{Modern Setting} The Whispering Cave (Return)

A game that seems to change settings every couple of years; currently following the Age of Worms Adventure Path.

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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

With Brad's suggestion, Marcus gets to his feet and Jumps to 1032. He looks into the mouth, placing both hands over the eyes just in case. It seams having both hands spread out like this doesn't help him searching the face or mouth.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by patransom »

Brad and Marcus both jump over the trigger plate (for reference, jumping over it is DC10 from a standstill, DC5 with a 20' running start; makes it harder to get back, eh?). Marcus' search of the mouth finds nothing.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Interesting. Nothing inside. Perhaps there's something more to this. Marcus will begin searching the face for any type of trigger or mechanism that may move it. He'll also be checking for writings.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by patransom »

There are no writings. A careful search (take 20) reveals that the face is meant to slide downwards into the floor, but there is no obvious trigger or mechanism for making it do that. Marcus suspects that the designers must have set up some sort of magic to make the face slide down when certain conditions are met... but there's nothing in the immediate vicinity that could serve as the magical trigger.
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Trying to give a little hint, which I think Marcus' Arcane Lore roll justifies.

 

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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

This is truly interesting. This appears to made so that some type of magic to detect conditions when met to open the face. It should slide down. Perhaps there is more we need to do down below? I could try disarming this for now, but let's leave it be and just jump back over.
Jump back to 1034 (1d20+6=11)
Marcus returns to the ledge waiting for Brad to again help him with the climb.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by tdsprouse »

Good eyes Marcus, it might have something to do with all the lanterns?

Brad jumps back over the pressure plate as well, helps Marcus down the chain, then climbs down himself. (Taking 10 = 12 for each)


Back on the ground, Should we try to turn the dais further, see what each setting does? Eventually, we'll probably have to find the missing lantern
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by CGM3 »

Upon hearing Marcus and Brad's account of what they found, Eric opines, It's possible that one of the headings of the sarcophagus triggers the face sliding down, might have already done it while we were rotatin' it earlier. 'Course, it's also possible turnin' the sarcophagus could set off something nasty in that upper passage. How do you fellows feel about shiftin' the sarcophagus to a new direction and then shinnyin' back up there to see what happened, rinse 'n' repeat?
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Well, if it's down that hole over there, we may be in for something not so pleasant. Let's see what happens when he keep turning. This could be a type of combination dial. Like a dial lock. Getting the correct sequence would be required. Let turn and see what else happens. Marcus begins to push the sarcophagus again.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by tdsprouse »

Agreed.

Brad helps turn...
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

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Turning the sarcophagus to the next stop causes a familiar rumbling sound. Within a couple of seconds, the stone circle rises from the floor beneath the empty lantern chain to reveal an metal elevator. The doors slide open. The elevator appears identical to the one that rose beneath the yellow lantern. One would assume it is also identical to the one that would have risen beneath the green lantern if the whole contraption hadn't collapsed to leave a hole in the floor.

Eric and Sahid, however, immediately notice that, unlike the other elevator, this one is not empty. There is a pile of something on the floor of the elevator. From this distance, it looks like cloth.

A quick climb of the blue lantern chain will reveal that nothing has changed in the corridor with the stone face.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Marcus will stop a moment to take pictures of this also. Once done, he'll prompt turning the sarcophagus again.

You do realize that we'll need to eventually see where they go. They may well take us deep underground or miles away from here. A remote possibility could even suggest that we end up in the world of shadow.

It could be most likely though, that beneath us lies a mirror image of this room, which means at least two of us could end up at the same place at the same time. From the sound of that crash, it doesn't seem too far down.

Marcus then points back to the sarcophagus for turning it again..
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by CGM3 »

Before you start playin' spin-the-sarcophagus some more, Eric suggests, maybe we should see just what that is lyin' in the elevator car or carriage or whatever you want to call it. Could be one of the missin' lanterns is under that cloth. Assuming Marcus concurs, Eric will move to 2213 for a better look at the car's interior, and whatever's lying on the floor.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Oh. Embarrassed at the oversight, Marcus agrees. Yes, yes. Of course. Not sure how I overlooked that obvious fact. Be careful though. stepping in just might be the trigger that makes it go to where it goes.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by tdsprouse »

Brad will move with Eric to Investigate the pile of cloth.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by CGM3 »

Does Eric spy anything from his vantage point at 2213?

Eric Looks Into the Elevator Thing: Search 1d20+2 = 18, Spot 1d20+1 = 16
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by patransom »

From the closer vantage point, Brad can make out not only moldy clothes, but also numerous crushed bones upon the floor of the cylinder. Moving in close and cautiously leaning in to rummage through the pile of clothes (which is what you have to do for a real search check, as opposed to spot), Brad retrieves a small satchel from amongst the bones and clothes. Inside is a small ruby and a handful of very old gold coins.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

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Seeing Brad rummaging through the contents, Marcus asks, What'd ya find there? Anything interesting? Seeing that Brad has a container of some sort, Marcus comes to have a look at what may have been found. Come back out of there. We don't want to risk this contraption taking you away without knowing where it goes. Please come out. It makes me nervous you standing in there.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by tdsprouse »

Brad takes the Satchel back to Marcus and shows him the ruby... An' look at these coins, they're pretty old. What do you make of them?
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Marcus looks at and studies the stone and coins.
Knowledge(arcane lore), Knowledge (history) (1d20+9=21, 1d20+5=18)
Is there any identification on the body?
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by tdsprouse »

No, I didnt find any.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by klakxor »

Sahid quietly watches from nearby the sarcophogus while the others continue checking everything. He is comfortable standing back and taking pictures when necessary.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

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Duniagdra wrote:Marcus looks at and studies the stone and coins.
Knowledge(arcane lore), Knowledge (history) (1d20+9=21, 1d20+5=18)
Is there any identification on the body?
There is nothing obviously arcane about either the gem or coins. The coins are Spanish doubloons from probably the 17th or 18th century, a very unusual thing to find in West Virginia. They are quite valuable, more because of their historical/collectable significance than their gold content.

To move things along:

- Turning the sarcophagus away from the east alcove with the missing lantern causes the elevator to sink back into the floor.
- Turning the sarcophagus through the following stops has no effect and causes no change in the stone face upstairs: violet lantern, stairs, missing lantern, orange lantern.
- Turning it back to point at the yellow lantern causes that elevator to rise from the floor again, but there is no change in the stone face. Turning it away from this stop causes the elevator to sink back into the floor.
- Turning it back to the green lantern has no further effect (presumably the elevator has collapsed and is somewhere down the hole in the floor). There's no change in the face when the sarcophagus points this way.
- Pointing at the blue lantern has no effect down here or on the stone face.
- Finally, full circle and back to the east alcove with the missing lantern and the same elevator with the bones rises from the floor again.

To summarize, none of the sarcophagus positions seem to do anything to the stone face. The effects of turning the sarcophagus are to operate the elevator under the yellow lantern and the elevator under the missing east lantern. Map below is a summary of what you've figured out about the room (except that only one elevator can be up at a time).
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Marcus collects the coins and gem and puts them in his pack. I can carry more that it seems without becoming overwhelmed.
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How many coins were there, or does that now matter? How many people can fit in one elevator?

 

Well, it seems that we may have no choice but to take a chance and follow these elevators down.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by tdsprouse »

I would propose that we save the hole for last. Ho about we do teh Yellow one first. But how will the last person go down? i wonder if there is a mechanism below as well. I could go first, in case there is anything that needs shot.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by CGM3 »

I suggest you and Marcus enter one of the elevators, then Sahid and I will send you down and bring you back up a minute later, Eric suggests to Brad. We do this for both of them, and see what that shows us. The hole we should leave for another time, when we're all back to a hundred percent.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Yes, that sounds good to me. Remember though that we could have unwanted company at any time. So be prepared. Marcus will remove his torch (mag light) and check his holster that his gun is in reach.
Once we're on out way down, turn the sarcophagus all the way around to just one click before this one. Then, at that one minute, bring us up. Marcus is about to step into the elevator when...
Hey! Hold on a minute. We never opened the sarcophagus, did we? Do any of you have a crowbar, or something to help pry the lid open? I'd like not to ruin it, but I really want to see what's in it. If we each take a corner, I think we can get it open. Marcus returns to the sarcophagus to begin opening it.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by tdsprouse »

Now that you mention it, no, we havent looked inside yet. i did get a crowbar, but we should try to slide it by hand first.

Brad prepares to do just that if everyone agrees.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

Marcus is in position, the excitement plain on his face, like opening a surprise birthday present from a rich relative.
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by CGM3 »

Whoa! Eric yelps. I'm curious, too, but I really think opening the sarcophagus is something we should save for after we're all healed up. Let's not try to bite off too much at once. A quick recon of where the elevators lead, and we discuss our options.
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Okay, I'm meta-gaming; I've had more than a few adventures where the "let's do one more thing before resting/withdrawing" impulse has led to heavy party casualties because we stumbled into a nasty encounter while low on spells/hit points/ammo/etc.

 

Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
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Re: [Active Thread] The Whispering Cave (Return)

Post by Duniagdra »

CGM3 wrote:Whoa! Eric yelps. I'm curious, too, but I really think opening the sarcophagus is something we should save for after we're all healed up. Let's not try to bite off too much at once. A quick recon of where the elevators lead, and we discuss our options.
OUT OF CHARACTER
Okay, I'm meta-gaming; I've had more than a few adventures where the "let's do one more thing before resting/withdrawing" impulse has led to heavy party casualties because we stumbled into a nasty encounter while low on spells/hit points/ammo/etc.

 

OUT OF CHARACTER
Is someone afraid of mummies? LOL

 

With Eric's alarm, Marcus considers. Well, if you insist, we can go down, but what does it matter? The odds of the sarcophagus having a real mummy are slim, but going down there is more than likely to have something that we might not like. How about we do this. Marcus pulls himself up onto the lip of the sarcophagus to sit. There's nothing comfortable here, but to secure our claim on this site, we can just camp out here, rest up and regain our strength, and then begin again. Otherwise, what's the point?
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