Little Boy Mountain

[Wolfgar]

I missed most of yesterday but arrived in time for exploring the mountain. Lots happened beforehand - hopefully others will recap the details for me and others who weren't there. There is a mountain that sort of looks like a little boy which is located outside of Longspear. It is marked on Gador's map (Dana - can you upload a pdf of this to the wiki?) by a spider (doh!). Some people think this may be where the Great Druid is being held since this is in the Jotens.

We have explored two caves that are on the side of the mountain. Winthrop ferried people up the mountain as a griffon. The lower cave appeared to be empty other than a lot of webs, some small spiders and dead end passageways. The upper cave had 25 large spiders that we quickly killed (except Pfiffwin who was poisoned and Otto who had an embarrassing double ones attack sequence and fumble his sword).

In the central chamber there were some benches carved out of the stone floor forming a semi circle. Two side passages were dead ends (one collapsed nearly crushing Samantha but Adler used Feather Fall to slow the falling rocks). A third passageway lead to a wall which felt noticeably warmer.

We searched for a secret door for a while. Then Jasper tried to use his x-ray vision ring to look through it but ended up confused but eventually got better. We figured Dell would have a better chance to see through it but he ended up feebleminded and has not gotten better. Pfiffwin attempted to use Passwall on it and Otto tried beating it with the hammer, neither of which had any effect. Pfiffwin used the wand of enemy detection but no enemies were detected. I think that is where we left it.

[Wolfgar]

I think we can cure Dell with the scroll of Healing or Cedrus can memorize the spell. It appears that the wall (or a monster behind it or the act of seeing the far side of the wall) causes a mind blast. It may be caused by a psionic attack but I thought you got a saving throw against a mind blast depending on your combined intelligence and wisdom. Neither Jasper nor Dell got a saving throw.

Possible next moves:
-use Passwall above, below or to the one side of the wall.
-Pfiffwin uses Wraithform to move through the wall. Not likely since if he is attacked on the far side of the wall no one can help him.
-move back down the mountain to check the other caves on the goat path.
-Augur about whether the other side of the wall is important.

[venger]

Illusionary wall?

Maybe a glyph or magic "symbol" of some kind.

Did we go to Hochoch?

[Wolfgar]

I know they went to Hochoch but I don't think much happened since I wasn't there. Otto, Hugh, Pfiffwin, Samantha, Adler and Clift came south. Flen has been retaken and there is a bounty on our heads for charming Thomas Levane. That is all of the details I have.

[Mr. Trommer]

Team Otto reached Longspear before the main contingent. Being the lawful mage that he is Antonus probably would have turned himself in to face charges. Fortunately Antonus was very quiet and said nothing while we left town. I expect that when we go back to the Hall he will find his voice and turn himself in.

[Ginger]

We learned a few things while interrogating the corpses in Orlane. The assassin who killed Otto worked for the Black Lotus. Apparently the cook in the Inn was his contact to Guildmaster Fenton. The cook had not been seen since we entered the city. The assassin also told us that Stalmin Klim was the guildmaster's advisor and that Karmuck is SK's bodyguard. He was unaware the Flen had been attacked, so he couldn't tell us much about the current status of SK or the Black Lotus. I don't remember what Abrammo said, other than that he was unhelpfully crazy.

The elves in Orlane were present during the interrogation to take notes and report to the authorities. Hopefully they'll tell the Duke's men that Thomas Levane is a traitor and provide Donovan as a witness.

Frippi left to do halfling stuff and Florin joined Otto's followers to do stuff in the Oytwood. In Hochhoch we bought supplies and took them to Castle Crag-o. Diego's retinue had grown to include more humanoids and other unsavory characters. We had no trouble traveling to Longspear. On the way we learned that the army had cleared Flen and pushed out to the Javan again. The priest leading the attack on Flen was a cleric of some proto-earth creature. Since SK worshipped an earth dragon, I'm highly suspicious. Apparently Flen is now virtually empty.

While traveling to Longspear we learned that there was a warrant for the arrest of everyone who was present when we were ambushed by the Kingsmen. The warrant was for charming Levane. After that, Pfiffwin altered the appearances of everyone but the new guys. When we reached Longspear, Frank suggested we hide out at the Hall. Adler got Cedrus and he met us there.

Team A arrived in Longspear later unaware of the warrant until Frank warned us and took us to see Esken Colnet. Eskin suggested we leave town and didn't want to know our plans.

[Ginger]

The first thing to do is cast Detect Magic. Maybe the whole corridor is magical, or maybe the whole place is glowing? Cedrus could cast True Seeing to figure out what it is also. Dispel Magic could always work too. It would burn a few charges, but we could always try to passwall around the magical wall.

[Wolfgar]

arrowguy said:

While traveling to Longspear we learned that there was a warrant for the arrest of everyone who was present when we were ambushed by the Kingsmen. The warrant was for charming Levane. After that, Pfiffwin altered the appearances of everyone but the new guys. When we reached Longspear, Frank suggested we hide out at the Hall. Adler got Cedrus and he met us there.

The warrant should not include Otto or Pfiffwin since they were away from the party at the time of the ambush. I think they had gone ahead to Flen with Herbert and Eats Salmon to scout things out. Of course it would be just like Thomas Levane to include known associates.

[Ginger]

otto said:

arrowguy said:

While traveling to Longspear we learned that there was a warrant for the arrest of everyone who was present when we were ambushed by the Kingsmen. The warrant was for charming Levane. After that, Pfiffwin altered the appearances of everyone but the new guys. When we reached Longspear, Frank suggested we hide out at the Hall. Adler got Cedrus and he met us there.

The warrant should not include Otto or Pfiffwin since they were away from the party at the time of the ambush. I think they had gone ahead to Flen with Herbert and Eats Salmon to scout things out. Of course it would be just like Thomas Levane to include known associates.

We spent a few minutes talking and couldn't recall who exactly was present and who wasn't. No one remembered why Otto wouldn't have been there, but James thought he might have been absent. He said something like "We didn't kill them very fast, so Otto might not have been there."

[Mr. Trommer]

Perrin went off the Loftwick to seek training.

[Wolfgar]

arrowguy said:

We spent a few minutes talking and couldn't recall who exactly was present and who wasn't. No one remembered why Otto wouldn't have been there, but James thought he might have been absent. He said something like "We didn't kill them very fast, so Otto might not have been there."

Yeah, I was very indignant after learning how he double crossed us. And then had you pay weregild.

[venger]

Thomas Levane and his band ambushed us on the road like lawless brigands. He was lucky Antonus was able to save his life. And we have found strong evidence that members of the Keoish government are supporting these evil humanoid incursions, after all.

While it would be nice to clear his good name, Antonus feels no compulsion to turn himself in until we sort this mess out.

Also:

admin said:

Otto, Herbert, Eats Salmon, and Pffifwin headed out of Longspear towards Flen separately from the Company, about a week earlier. They agreed to meet up in or near Flen and await a sending from one of the mages. Herbert has a passing acquaintance about Eig, the other druid traveling with the Company.

[Ginger]

FYI, the whole "Thomas Levane is a traitor plotting the overthrow of the King" story we're trying to explain to the authorities is not helped by the whole "The Company of the Blue Sun bewitched me" story he is telling.

[Mr. Trommer]

Our Leader will be able to smooth this mis-understanding out in due time. After all he does have the luck stone.

[venger]

arrowguy said:

FYI, the whole "Thomas Levane is a traitor plotting the overthrow of the King" story we're trying to explain to the authorities is not helped by the whole "The Company of the Blue Sun bewitched me" story he is telling.

When you put it like that it sounds semi-plausible:

"The Company of the Blue Sun bewitched [Thomas Levane]"
and now
"Thomas Levane is a traitor plotting the overthrow of the King."

If only WE weren't the Company of the Blue Sun. We'd have him!

[Ginger]

I know. It'll sound great when we're being dragged off by the guards. "NO, he was already evil before we mind controlled him. We were mind controlling him to do good!"

[venger]

otto said:

There is a mountain that sort of looks like a little boy which is located outside of Longspear. It is marked on Gador's map (Dana - can you upload a pdf of this to the wiki?) by a spider (doh!). Some people think this may be where the Great Druid is being held since this is in the Jotens.

So if this is "the mountain" can we somehow divine whether or not there is actually a druid inside?

How again was Hugh able to locate the party when we were trapped in that wizard locked secret tunnel under Castle Crag-o?

What's the thought on like a Dimension Door through this impassable wall? Or could this finally be a job for the Wizard's Eye?

[Mr. Trommer]

One of of Tritheron's gifts is the ability to a known Locate Individiual within 480 feet. Hugh does not know the Great Druid so that would not help. If say Dell, once he is cured, were to Dimension Door past the magic wall then we could use the spell to find the path to get to him.

[Dell]

winthrop said:

One of of Tritheron's gifts is the ability to a known Locate Individiual within 480 feet. Hugh does not know the Great Druid so that would not help. If say Dell, once he is cured, were to Dimension Door past the magic wall then we could use the spell to find the path to get to him.

It's unfortunate that the only way that Dell would be willing to Dimension Door past that wall would be for him to remain Feebleminded.

[venger]

dell said:

It's unfortunate that the only way that Dell would be willing to Dimension Door past that wall would be for him to remain Feebleminded.

Dell's volunteering- that's a first.

Ok, so we Dimension Door him through the wall and then Locate Individual.

He won't wander off because he's all Feebleminded.

[Wolfgar]

apprentice said:

So if this is "the mountain" can we somehow divine whether or not there is actually a druid inside?

I think that whatever has prevented us (or anyone else) from divining his location so far will prevent us from locating him now if he is in fact here.

So do we think the mind blast is coming from the wall or from something behind the wall. Don't demons have psionic abilities? Do you think the wall is actually a shape changed demon? Or maybe whatever is on the other side of the wall is so disturbing that viewing it causes a kind of mental breakdown which in game terms is equivalent to a mind blast. You would think that the wall would attack us given all of the time we have spent probing it for secret doors if it was in fact a monster.

[Ginger]

I think that the notion of divining the location of the GD is likely. The problem was always that most of the good divination spells have a range of a few hundred feet. However, now that we're hopefully within a few hundred feet of the GD, they might work.

Let's hope this is the situation: The GD is behind the wall and the bad guys cast protective magics which would prevent people from looking inside or magically destroying the walls.

[venger]

I'm still going with a Symbol or Glyph. But unspeakable horror is right up there too.

That X-Ray vision is a one-way thing.

If there was a creature on the other side that is responsible for the confusion/feeblemindedness then it is probably not actively firing off confusion rays or mental blasts at us, as it does not know we are even looking at it. Even with Otto's hammering of the wall, it can't see us or know we can see it.

[Ginger]

Wouldn't you see a glyph when it was activated?

[venger]

arrowguy said:

Wouldn't you see a glyph when it was activated?

Who knows what they saw. It left Dell a drooling idiot and... possibly affected Jasper.

[Dell]

otto said:

Or maybe whatever is on the other side of the wall is so disturbing that viewing it causes a kind of mental breakdown which in game terms is equivalent to a mind blast.

My bet is that it's a temple with another one of those glowing walls. We've encountered glowing walls a few times, and they keep getting more powerful. That would also explain why the wall can't be smashed - it's a magical artifact.

[Wolfgar]

I think you are right - it is a gate of some sort. We should leave it alone and explore the rest of the caves. We can always come back if we don't find anything.

[venger]

Before we just leave it alone let's cast spells at it.

Like Detect Magic. And Knock.

[Dead Greyhawk]

otto said:

I missed most of yesterday but arrived in time for exploring the mountain. Lots happened beforehand - hopefully others will recap the details for me and others who weren't there. There is a mountain that sort of looks like a little boy which is located outside of Longspear. It is marked on Gador's map (Dana - can you upload a pdf of this to the wiki?) by a spider (doh!). Some people think this may be where the Great Druid is being held since this is in the Jotens.

We have explored two caves that are on the side of the mountain. Winthrop ferried people up the mountain as a griffon. The lower cave appeared to be empty other than a lot of webs, some small spiders and dead end passageways. The upper cave had 25 large spiders that we quickly killed (except Pfiffwin who was poisoned and Otto who had an embarrassing double ones attack sequence and fumble his sword).

In the central chamber there were some benches carved out of the stone floor forming a semi circle. Two side passages were dead ends (one collapsed nearly crushing Samantha but Adler used Feather Fall to slow the falling rocks). A third passageway lead to a wall which felt noticeably warmer.

We searched for a secret door for a while. Then Jasper tried to use his x-ray vision ring to look through it but ended up confused but eventually got better. We figured Dell would have a better chance to see through it but he ended up feebleminded and has not gotten better. Pfiffwin attempted to use Passwall on it and Otto tried beating it with the hammer, neither of which had any effect. Pfiffwin used the wand of enemy detection but no enemies were detected. I think that is where we left it.

Gador's map is one of my earlier creations, and it's not very useful. If you look on Nosnra's map of the Crystalmist/Joten/Hellfurnace chain, the spider would be east of Nosnra's steading and west of the Longspear/Hall of the Blue Sun area, where the Jotens and the Little Hills merge.

[Wolfgar]

So we left the upper cave after doing a little more detection. Perrin and Antonus joined us while Adrienne and Clift took time to look after Dell. Antonus ferried the party in hippogriff form to the next lower cave. Pfiffwin was poisoned again after being surprised by a number of trap door spiders. We descended a long staircase and found a narrow bridge over a chasm.

Jasper went first across the bridge with Antonus providing aerial support in margoyle form. Troglodytes surprised them. Antonus blasted them with a 12 hp (on 7 dice) fireball which actually killed most of them and then magic missiled a couple more. The last one standing grabbed Jasper and carried him through the door where Jasper was mobbed by a bunch more troglodytes. Otto and Antonus made it into the room before they barred it from the inside. There were 20 troglodytes in the room which surrounded the three of us. Jasper quickly went negative. Antonus was lucky to stay up so that Bob could dimension door him out. Meanwhile Otto was dropping them two a round. With only Otto remaining and they only having hit him for 2 hp points they decided to gang tackle him. Meanwhile Raven and Hugh were attempt to break down the door to no avail. Otto successful bent bars throwing off all five of the troglodytes holding him down. Pfiffwin used the wand to make a hole in the door and then followed it up with a illusion of a fireball. We quickly mopped up the rest though one of them did grab hold of Raven and consider throwing him into the chasm.

After that we spent time exploring the rest of the underground complex. It consisted of octagonal rooms connected by diagonal lines (Lots of fun mapping!). Every wall in each room was covered by the same spider design. Each spider had 8 eyes which moved in some cases. Those that didn't moved were doors that were easy to open. We never figure out what the moving eyes did except in one room where they triggered a series of pits. Here is a quick summary of rooms:

-mushroom shaped altar with 4 hands sticking out. 3 walls with moving eyes, each opened a pit.

-pulsing green altar with blood stains. two phase spiders (Winthrop and Raven had detect invisibility) that Winthrop and Hugh were clever enough to goad into phase where they were hacked to pieces. Pfiffwin has offered to use Wraithform to collect parts once we finished looking around.

-amphitheater with throne. some gems on the throne to collect. Webbing trap that caught Winthrop, Cedrus, Hugh and Adler. Unfortunately Hugh's sword was on fire at the time. Adler's shield failed but Samantha used a Mend scroll to fix.

-room with five words written on the walls and a magical circle inscribed on the floor. Raven read them (but not out loud) and wrote them down.

-room with two spiders statues and 8 headbands - all magical. Jasper was electrocuted walking between the statues. He climbed the wall to get back. We left the headbands.

That is where we left it. We did find one (dark?) elven footprint. Anything else I am forgetting?

I think we should use the x-ray vision ring to explore the rooms for possible secret doors behind the spiders. If we do find a secret door then we can spend time trying to figure out how to open them or just knock them. I figure there a probably 20 or so walls that had moving eyes. It takes 1 minute to see through 1 foot of rock with the ring. We can pass the ring around so that no one is overly exerted by using it and cover all of the walls in a hour.

If we do find a secret door then I would assume that some combination of moving the eyes opens them. Assuming someone with two hands can trigger the mechanism that means there are only 28 (=8 choose 2) combinations to try involving moving two eyes at once. So we just try all of the combinations. If that fails we can always resort to magic.