

PC

Thodin Eversharp Dwarven Paladin 1

Thodin watches the surgery with disgust. He's glad that he doesn't have to do it, but he supposes that he could if he had, too. Fortunately, the lantern with the magical light survived. He keeps a comment about crapping darkness to himself to not encourage Sunny.

While Alatia cleans the lantern, the dwarf realizes the grave danger that they face and steps just past her between the western passage holding his shield and torch away from his body becoming as a big a barricade as possible.

Signaling toward the western tunnel, he says, "that passage has an enormous patch of brown mold. This stuff freezes you on contact and grows from any heat source. Does anyone have any magical cold? That's the only way to destroy it. Otherwise, we need to leave the passage alone." He looks to his companions hoping one of them magically create cold.

Mechanics

Main Hand Torch
Off Hand Shield

Use Object -
Move -
Action -
Bonus Action -

Edited April 22 by JubalBreakbottle (see edit history)

Cointhief · April 22

Sunny Suel Barbarian 1

16.14.16.8.10.10 | init +2 | AC 15 | HP 15/15 | HD 1

Animal Handling +2, Athletics +5, Intimidation +2, Perception +2, Performance +2

Rage: OX

Sunny nodded approvingly at the slippery and oddly smelly lantern recently extracted out of the Stomach of the Beast From Beyond. She likewise gave a mental thumbs-up at the crackling torch now held by Thodin, but her face crinkled when she heard the dwarf's question.

"Uhh...no...I for one can't just 'make' cold. What would the recipe for that even be...step 1...?"

A sinister part of her corrupted psyche deep inside had a filthy answer. A flurry of images flashed through her mind, of mystic symbols and necromantic rituals...each one designed to trap the nascent heat of the world and destroy it in the most mocking and vindictive of fashions. Echoes of a lost void beyond the most distant dark star ensnared the Suel with enticing tentacles of forbidden lore, overpowering commands like *𐎋𐎁𐎎𐎍𐎉𐎐𐎃𐎍𐎂𐎉𐎂𐎉*

...but Sunny just chuckled, like a flip of the psychological switch something more lighthearted took back over.

"...I suppose I can 'make' warm though, that's much easier. Step 1: give me a hug." she smirked.

Poison Effects: -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, saves, and ability checks.

Dixi · April 23

PC

Allera Lorabelis Half-elf Wizard 1

"Let me help." Allera waved her hand over the disgustingly smelling and looking lamp to return the shiny object to its natural state. "Much better!"

She tried her best not to look at the heap of meat on the floor. Instead, she looked at the mould Thodin was pointing at (no less disgusting, to be fair) and past it.

"Hm... I can not freeze the thing. But... That "egg" looks very interesting. If we can not get to it, maybe we can get the thing to us? Say, a rope around it and then we pull the rope together?"

(If idea is accepted, Allera can fix the rope with help of Mage Hand or Unseen Servant - that on itself should be able to drag 30 pounds of weight)

Mechanics

Main Hand: Empty
Off Hand: Empty

Action: 1. Prestidigitation to clean the lamp, 2. Mage Hand or Unseen Servant if we are trying to get the egg to us.
Bonus Action:
Move:
Manipulate: Your one free object interaction goes here.

MysteriousMiller · April 23

Riffraff

Ratfolk, Scoundrel - Rogue 1

AC: 15 | HP: 5/9 | Init: +3 | PP: 15

Sneak Attack: 1d6 | DM Inspiration: 0

As the others checked out the moldy tunnel and debate how to grab the egg, Riffraff sighed and got to his feet.

"With all this fungus stuff all around, I'm not sure how I feel about sitting here and resting." he commented warily. "Let me have another sniff around before we try anything...this place is a deathtrap!!"

With that he steadily made his way down towards the Eastern tunnel, looking carefully for signs of any more of the traps that have plagued them.

Mechanics

Main Hand: dagger
Off Hand: Empty

Action: Search for any more traps
Bonus Action: none
Move: S S S S E
Manipulate: none

Notes: -2 on STR saves,att,dam, ab.ch

After this I'm happy to take a short rest

Edited April 23 by MysteriousMiller (see edit history)

Basil_Bottletop · April 24

Armando Railwalker Gnomish Warlock

The brutality of the ratfolk's dressing of the fleshy creature somehow pressed beyond the grotesque and into an opaque world of unreality. The gnome stood and watched, without flinching, at each pass of the knife's blade into the meat and ichor. He watched with amusement as the lantern was drawn out of cavity and even reached for it in weak sense of helpfulness, albeit not enough to be noticed. It didn't take the overlooking personally though, and simply went back to looking over Riffraff's shoulder as he continued to bury his blade deeper.

When it was over, Armando didn't notice the blood that had crept along the floor and soiled the tips of his boots. Only when he took a step away and the sticky, drying blood screamed at him did he even realize how close he'd come to stand by the corpse. The tiny screams at his feet begged him to stay a bit longer, but the rest of the group had pressed forward and Armando did not want to be left behind in this Gods-forsaken place.

He found himself shirking his duties as Sunny's shadow and instead followed a similar path as Riffraff. The others were pre-occupied with a hallway that they could not go down, but hadn't even considered the path that they could. The gnome silently chuckled at his and Riffraff's ingenuity.

Mechanics

Main Hand: Empty
Off Hand: Empty

Action:
Bonus Action:
Move: Moving to the hallway entryway of the eastern branch
Manipulate:

bwatford · April 24

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

with DM BWatford

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 WHISPERING CAIRN

The Cairn Hills
(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).

Active Maps

WHISPERING CAIRN

Bookkeeping

PASSIVE PERCEPTION

INITIATIVE

Not in Use!!

MECHANICS

Not in Use!!

CONDITIONS

ALATIA
Has disadvantage on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.
Has a Everburnig Yellow Lantern.

ALLERA
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

ARMANDO
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

RIFFRAFF
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

SUNNY
Has -2 on strength-based attacks, damage, checks, and saves.

THODIN
Has a torch lit (55 minutes remaining)

DESCRIPTIONS

Not in Use!!

ALATIA CARNWHEAT

Hit Points: 10/10
Hit Dice: 1/1
Warding Flare: 3/3 *L
Spell Slots: (+5, DC 13) *L

1st Level: 0/2

DM Inspiration: 1/1

ALLERA LORABELIS

Hit Points: 8/8
Hit Dice: 1/1
Arcane Recovery: 1/1 *L
Spell Slots: (+6, DC 14) *L

1st Level: 1/2

DM Inspiration: 1/1

ARMANDO RAILWALKER

Hit Points: 9/9 (gnome cunning)
Hit Dice: 1/1
Pact Magic: (+4, DC 12) *L

1st Level: 1/1

DM Inspiration: 1/1

RIFFRAFF

Hit Points: 5/9
Hit Dice: 1/1
DM Inspiration: 1/1

SUNNY

Hit Points: 15/15
Hit Dice: 1/1
Rage: 1/2 *L
DM Inspiration: 1/1

THODIN EVERSHARP

Hit Points: 13/13 (RESIST: poison SAVADV: poisoned)
Hit Dice: 1/1
Divine Sense: 3/3 *L
Lay on Hands: 5/5 *L
DM Inspiration: 1/1

JubalBreakbottle · April 25

PC

Thodin Eversharp Dwarven Paladin 1

Thodin concludes, "right. So with no magical cold, that way is closed. Riffraff, what's the other way look like?"

The dwarven miner walks closer to the hallway's entrance next to Riffraff. Seeing the floor grate, he says, "that's a fairly big drain. Probably a trap in here that fills the tunnels with water. More reason to check."

"Sunny, want to carry my torch again?" He offers.

Mechanics

@Cointhief @MysteriousMiller

Main Hand Torch
Off Hand Shield

Use Object -
Move -
Action -
Bonus Action -

Text_1	Text_2	Text_3	Bold_1	Accent_1	Mood_1
Warm_1	Warm_2	Warm_3	Bold_2	Accent_2	Mood_2
Cool_1	Cool_2	Cool_3	Bold_3	Accent_3	Mood_3
Bright_1	Bright_2	Bright_3	Bold_4	Accent_4	Mood_4

Chapter 1: The Whispering Cairn

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