Ch. 3: The Party Finds the River They are Looking for and Reach the Main Entrance to the Forbidden City!

Dungeon Master (GM): Hello All!   Ejen Nailo: allo   Dungeon Master (GM): When we start we will do a soft reboot and start in the original starting hex saying it took 5 days to get back there and without incident! I will ping the location.   Maevis/Quintolos: Ok   Quintolos - Cleric/MU "I say we do a widening circle until we find this river that we are supposed to folow."   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so now, it's a matter of which new direction you all want to start moving in.   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: north   Grax Ironcloak: north works for me   Dungeon Master (GM): ok with the rest of you?   Quintolos - Cleric/MU: I say we move in a circular pattern to find this river we were told to follow   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: yes, sounds good..   Dungeon Master (GM): so start by going north easterly they curving around counter clockwise?   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: yup.. I am good with that   Dungeon Master (GM): then curving that is   Quintolos - Cleric/MU: Yes   Dungeon Master (GM): (To GM)rolling  6 = 6   Grax Ironcloak: works for me   Dungeon Master (GM): you travel 6 miles to the base of the mountain here without incident now curving north west you see what looks like part of a possible river emptying into the swamp   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: go towards that   Dungeon Master (GM): ok, i should note that it took 12 hours through the first hex and there was a rest, which i give you for free so you travel about 4 hours when you spot the river outlet   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: head towards the river   Grax Ironcloak: I second that   Quintolos - Cleric/MU: Go for the river   Dungeon Master (GM): ok   Grax Ironcloak: unlike a certain song we are not going to run to the hills (this time)   Dungeon Master (GM): Maevis's turn to be leader this week by the way, since Kalgas is new   Quintolos - Cleric/MU: You mean Not yet :D   Grax Ironcloak: yup not yet.   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so someone can draw the travel route from here on, now that we see where were going.   Dungeon Master (GM): this is grasslands now!   Grax Ironcloak: hmm i don't like how the river looks like a trident   Dungeon Master (GM): so travel in grasslands is 5/6th hex in 2 hours   Maevis Silverleaf: march on   Grax Ironcloak: forward march!   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: what are we looking for up the creek?   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so let's see about an encounter in this hex   Dungeon Master (GM): (To GM)rolling  6 = 6   Maevis Silverleaf: The Lost City to pillage it so after standing for eons it falls into the river to begone forever   Dungeon Master (GM): no encounter, so you can travel another 10 hours northeastward I assume?   Grax Ironcloak: yes   Maevis Silverleaf: Southwest   Grax Ironcloak: what?   Dungeon Master (GM): so you want to cross the river to the other side?   Maevis Silverleaf: I thought the river was SW?   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: not really, if we don’t have to   Dungeon Master (GM): you do see another mountain range on the other side, so you can basically following the river as it is on the current side   Maevis Silverleaf: If the pitchfork is the river then NE   Grax Ironcloak: yes that is the river   Dungeon Master (GM): it is ok 2 more hours in the next hex (To GM)rolling  2 = 2   Dungeon Master (GM): and no encounters (To GM)rolling  4 = 4   Dungeon Master (GM): ok no encounters so we continue   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: looks like a fork? or the outlet of a lake   Dungeon Master (GM): yes so after 10 hours travel you have come to a fork in the river (To GM)rolling  1 = 1   Dungeon Master (GM): we have an encounter at the fork   Maevis Silverleaf: So NW or NE?   Dungeon Master (GM): (To GM)rolling  66 = 66

Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: Yay!!   Grax Ironcloak: we encounter a fork at the fork   Dungeon Master (GM): you come across  1 Phororhacos birds again (To GM)rolling  1 = 1 = Mating   Grax Ironcloak: i hear they taste great   Dungeon Master (GM): ok it's two of them mating according to the next roll   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: are we running low on food?   Grax Ironcloak: oh never mind they're mating hand up blocking view "nothing to see here"   Dungeon Master (GM): with that magical field provisions box with you i would think not but if you wish for some fresh roasted bird, be my guest   FIELD PROVISIONS BOX Caster Level: 5th Aura: Faint; (DC 17) conjuration Activation: Standard (command) Weight: 2 lb. This stone box is carved with runes denoting abundance. When activated, a field provisions box produces a full day’s sustenance for up to fifteen humans or five horses. It functions once per day.   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: why is everything we encounter mating? this is one strange land   Grax Ironcloak: yeah   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: no we wil avoid them if possible   Grax Ironcloak: is this the island of "lust"?   Dungeon Master (GM): ok (To GM)rolling  3 = 3   Dungeon Master (GM): (To GM)rolling  1 = 1   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: so do we remember what the old man told us? when we come to the fork in the river?   Grax Ironcloak: i forget honestly thought it was something about a hidden cave or something though maybe   Maevis Silverleaf: As I recall He just said Follow the river?   Grax Ironcloak: that was part of it but i thought it was more than that   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: I was keeping notes, but for some reason that sessions notes did not save.   Dungeon Master (GM): really he didn't mention the fork at the time but he would have said the central river of the fork leads directly to the central plateau, however that the east river is to be followed and then crossed to get to main entrance that leads to the Forbidden City.   Grax Ironcloak: follow the river to the base of a mountain or something i thought nvm   Dungeon Master (GM): Ranwe would say, "You need to spot the huge rope bridge some 3,000 above you. the main entrance will be a bit to the east of that, and you must cross the river to get there.”   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: So we need to get to the top of the central plateau, then cross the rope bridge?   Dungeon Master (GM): so do we proceed northeasterly following the river that curves that way?   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: I think so.. Mavis? Maevis?   Maevis Silverleaf: Yes We follow it to the city   Dungeon Master (GM): no Ranme would have said, "the rope bridge is there to get to the top of the plateau via a mountain pass. You would then need to climb down to get to the city. There is no climbing if you find the main entrance.   Grax Ironcloak: that'd be my vote as well or .... good lord   Dungeon Master (GM): just follow the river guys   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: Oh yeah.. so if we go the middle river we go through the caves to get to the city, and if we go the east river we cross the bridge and then have to climb down   Grax Ironcloak: follow the central fork of the river though   Maevis Silverleaf: Ok find the rope bridge to the plateau and climb down   Dungeon Master (GM): no not that middle river, that is the one that leads directly to the plateau from which it starts as a waterfall.   Grax Ironcloak: good grief ....   Dungeon Master (GM): you will not need to cross the rope bridge but you will need to cross the river the bridge will be 3,000 ft above where you are now   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: yeah lets roll   Dungeon Master (GM): ok rolling for an encounter in that next hex and there you will need to rest after 12 hours if you want to (To GM)rolling  3 = 3   Dungeon Master (GM): no encounter   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: rest   Dungeon Master (GM): ok (To GM)rolling  1 = 1   Dungeon Master (GM): ok during the  1 st rest there is an encounter occurring  (To GM)rolling  69 = 69   Dungeon Master (GM): ok it's  6  Phororhacos (To GM)rolling  6 = 6 = resting/nesting   Dungeon Master (GM): they appear to be settling in for resting (To GM)rolling 2 = 2 = north east   Grax Ironcloak: so we just ignore them   Dungeon Master (GM): they would be situated north east of you

Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: whoever is on watch will just watch them   Dungeon Master (GM): (To GM)rolling  2 = 2 = wind direction   Dungeon Master (GM): but they do no appear to notice you at all ok so you all rest up and start to travel again   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: are the phoro's still there?   Dungeon Master (GM): no they moved out (To GM)rolling  1 = 1 = encounter   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: ok   Dungeon Master (GM): ok we have an encounter  1  miles into this hex (To GM)rolling  4 = 4   Dungeon Master (GM): (To GM)rolling  55 = 55   Grax Ironcloak: ok   Dungeon Master (GM): (To GM)rolling  4  neanderthals south east of you = 4   Dungeon Master (GM): 4 neanderthals to the south east of your position (To GM)rolling  3 = 3 = hunting   Dungeon Master (GM): from the looks of things they appear to be hunting   (To GM)rolling  5 = 5 = Wind direction south   Grax Ironcloak: I'd just leave them alone unless they want us to help them hunt   Dungeon Master (GM): they appear to not notice you   Grax Ironcloak: even then i think us just leaving them alone is better   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: if they are not bothering us we won’t bother them. that's my position looks like a rope bridge   Dungeon Master (GM): by the way you do see the central plateau now to the north of your location and you do see a huge rope bridge 3,000 ft above you here (To GM)rolling  4 = 4   Dungeon Master (GM): no encounter in the rope bridge hex and 4 hours into this day's trip   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: Sooooo.. how do we get up to the bridge. Isn’t there a cave entrance or something? we will look around   Dungeon Master (GM): Ranme mentioned there is a mountain pass that leads to it.   Grax Ironcloak: ....   Dungeon Master (GM): yes according to Ranme the Main cavern entrance is to the east of the Rope Bridge across the river, you should be able to spot it.   Grax Ironcloak: alright   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: so we cross the river and look for the cave entrance   Dungeon Master (GM): ok as you go a bit farther east, you notice that on both sides of the river are docks with various rafts and boats and there are humanoids of which you have never seen before around the docks on both sides   Grax Ironcloak: hmmm   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: Do they appear to be fishermen, or merchants?   Dungeon Master (GM): they look like a mix of various different breeds of humanoids mixed together   Grax Ironcloak: huh   Dungeon Master (GM): that's what they look like   Grax Ironcloak: mongrel men?   Dungeon Master (GM): yep   Grax Ironcloak: oh crud   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: I am no judge of looks.. I will try to talk to one of them, and ask if he knows where a large cave is located   Maevis Silverleaf: Do they seem to be aggressive towards us?   Dungeon Master (GM): so you have a choice here, cross the river on your own somewhere else or approach the docks and ask for a ride across   Grax Ironcloak: ask for a ride i think   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: yes.. what Grax said   Grax Ironcloak: no judge on looks on my part either but i don't want to get turned into one of them.   Maevis Silverleaf: I will try talking to one of them     Dungeon Master (GM): ok so you approach the nearest mongrel man to you and start talking....   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: yeah.. sing them a song..   Maevis Silverleaf "Good day, We would like your help in getting across the river."   Maevis Silverleaf: as I start strumming my lyre I believe   Mongrelman #01: sizes up the group and says "That would be 5 gp to cross" when he speaks to you it's in a broken common and he tends to add animal like sounds to the speech. in this case he is like bird whistling before and after he speaks something in common   Maevis Silverleaf: Maevis will open his coin purse and pay the 5 gp himself "We have a boat everyone" he says   Grax Ironcloak: alright   Mongrelman #01: ok, the mongrelmen does give a listen to the bard's strumming. Are you attempting to influence them in any way mr. bard?   Maevis Silverleaf: Since they agreed, No He’s just playing a song out of gratitude "Rolling down the river" :)   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: he already paid the asking price.. lol

Mongrelman #01 -D: ha ha ok!   Grax Ironcloak: no bardly seduction this time, maybe later   Maevis Silverleaf: No fair Maidens around so not this time   Grax Ironcloak: and what do you think Sheila is?   Mongrelman #01 -D: ok so he motions you to a boat to get into and pushes off from the shore with a paddle, an hour later you reach the other side, where you unload. you can see a path that appears to lead to an opening in the cliffside of the plateau north of your location.   Maevis Silverleaf: Maevis is busy at the moment, so He’s not going to let himself be distracted   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: rolling 1d20( 3 ) = 3   Grax Ironcloak: alright so we see a opening in the cliff side shall we head for it?   Dungeon Master (GM): anything more being said to the mongrelman?   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: sheila may be quite impressed with the singing about the river..   Maevis Silverleaf: Maevis will tell them "We may be back to cross the river again"   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: Coal will thank him for his service.   Maevis Silverleaf: Hm Oh Oh Shiela... :D   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: She really isnt into elves.   Maevis Silverleaf: seem to recall the chorus of some song like that   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: on to the cave entrance   Grax Ironcloak: that makes two of us lol Grax just ignores the elf's singing   Maevis Silverleaf: Well I'm only Half Elf :) so better :D   Mongrelman #01: says, "we will be of service to take you back across when needed. " and bows.   Grax Ironcloak: not much difference lol   Grax Ironcloak Grax the Fighter / Thief Says: "Thanks."   Grax Ironcloak: the dwarf says to the mongrel man   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so looks like you follow the well worn path to the cave entrance ahead of you so thus now it's new map time!   Mongrelman #01: says, "You are welcome sir dwarf"   Grax Ironcloak: alright new map time!   Dungeon Master (GM): ok it's being a bit wonky here for me but you see the start of the cavern ok so now we can start moving here so move the tokens where you want to go   Grax Ironcloak: nah we send Balen ahead as "trap checker" or Balen rather he can be the 10 foot pole ;)   Maevis Silverleaf: sure   Grax Ironcloak: only saying that as the player bailed on the game entirely   Maevis Silverleaf: Aw Man   Dungeon Master (GM): I will ping the cave entrance now   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: Kal and Grax I believe are in the lead, or supposed to be for marching order. but in here we just go where we move our tokens to right?   Dungeon Master (GM): just pretty much keep going until i mention to halt unless there is a place you wish to search around better. ok that thing that looks like a chasm is not one. it's just a break to show the 200' more feet you would travel   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: is this a chasm? ok   Dungeon Master (GM): Area Description: The tunnel narrows and becomes a small 5 foot wide path that hugs the wall of the cavern. Rippling quietly beside the path is an underground river of unknown depth. In the distance can be heard the splashing of water.   Bats squeak and flutter overhead.   Thirty feet along the path the rock wall juts outward and the path turns out of sight around the bend.   ok hold up!   Grax Ironcloak: k   Maevis Silverleaf: "Balen Go check it out"   Grax Ironcloak: Balen hold this anvil in the river will you. keep going in the water until it's over your head too   Dungeon Master (GM): i need Balen, Kalgas & Grax to make a save vs spells, at -2   Grax Ironcloak: ok   Grax SAVES VS. SPELLS Rolls a  19  needs ≥  9   Dungeon Master (GM): ok balen and kalgas need their rolls please   Coal Blackstone: are there owners present?   Grax Ironcloak: who is playing as Kalgas normally?   Dungeon Master (GM): i'll roll kalgas   Grax Ironcloak: Balen was the guy that left because we don't use voice   Balen SAVES VS. SPELLS Rolls a  8  needs ≥  12   Kalgas SAVES VS. SPELLS Rolls a  19  needs ≥  13   Dungeon Master (GM): Balen appears to have fallen through the pathway and you noticed what looks like water sprout up from where he falls into the path!  

Grax Ironcloak: oh darn...   Maevis Silverleaf: Whoops   Grax Ironcloak: good thing we have a backup bard ;)   Maevis Silverleaf: :) turns to Kalgas Your the next Trapfinder Just Kidding :)   Grax Ironcloak: who's character is Kalgas anyway?   Rokas of Strip Claws: Strange how he turn to water   Dungeon Master (GM): brian whom left   Dungeon Master (GM): he just appeared to fall into the path   Grax Ironcloak: ok   Coal Blackstone: So did he scream, is he still screaming, or is he silent?   Dungeon Master (GM): He let out a scream of surprise as he went into the water yes.   Something, Cast a CHARM spell at Balen enemy! Save Vs. Spells or be enslaved!   Maevis Silverleaf: Well then Kalgas IS the New Trapfinder Start marching forward   Balen SAVES VS. SPELLS Rolls a  18  needs ≥  12   Dungeon Master (GM): ok, you see Balen is seen to pop up with his head showing above the pathway say, what the fuck, something just tried to mess with my mind! and watch out this is water here not a path!   Grax Ironcloak: Kalgas's sheet says Andrew is the player   Dungeon Master (GM): ok   Grax Ironcloak: oh darn you can swim   Dungeon Master (GM): what do you guys do now, you don't see a creature yet, though you now know something is up   Grax Ironcloak: i mean oh good you are still alive ....for now   Grax Ironcloak: i say we move back to that stone path thing   Grax Ironcloak: and leave Balen by himself for a bit   Dungeon Master (GM): ok, Balen helps himself out of the water, saying, it's deep here, it goes over my head..   Grax Ironcloak: good stay there and here hold this boulder   Dungeon Master (GM): Balen says, "Something was trying to buddy up to me."   Grax Ironcloak: good "We only needed 8 of us anyway."   Dungeon Master (GM): ok so you have Balen back and dripping wet. What do you do now?   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: so can we now tell where the water starts, since he pulled himself out of it   Dungeon Master (GM): yes   Grax Ironcloak: push Balen back in   Dungeon Master (GM): heh   Maevis Silverleaf "Alright, so it’s deep water here, maybe a secret tunnel or an underwater tunnel?"   Grax Ironcloak: says “ Or magic”.   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: no there is also some type of creature in there.   Grax Ironcloak Grax the Fighter / Thief Says: "It be a good thing we dwarves are more resistant to magic"   Dungeon Master (GM): Balen, says "Yea, ok, but are you more resistant to water there?"   Grax Ironcloak Grax the Fighter / Thief Says: "Nah but i like seeing you swim so back in yah go"   Maevis Silverleaf: Be gone from my sight!! :D   Dungeon Master (GM): Balen says, "Oh now we have another comedian in the group"   Grax Ironcloak: ....   Grax Ironcloak Grax the Fighter / Thief Says: "Yup. Cept I'm funnier."   Maevis Silverleaf: We could try swimming across?   Grax Ironcloak: we can try swimming Balen can try drowning   Dungeon Master (GM): Balen says, "I was a Jester in Emperor Thincol's(Sp?) court." sticks out his tongue at Grax. Balen says, maybe I should loan Grax my jester's hat."   Grax Ironcloak: at this point Grax would just smack the fool upside the head with his hammer to shut him up   Dungeon Master (GM): ha ha ha!   Grax Ironcloak: thats also how he turns off his alarm in the morning too   Dungeon Master (GM): ha ha!   Maevis Silverleaf: Looks at Balen then around at the others "Do we try swimming across?"   Rokas the Beast Fighter Says: "They are friends?"   Grax Ironcloak the Fighter / Thief Says: "Nope I never met that fool before "   Dungeon Master (GM): Balen says, "If we try swimming something must have tried magic on me while in the water."   Shadowfox: Coal & Sheila: I say we get cass back and have her fly us across.. Night all   Dungeon Master (GM): heh   Grax Ironcloak: i agree there Cass was better than Balen   Maevis Silverleaf: Good idea She’s on the boat right?   Grax Ironcloak: lol i hope so   Dungeon Master (GM): I could make her be one of the hirelings like Rowan is   Maevis Silverleaf: Sure   Grax Ironcloak: let’s go with that then   Dungeon Master (GM): by go with it you are swimming across or bringing the witch into the group?   Maevis Silverleaf: Keep our Trapfinder as long as he lives   Maevis Silverleaf: Bring in the Witch   Grax Ironcloak: right o Ooops the witch aimed poorly with fireball and killed Balen oh well   Maevis Silverleaf: More food and treasure for us then   Maevis Silverleaf: G night   Dungeon Master (GM): ok, Thanks for playing tonight!   Grax Ironcloak: so good night all and Ejen hope my griping and wanting to kill off Balen didn't offend ya.   Maevis Silverleaf: Guess we call it until next week   Dungeon Master (GM): ok!   Maevis Silverleaf: g night catch you next week