The Sixth Adventure

[mushgnome]

Dougal searches the mold room. There is no trace of any organic treasure (paper, wood, leather, cloth, etc.) but Dougal spies dozens, nay, hundreds of silver pieces, and many gold coins, too!

Before Dougal has time to count and gather the coins, he spies something weird in the eastern half of the room, where the mold patch was thickest. The fire has uncovered a section of the eastern wall, revealing some strange artwork or decoration. There is an eight-foot diameter decorative ring, and then within that perfect circle, a bas-relief carving in the native stone wall. Dougal can't decide whether he finds the subject matter of the artwork fascinating or disturbing. He isn't sure whether to approach that section of the wall and study it closer, or to turn away in disgust. Dougal feels, if he were to give this artwork his full attention, it might increase his knowledge of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Do any of you dare to approach the mysterious mural, triggering a Mythos check? Or do you quickly scoop up the coins and move on to the next room?

[ehiker133]

Dougal, almost trance-like, reaches into his pack and drops two bags next to the coins for others to use as he slowly shuffles over to the wall to study the ring and base relief.

Did everyone remember to add multiple large bags to their inventory?

[mushgnome]

OOC: For the benefit of the new guy, a quick word about Mythos.

Bilfur's Mythos score starts at zero, meaning he knows nothing about the Cthulhu Mythos. If he wants to just stay at zero, and be an ordinary nature-druid, that's perfectly okay. No problem.

PCs can increase their MYTH (to a max of 6) by gathering lore, collecting artifacts, reading ancient books, investigating occult mysteries, etc.. For example, gazing upon a mysterious and disturbing artwork that has been covered by yellow mold for centuries would increase Bilfur's MYTH from 0 to 1.

Conversely, PCs can decrease their MYTH (to a min of 0) by destroying temples, burning books, stopping evil rituals, banishing chaotic spawn, etc.

The MYTH stat ranges from 0-6 and Myth Checks are rolled on 1d6. An example of Myth Checks in action: Hobbet Magic-Users do not exist. But a non-MU hobbet character could attempt to read a MU scroll, or use a MU item, by rolling their MYTH or less on 1d6. For example, a hobbet druid with MYTH 5 has 5-in-6 chance to read a MU scroll.

But any time you roll 6 on a MYTH check, then you succeed too well! You have a peek of secrets no mortal mind can comprehend! Make another MYTH check, and if you fail that second check, then your MYTH increases 1 point.

If any PC's MYTH ever reaches 6, they are removed from play, and become NPC servants of the Mythos. At the DM's discretion, this condition may be temporary. For example, your MYTH is 5, you read the Necronomicon and fail your MYTH check, your MYTH goes up to 6 and your character becomes an NPC cultist of Cthulhu. However, your friends find the Necronomicon and destroy it in front of you. The DM decides that witnessing the destruction of the Necronomicon is enough to lower your MYTH to 5, restoring your PC to game play.

[mushgnome]

Dougal sees this:

The eight-foot diameter bas-relief sculpture depicts a fish-man and a fish-woman coiled together in a passionate embrace. In the very center of the circle is an indentation or niche in the stone. It takes Dougal a minute, and then he figures out that the stone idol from Adventure Five would fit perfectly into the slot, snug as a bug, like it was made for it. Whatever happened to that statue, anyway?

OOC: Dougal gets a MYTH check to see how well he understands the artwork: 1d6=2. He doesn't understand it very well. Since he didn't roll 6 and 'learn too much,' his MYTH doesn't increase from 2 to 3. You may notice, this is a milder "sanity loss" effect than the statue itself, which triggered an automatic MYTH check. Dougal can sense that the mural is a less powerful source of Mythos than it would be with the stone idol as its centerpiece, if that makes any sense?

Does anyone else want to make a MYTH check and try to beat Dougal's 2, to learn more about this fish-people artwork?

[mgtremaine]

Kiplyn stays back.

[acodispo]

Willie is playing it safe this time around: "Come on, Dougal, let's get these coins."

He takes a sack out of his pack and starts scooping.

He tries to avoid glancing over his shoulder at the artwork as he works.

[mushgnome]

Those heroes not viewing the fish-art gather up 500 gold plus 900 silver!

1,400 coins equals 70 pounds, or 2 large sacks plus 1 small sack.

No additional treasure is found.

Anyone else taking a closer look at the mural?

[kipper]

Dame Simonetta has no interest in the mural. She is ready to move on southwards to the ooze-creature's room.

[ehiker133]

Dougal asks aloud, "Whatever happened to that statue we found?"

[mgtremaine]

Kiplyn answers "Ah well, it broke."