The Fifth Adventure

[mushgnome]

Turn 17

Our heroes explore to the south of area 28, crawling single-file through the narrow tunnel.

Dame Simonetta leads the way, exploring to the east, until she can go no farther: the eastern-most branch of the tunnel is too small for her. She is forced to turn south.

Kiplyn feels like he, alone, is small enough to wriggle into this eastern tunnel. In fact, it looks almost inviting, as though it were made specially, just for him.

OOC: Only Kiplyn is small enough to comfortably enter the eastern fork of the tunnel, though I would allow any Thief character to use their class abilities to make a contortionism/escape-artist check.

Turning to the south, the party emerges into a wide, major corridor that meanders roughly from west to east. The chalk markings to the west warn of Dungeon Level 3. To the east, the corridor leads back to the well room (area 18). There is a corridor leading southwest that forks into two unexplored areas, one of which is choked with rubble (similar to the kampfult lair in area 22/24).

[mgtremaine]

Kiplyn would stare at the small tunnel for sometime, then follow the others as they mapped out the connections. When that is done he'd sigh. "Seems like we should know what is down that small tunnel, if you'll will shine the lights I'll have peek, just be ready if I have come running out chances are something is trying to eat me."

[mushgnome]

Kiplyn leaves behind his shield and backpack, taking only his dagger and possibly 1 or 2 other small items of his choice. The tunnel is so low and narrow that he can't even crawl; he has to wriggle on his belly like a snake. In order for his shoulders not to get stuck, he has to stick one arm out in front of him (like Superman). He soon realizes that the light from his friends is mostly blocked by his own body, and he's basically slithering blind into the darkness.

10, 20, 30 feet, and then the other Hobbets can no longer see Kiplyn; he is beyond the range of their lantern light.

The tunnel curves gradually to the right, and soon Kip realizes that he is completely turned around, a full 180 degrees from his starting point, and the tunnel is spiralling in on itself. To make matters worse, he feels like the ceiling and walls are closing in on him. It's subtle, barely perceptible, probably just his imagination? He stops for a moment to catch his breath and fight off the rising tide of claustrophobia. There there, everything is going to be okay. Deep breath.

As Kiplyn's eyes adjust to the darkness, he becomes aware of a faint greenish light from up ahead, just around the next bend to the right. It's a faint, sickly glow that does not flicker like flame.

Every layer of Kiplyn's civilized, surface-world programming is screaming at him to turn back. And yet, he feels no threat, no sense of danger. The tunnel is the perfect size, as though it were made for him, zero risk of getting stuck. There is no physical challenge ahead; the only barrier is in Kip's mind. He feels, if he were to continue around the bend, toward the greenish light, it would awaken something in his lizard brain, a primal burrowing instinct that lies dormant in every Hobbet.

Going forward requires a SAN check. Since Kiplyn's current MYTHOS is zero, he would automatically fail that check, and his MYTHOS would increase to 1. Do you accept the consequences? Will you continue on toward the green light?

[mgtremaine]

Kiplyn is paralyzed on the threshold. Unable to go back but equally unable to move forward.... "Now this just not right, what could possibly be going on here."he whispers to himself. Slowly his curiosity over comes his better judgment and he creeps forward.....

[ehiker133]

Dougal looks on worriedly when Kiplyn attempts to make the trek down the narrow tunnel on his own. If Dougal can fit, he will accompany him.

Apologies for the absence, everyone. Rough last couple of weeks with all of these hurricane storms rolling through. All of those barometric pressure changes set off my migraines like nothing else...

Dougal is just a straight thief; would he be able to easily follow Kiplyn down the tunnel?

[mushgnome]

Dougal attempts to squeeze into the tunnel, but his shoulders are too wide! It's like the tunnel was made just for Kiplyn; fits him like a glove.

OOC: I decided in my head-canon a while back, that Kiplyn was the smallest party member, since he has the fewest hit points.

But I'll let Dougal make a Contortion check to see if he can be equally small. 1d6=3, fail. A 4th level thief would have succeeded.

[mushgnome]

Kiplyn slithers on his belly to the center of the spiral. The source of the light is a stone idol that glows with an internal light. Kiplyn does not recognize the material. The glowing mystery stone somewhat resembles polished jade, but it looks soft and soapy in texture, and it glistens with moisture like the rind of a cheese, even though this section of the caves is otherwise bone-dry. The statue stands 8 inches tall and weighs 10 pounds. It would fit perfectly in a small sack (which Kip does happen to be carrying). The base of the statue is carved with eldritch runes; Kiplyn does not recognize the alphabet.

Something inside Kiplyn changes at the sight of the strange idol; he can't unsee it. The sculpture depicts a hunched and brooding humanoid creature. The god (or monster) has scaly skin, wings like a bat, and tentacles for a face. Worst are its many glistening, beady eyes that seem to glare back scornfully at Kiplyn; silently judging him. Kiplyn feels like his discovery is shameful, and his friends would not approve of it. Nevertheless, the green stone idol does look quite valuable. Kiplyn estimates 400gp (to the right buyer). Or he could keep it for himself...?





OOC: Kip's MYTH increases to 1. INT check to recognize the language 1d20=18, fail.

Does Kiplyn touch the glowing statue?

[mgtremaine]

"Hello, what are you now?" Kiplyn sizes the thing up. "I'm not sure what to make of you but you better come with me." He then tries to figure out how to get it into his bag without actually touch it with his bare hands.

[ehiker133]

Finding he doesn't easily (or at all) fit down the minute tunnel, Dougal blocks the opening as much as he can with his body and calls down so hopefully just Kiplyn can hear, "You all right in there? Hope so, because I'm not sure any of us can get down if you ARE stuck!"

Honestly? No worries. I'm sorta feeling claustrophobic just reading the description.

[mushgnome]

Kiplyn flips the sack inside-out and puts it on his hand like a glove. He manhandles the stone idol into the sack, being careful not to touch it directly with his skin. As he flips the bag over the statue, hiding the green glow, the tunnel is plunged into darkness, and Kiplyn has a few moments of panic! Fortunately the cul-de-sac is just wide enough that Kiplyn is able to curl up into a ball and spin around. He is therefore able to crawl out, head-first. Eventually he crawls back into the light and rejoins his friends.

The others see Kiplyn emerge from the hole, dusty and panting for breath, but safe. He is carrying a bulging treasure sack!