Expeditionary Travelers IC

[Dakrsidder]

Shen just continues documenting as he looks back in the direction of the clouds. For some reason, as the sheriff talks about when it appeared, Shen feels as though something is off. ”I feel as though you aren’t being truthful, but I can’t comprehend why someone would lie about a cloud, so it’s probably nothing.”

[Archmage1]

Illaria suppresses a moment of surprise at the fey-ri's comment, waiting to see how the sheriff would react to the comment.

[Feathersnow]

Tyg waits for a response. He is unsure of any way to press the man for information that wouldn't be hostile and unwarranted, but there is clearly something useful to know here, whether the sheriff actually has it to tell or otherwise.

[samduke]

Without answering the question, the sheriff states "I have a village to protect here, please excuse me." and leaves walking down the road towards the end of the village near where you entered.

you estimate that it would take about 4 hours (average horse speed) to reach the base of the mountain from here.

[Feathersnow]

I guess we should move on. Unless someone tries to force the issue, he takes his disgusting drakhymera form then warps it into a pretty two-headed copper drake and begins to fly onward.

[Archmage1]

Illaria frowns at the prospect of more mundane travel raises itself. "While I imagine we could travel there via mundane means, perhaps I might offer an alternative? Teleportation. Much faster."

Absent objections, Illaria will cast a couple of defensive spells before teleporting the group to a location near, but not directly under the cloud.

Spoiler: Rolls

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(1d100)[28] Teleportation(Alas, with greater teleport being a 7th level spell, and Illaria not being a 14th level sorcerer, no greater teleportation for her. Ok, admittedly, even if she were a 14th level sorcerer, she wouldn't be taking greater teleport due to a lack of spells known.
Defensive Spells cast: Shield(Duration 12 minutes), Dragonskin(White) duration 130 minutes.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Considering the proposal, Draxus weighs the two options. "One option is certainly more expedient, but does lack the ability to scout or otherwise assess the situation from a distance before arrival. Are we prioritizing safety currently, or speed?" Seeming genuinely curious, the draconic warforged seem amiable to either option.

Spoiler: OOC

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Draxus
Male C/G Shadow Half-Dragon Warforged Soulknife 10 / Illumine Soul 2 // Psy. Warrior 4 / Ninja 1 / Paladin 2, Level 12, Init -1, HP 111/111, DR 5/Magic, Speed 50'
AC 32, Touch 28, Flat-footed 27, Fort 25, Ref 25, Will 28, Base Attack Bonus +12/+7/+2, Power Points 41/41
+3 Splitting Mind Bolt +28/+28/+23/+23/+18/+18 (4d6+14 + 1d6 Sonic, 20/x3)
+3 Flaming Keen Wounding Armblade Mind Blade +20/+15/+10 (3d8+14 + 1d6 Fire + 1d6 Sonic + 1 Bleeding, 17-20/x2)
+3 Flaming Vampiric Whip-Dagger Mind Blade +20/+15/+10 (3d6+14 +1d6 Fire + 1d6 Sonic +1d6 to Living, 19-20/x2)
Unarmored (+5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +4 Natural, +11 Misc)
Abilities Str 20, Dex 20, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 32, Cha 8
Condition Psionically Focused, Mind Arrow Charged with Psychic Strike (+3d8)
Other Defenses Cold Resistance 15

Actions: N/A

[Dakrsidder]

Having been ignored, Shen appears somewhat dead inside. He was done with his documentation anyways and about ready to leave. As he heard the proposal to use teleportation, he nodded but hearing the warforged specimen’s perspective lights Shen up. ”Actually teleportation may be both safer and faster. Being able to assess from a distance is only useful if you can find something to assess. Additionally, it doesn’t help with lurking danger from behind. There’s the possibility of enemies lurking from behind in addition to ahead of us, but due to the speed of teleportation, it’s improbable they’ll pose a threat right away. With that in mind, there’d be fewer chances of being intercepted and a better shot at catching enemies off guard, which in turn improves the possibility of spotting them. However, if an enemy has magic to detect teleportation, it could be a bit detrimental.” He then covered his mouth once he realized just how much he was speaking.

[samduke]

you and your group teleport as the unease of the spell starts to fade you look around the snow covered ground a few trees scattered here and there. nearby (300 feet) a rather unassuming cave entrance can be seen. around the entrance natural ice has formed.

near the entrance (60 feet) you find the corpses of three human men but none have any gear of any sort.

[Archmage1]

As the flowing paths of the teleport fade away, and the world stops moving around her, Illaria looks around the immediate area, her poorly trained eyes quickly taking in the three stripped bodies and the ice around the cave entrance. Interesting.

Looking about for signs of threats, Illaria casts a fourth spell, enabling her to see the invisible.

Spoiler: Rolls!

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(1d20+7)[15] Spot(Both seeking signs of enemies, or what happened to the dead)
(1d20+17)[37] Listen
Active spells:
Shield(12 minute base duration.)
Dragonskin(White) (130 minute duration)
See Invisibility(100 minute duration)

[Feathersnow]

The Problemshooter, disoriented, enters into Righteous Devil stance and checks his mana allocation and that the safety is on on The Boomstick. Unlike a true doppelganger, his sense are limited, so he trusts the arcanists for esoteric searching. Instead, he selfishly uses endure elements on himself.

[Archmage1]

Taking in the cold, icy surroundings, Illaria nods, once. "Nothing immediately here, beyond ice and death, but there are things moving within the cavern."

Despite that, she makes no move towards it, clearly waiting for some else to go first.

[Dakrsidder]

Shen just looks around in awe, almost forgetting about the surrounding people. As he didn’t have much in terms of prep, he wandered into the den shortly after he finished looking at the entrance. While he walked, he continued making mental notes, but paid more attention to the scenery than to discrepancies.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Head swiveling to take in the new location, Draxus nods. "It seems we may have found one of the previous groups sent to investigate. Or perhaps locals that were merely unfortunate - without equipment, it is difficult to tell." Striding towards the cave entrance, he glances down at the corpses. "Once we are finished, perhaps we can assemble a pyre for the fallen. Would anyone else care to the vanguard position? I am more proficient at range, but will take any position deemed appropriate."

Spoiler: OOC

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Draxus
Male C/G Shadow Half-Dragon Warforged Soulknife 10 / Illumine Soul 2 // Psy. Warrior 4 / Ninja 1 / Paladin 2, Level 12, Init -1, HP 111/111, DR 5/Magic, Speed 50'
AC 32, Touch 28, Flat-footed 27, Fort 25, Ref 25, Will 28, Base Attack Bonus +12/+7/+2, Power Points 41/41
+3 Splitting Mind Bolt +28/+28/+23/+23/+18/+18 (4d6+14 + 1d6 Sonic, 20/x3)
+3 Flaming Keen Wounding Armblade Mind Blade +20/+15/+10 (3d8+14 + 1d6 Fire + 1d6 Sonic + 1 Bleeding, 17-20/x2)
+3 Flaming Vampiric Whip-Dagger Mind Blade +20/+15/+10 (3d6+14 +1d6 Fire + 1d6 Sonic +1d6 to Living, 19-20/x2)
Unarmored (+5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +4 Natural, +11 Misc)
Abilities Str 20, Dex 20, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 32, Cha 8
Condition Psionically Focused, Mind Arrow Charged with Psychic Strike (+3d8)
Other Defenses Cold Resistance 15

Actions: N/A

[Archmage1]

Seeing Shen start to walk ahead almost as soon as Draxus asks about leading, Illaria looks to the robot dagon. "Looks like Shen is taking the lead."

Illaria waits until Shen is about fifteen feet ahead, before she follows, floating slightly off of the ground to keep her boots clean.

[Feathersnow]

I may not be the best choice. But, if there are no volunteers, I can take the shape of my father and barrel forward.

The Problemshooter prepares to take Warrior of Lunatic Rage stance and meander forward, using his training as a sniper to spot hidden threats.

The Problemshooter looks out past Shen ready to provide suppressing fire in the event of an ambush.

[Archmage1]

Pausing in the entrance as Shen proceeds, Illaria takes in the cavern before her, her inhuman eyes letting her see clearly, despite the dim light.

Spoiler: Rolls

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(1d20+7)[23] Spot
(1d20+17)[24] Listen.

[samduke]

as the party ventures into the cavern, Tyg locates the cause of the noise that was eard earlier, just slightly past an opening to your left in the cavern ahead of you you see


Shen, spots what he thinks is a trap right before the opening in the cavern to the left definitely between you and what is spotted

[Dakrsidder]

Shen wanders towards the trap and tinkers with it out of curiosity.

As he approached, he noticed the cube which startled him a bit. Because it caught his attention, he looked at it in hopes of picking out any details of interest.

Shortly after, he remembered the trap and went back to work on it.

Spoiler: ooc

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(1d20+20)[38] Spot to see anything notable about the cube
(1d20+25)[41] Disable device on trap

[samduke]

as you work on the trap the cube ignorers you moving away at a fairly decent rate of speed and by the time the trap is disabled the cube has disappeared from sight

[Archmage1]

Illaria freezes as Shen abruptly stops and starts examining something at his feet, and she floats carefully ten feet backwards, not wanting to get hit by whatever it was if it exploded.

While she waits for him to start moving, she takes another careful look around.

Spoiler: rolls

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(1d20+7)[19] Spot, anything else of interest
(1d20+17)[28] Listen, same thing.

[Archmage1]

Illaria, hearing the sounds of a colorful ooze oozing away, waits for a moment, before she speaks softly. "It sounds like there are oozes about. Be careful where you tread."

A warning given, she starts to float forwards, to better examine the trap Shen had identified and disabled.

[samduke]

With the trap disabled and the odd cubish creture gone down the tunnel ahead of you , you proceed until you reach the branch in the tunnel where you could go north onto an alcove area or continue on trailing the cubish creature

[Feathersnow]

That thing is moving for some reason, probably? Maybe find out what that reason might be?

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Considering the limited information found so far, Draxus offers his best guess. "Perhaps it is something used by the resident to clean up unwanted organic matter. If so, it could be moving in a pattern, or it could have detected something and gone to tend to it." Flexing one metallic claw, he gazes into the tunnel. "Either way, our group consists of quite a bit of organic matter, so we should be cautious as we proceed."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Draxus
Male C/G Shadow Half-Dragon Warforged Soulknife 10 / Illumine Soul 2 // Psy. Warrior 4 / Ninja 1 / Paladin 2, Level 12, Init -1, HP 111/111, DR 5/Magic, Speed 50'
AC 32, Touch 28, Flat-footed 27, Fort 25, Ref 25, Will 28, Base Attack Bonus +12/+7/+2, Power Points 41/41
+3 Splitting Mind Bolt +28/+28/+23/+23/+18/+18 (4d6+14 + 1d6 Sonic, 20/x3)
+3 Flaming Keen Wounding Armblade Mind Blade +20/+15/+10 (3d8+14 + 1d6 Fire + 1d6 Sonic + 1 Bleeding, 17-20/x2)
+3 Flaming Vampiric Whip-Dagger Mind Blade +20/+15/+10 (3d6+14 +1d6 Fire + 1d6 Sonic +1d6 to Living, 19-20/x2)
Unarmored (+5 Dex, +2 Deflect, +4 Natural, +11 Misc)
Abilities Str 20, Dex 20, Con 17, Int 12, Wis 32, Cha 8
Condition Psionically Focused, Mind Arrow Charged with Psychic Strike (+3d8)
Other Defenses Cold Resistance 15

Actions: N/A

[Dakrsidder]

As the party comes to a stop, Shen quickly considers which way to go. ”I’m not opposed to the idea of following the ooze, especially considering it probably wouldn’t be too hard to vanquish if required. However, I’m not too certain about how fruitful it would be to do so.”

[Archmage1]

Having been standing silently, listening to the wind echoing in the cave, Illaria shakes her head. "Pursuing the ooze would be a mistake. We're here to talk to a dragon. If the ooze is here, then it is here because the dragon either wants it here, or doesn't care enough to remove it. If the dragon wants it here, then removing it will not likely endear us to the dragon." She pauses for a moment, and then shrugs. "Of course, we haven't seen any signs of the dragon, but something is causing that cloud. And that something isn't the ooze."

She looks ahead, her eyes piercing the low light with ease. "Let's head for the larger cavern, straight ahead. Perhaps we can find some signs of what is going on here there."

[Feathersnow]

The Problemshooter bows his head and gestures to follow the alternative plan

[Dakrsidder]

Shen sighs quietly and takes the path away from the ooze. ”As fine as your assessment may be in this context, just because there’s a main objective doesn’t mean a few detours of intrigue wouldn’t be worthwhile.”

[samduke]

Shen sighs quietly and takes the path away from the ooze. ”As fine as your assessment may be in this context, just because there’s a main objective doesn’t mean a few detours of intrigue wouldn’t be worthwhile.”

while the others discuss the matter of the cube and where it went and what to do, you wander up the cavern passage into the small alcove ( see OOC for comments next post for rolls)