Cyrohydra... something to 'cryo-ver'...

As our group begins to awaken, they hear shouts; someone is calling them. Curiously, they peer about, spotting Tessalia, Benji, Amaril and Jahlo in the arched opening on the other side of the collapsed ice bridge.

Learning from the three serving ladies that the only way around would take several hours, a day most likely, the team begins to discuss alternatives.

Carefully lowering themselves, one at a time, they descend into the snowy pit, plough their way through the deep thigh-deep snow, and toss the rope up to Ooma, who, with the aid of the others, lifts the party from the pit, dragging them up onto the icy rocks they have been resting on.

Before they can catch their breath, the ice-covered pool to the North rumbles, and, glancing over the side down into the frozen liquid they can see a large creature pushing up through the ice at a fast clip.

“Let’s haul ass!” Ooma shouts, looking around for the exit and spies a narrow outcropping of rock leading across to the other side and up into the mountain of rock.

The trail is icy and slopes downward, before rising again, causing many of the group to slip and tumble, giving the creature time to catch up, as the group hears the unmistakable expression, “Meat...”

Due to indecision, the creature is able to send an icy blast of frigid air across the path of our heroes, nearly felling the entire group. The beast, now identified as a Cyrohydra, is merely a baby, only two heads glower with scaly light-purple skin. Its breath does less damage than a fully-grown beast, although Tessalia is rendered unconscious, and many others are gasping with the icy-frost coating their bodies and seeping through their clothing.

A mighty battle ensues and, if not for a prudent retreat, and the skills of their new acquaintance, Ichabod, they may have well lost a member or two of their party. The skilled stranger manages to severed the two heads, dropping the beast as the others escape to the narrow tunnel several yards away.

Not unscathed, with gouges and rents in her flesh, Ichabod smiles as she wipes the sweat from her brow and steps forward onto the ice to relieve the beast of its treasures. Hydra’s are well known in her realm for carrying items of great interest, if not value. 

On the other side of the tunnel the group pants heavily as they examine injuries, using plasters and ointment to clean and cover smaller gashes and cuts. They decide after their struggle they are retiring to take a full, long rest, recuperate and regain their strength. While they are resting they may want to appraise some of the gems they have picked up...

They dubiously examine the contents of their packs, wondering if they dare eat any more of the rations they found... They also glance curiously at the smooth-walled cave they seem to have entered. There appears to be no way out except back through the icy path where the hydra lies...

And, mama Cyrohydra has heard the commotion and calls to papa...

o0o

XP FOR THIS WEEK: 450-each character, incl. Benji.

TREASURE DISCOVERED BY ICHABOD: Will be determined by MONDAY, August 24^th – if you wish to have a shot at getting your desired item(s), be SURE to post in the journal what you’d most like... get greedy and nothing appears... so choose wisely, and explain (creatively) why your character NEEDS/WANTS this item... You never know what this baby-hydra has collected... 

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looking for another exit...

Fledgling Dungeon Mistress,

khrys

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NEVER Separate the Party...

NEVER Separate the Party...

“But why?” you ask.

And so we begin, the party awakening from their ailments, some, not able to overcome the gut wrenching cramps, have chosen to remain in the cavern at the end of the trap’s shaft. The remainder of the party rolls onward...

Ooma, Morgan, Racelette, Fequr and Adrie are at the top of the trap, and Ichabod and Wik are a couple of miles ahead under the cavern, following Ichabod’s staff, they are wandering the curvaceous canyons. Wik pauses, peering intently at a large clump of glowing globs and methodically begins to chip fist-sized chunks off the colourful, glittering orbs, pressing the irregular shapes into his rucksack. Ichabod, slows and watches, a smile lifting her lips.

and...

Due to technical difficulties, which keep requesting the DM ‘restart’ her device, the remainder of this episode is shrouded in mystic and fabrication... As a DM, I can have some fun too...

Sliding down the thick walls of the ‘red-snake’s’ intestines, which, oddly, resemble thick, dark-purple Obsidian, Ooma, Morgan, and the three serving wenches land in a tangled mess in the large, glowing cavern. Righting themselves, they note their companions, Tessalia, Jhalo, and Amaril, sleeping, curled into foetal positions. They recognised the misery that, they too suffered, and decide to leave them sleep. Benji, wagging his tail, rests his large head on Jhalo’s hip, guarding the stricken adventurers.

Discovering that the glowing orbs are actually mounds of valuable gemstone, Ooma smashes them as she walks through the maze of canyons, following the ladies and Morgan, who has taken the lead, gathering the chunks as she goes.

They soon catch up to Wik and Ichabod, and, with all their smash-and-grab tactics, they have alerted several creatures who inevitably make their way toward the group, hindering their progress. True to form, our heroes strike back with interesting results, they kill some creatures, have some creatures run away, and, unbeknownst to them, have their actions watched and, as they continue forward, find their way hampered greatly.

Ooops... said too much...?

They search bodies of those they kill and do not walk away empty handed. Gold and silver coins amass.

As they take a few moments to look around, they spy an arched opening, which, well, they have to go through. And, well, of course it’s another trap. They find themselves watching as Morgan, unable to leap the final step, tumbles, the ice cube they are crossing suddenly cracking and shattering bringing Morgan face-to-face with... a SNOWMAN!

He easily dispatches the creature and then struggles to climb out of the deep, snowy-hole he’s fallen into. Creeping along... the party decides to pause for the night, on an icy bridge, clambering tightly together to fend off the frigid blasts of this ice cave. Ichabod, carefully conserving magical power, conjures a small fire, hovering it in the centre of the group, and well off the frozen floor. A sleepiness overcomes the group and they slip into slumber... waking hours later as the bridge shivers...

“Good morning class, are we ready for another interesting romp in the underground?”

o0o

DM NOTE: I do apologise, I was unable to view last week’s episode, which I rely on for awarding XP and writing this recap, so, for the game held August 12^th, please add 300XP. If you wrote in the journal, you may also add an additional 100XP.

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schooling the team...

Fledgling Dungeon Mistress,

khrys...

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Rations...

The illness that holds Ooma in its grip, has reached out and nabbed the group with many succumbing to its symptoms. Drowsiness being the unifying factor as each group is forced to build a fire with the materials at hand and hope they can remain vigilant to allow this disease to pass.

They wonder, “Was it possibly the rations?”

The sound of a whistle kettle after the liquid has cooled to wafting through the bellows; a hiss, seems to ricochet off the hard surfaced walls. Ooma, Morgan, Racelette, Adrie and Fequr fight to remain awake, failing miserably. Morgan, who has slurped down a fair bit of mead, has a little more protection than those who’ve not imbibed. However, his eyes are heavy.

Ichabod and Wik are faring the best of all as Icahbod produces vials of pink and blue liquid. She drinks the blue and hands the pink to Wik, who, suspiciously sniffs, then drinks the cherry-flavoured liquid. Minutes later he is asleep. “I’ll take first watch,” Ichabod yawns, facing the direction she can hear noises that evoke a vision of a waterfall rushing over a cliff.

Jhalo, Tessalia, Amaril and Benji are at the bottom of the slide when they are overcome suddenly. Their groans cause Benji to whine, as he snuggles close to Jhalo. The group huddles close, as the sleepiness overcomes them and they rest their weary eyes. They are oblivious to any noises, except the scratching of some moles digging...

The party has taken ill, we shall return next week...

o0o

did NOT eat the rations...

Fledgling DM,

khrys...

o0o

Glowing Globs...

Amaril and Morgan, having landed roughly, from their slide down through the smooth surface, onto a loose rocky surface. Looking around they can see there are hundreds, maybe thousands, of colourful orbs of various sizes, from fist-size up to as big as an average size Dwarf, glowing and giving off a light.

They can see they are in an enormous cavern, with a ceiling soaring overhead.

Morgan, cusses as he ponders there situation.

"What the hell is that?" Morgan kicks at one of the globes, finding that it is a solid rock mass. He may want to examine it closer later, but right now he is busy cursing and blaming Amaril for their misfortune. "This is all your fault! I can't hold on to the rope if you catch me in the trap with you!"

Amaril looks at him, "You're blaming me?!?" And shakes his head.

Morgan, done with his tirade, begins to look around. They can hear noises, like normal noises one would expect in a cave; scratching etc... "Amaril, be quiet!" Amaril looks at Morgan, an eyebrow raised.

Amaril, listening faintly hears Wik muttering, or, it sounds like Wik.

Morgan, peers up the slide and decides to try and climb back up the fifty, or so, feet by pressing his feet to one side of the five-foot wide tunnel and his hands on the other. Perseverance pays off as, with a lot of sweat and scrapes to his fingers, he reaches the trap's lid.

With no trigger in sight, he pounds on the lid, shouting, "Open up, I think I found a trap!"

Wik faintly hears Morgan banging, and shouting. He steps on the trigger again, to open the trap, which creates a downdraft that pushes Morgan back down the tunnel, his shout of surprise alerting all that he is falling.

Wik, sheepishly glances about, hoping no one saw his little mistake. Curious, he moves toward the trap, looking to see if he can disable the mechanism, and with some fiddling and manoeuvring he manages to block the structure's wooden, stone-covered lid, open. Rushing air presses down the tunnel, the opening at the top twelve to fifteen foot wide funnel-shaped opening.

Jahlo hears the wind's rushing, and mentions the sound to Tessalia, the serving ladies and Ichabod, and they make their way down to where Wik is after creating a litter for Ooma, who appears to have picked up an underground bug, hitching the litter to Benji for him to pull. Benji is sure-footed and gentle as he tugs the harness, giving Ooma a smooth ride.

They see Wik on the opposite side of this trap, to the one side is a small ledge that they can use to pass by the trap. Wik waves and tells the group that Morgan and Amaril have gone down the hole. "Can you see if they need help climbing out?"

Tessalia, Jahlo and Ichabod discuss their options. Jahlo shouts down the hole asking if they have a rope or something. Morgan moves back up the tunnel where he is able to see the shape of Morgan way down below as he is able to light a torch. After a few attempts, they manage to toss up Amaril's grappling hook.

Jhalo orders Tessalia and Ichabod to use their magical ability to ease the grappling hook up to the edge and affix it in the ground. Tessalia looks at Jahlo, frowning. Ichabod leans forward, her staff glowing faintly, a smile creasing her face.

Jahlo, observes Ichabod and, from his reverse supine position he looks up at her, "You're not going to do somethin' like go down there are you? 'Cause I'd really like to know that now."

Ichabod nods as she waves her staff, watching it glow brighter as she pushes it toward the hole. "I won't get in your way. I'll help you, but that is the way I have to go."

Jahlo shouts down, "The magic stick says we need to go down the hole, yah."

Morgan shouts back, "I don't care, get me out of this gol' durned hole!" As he tosses Amaril's grappling hook.

Tessalia uses her magical abilities to grab the hook in mid-air, pulling it up to the top. Wik, using his knowledge, secures it to the ground, wedging in the tines, but because the ground is hard he is only able to push in a small bit.

Jahlo orders Benji to pull as he shouts down for Morgan to, "Hang on to the rope! Benji's pulling."

Holding on, barring his teeth, Benji's strength pulls Morgan free of the trap. Tessalia helps Morgan get free of the tunnel.

Because the rope tied between Amaril and Morgan is still knotted, as Morgan lifts Amaril out of the tunnel, quickly realising that Amaril is riding, not climbing, and with much effort, hauls his ass out, muttering, "Man, were you even helping?"

Amaril grins, "Sorry, I slipped."

"Bullshit!" Morgan flops back on the ground. "Ogre crap!" He pulls out his wine skin and mutters expletives at the hole, as he catches his breath.

Wik, astutely recognising that the group probably should follow Ichabod's staff, as it appears to be what is leading them back to the Tavern, and their own time period, announces, "I think we need to go down the hole, it seems to be the way we are being driven."

Morgan definitely disagrees and thinks they should just, "get the hell away from it, get these ladies to wherever the hell it is we need to and get out of this cave!"

"As you wish, but my way is clear. I have to follow this path." Ichabod asks what she's likely to encounter. As Morgan looks at her, drinking, and Amaril motions for him to pass that wine skin over. The two of them recline against the cave wall.

"Wait!" Wik says. "I can't in all good conscious let you go down there alone. Men are supposed to protect the females, so I will go with you."

Ichabod, knowing that she could well protect all of them if need be, smiles, nods and says, "Thank you." She smiles, steps over the swirling winds and is whisked down the tunnel, Wik following a few seconds later.

Amaril is debating following them down. Jahlo hollers after her, "We'll find a safer way down, don't get eaten."

"Don't worry,” Ichabod smiles. Ichabod and Wik are viewing the colourful orbs and dimly lit tunnel. They move forward, following, a path between the canyonish-walls, following the brilliance of her staff.

Jahlo describes the area they've found to the Dwarf ladies, and asks if there's another way down. Fequr follows him back to the trap. "I think we keep going around the curve, but I don't know what this is. I've never seen this trap before."

Jahlo and Tessalia start to pass the trap, but, because they are both trying to pass at the same time, their feet slip, and, hugging each other, they fall to the end of the slide. Benji, yelping, starts to head after them, but both Amaril and Morgan leap to prevent him from taking Ooma with him.

Jahlo shouts, "Unstrap my wolf!"

Amaril hears Jahlo and untie the rope, protecting Ooma, and Benji leaps into the hole, and Jahlo, standing at the bottom, catches the falling animal, tumbling back out the remaining few feet.

Amaril climbs down the grappling hook. The hook releases, and, forgetting he is wearing a rope tied to Morgan, who suddenly feels a strong jerk on his waist as Amaril finds himself hanging in mid air as the rope reaches its end.

Morgan, beginning to be inconvenienced frowns at the rope pulling his waist, drinks another mouthful.

After the initial shock, Amaril quickly unties the knot, and drops down, rolling out to land at Jahlo and Tessalia's feet, Benji moving to eagerly lick his face.

Morgan pulls the rope back up and, in his inebriated state he thoughtfully ties the end of the rope to Ooma, his thinking that she won't be killed this way, as he gulps more of the tasty mead.

Down in the lower cave, Ichabod and Wik are moving slowly through the maze, Wik's eyes widening as he figures out what the blobs of colour are! [DM’s NOTES: WIK, ASK ME!]

Jahlo, Amaril, Tessalia and Benji look around to see which way they should head, calling out to see if they can locate Ichabod or Wik.

Morgan happily indulges in the mead, rifling through Ooma's pack when his skin drips its last, waiting for the group to return.

Ooma is still resting on the litter prepared for her out of the tent parts. The three serving ladies are sitting around Ooma, as they carefully pass the trap's opening, wondering what to do as they eat some of the rations allotted them and wait.

"What is that noise?" Adrie asks, looking to the back of the curved stone wall in front of them...

o0o

FOR THIS ADVENTURE: 200XP, (only because you were so entertaining riding up and down that tunnel!)

o0o

listening carefully...

Fledgling Dungeon Mistress,

khrys...

o0o

Flushed...

Tessalia and Jahlo, having been summoned back to their respective homes briefly, are now, racing through the tunnels, they were lucky enough to find the correct opening, and are hustling along quickly, trying to catch back up to the party. In their hurry, they step, at the same time, into a trap which sends them on a slide down into a freezing cold lake, where Tessalia manages to scramble onto shore, Jahlo struggles and flounders.

Tessalia shout to reassure him, “I will save you Jahlo!” and she leans forward with her staff, offering it to Jahlo, to pull him safely to shore. Ayrowynn hears the shout and wanders over to where she can see them and instead of assisting, she starts laughing at his predicament.

Reaching for her staff, Jahlo is so cold, he cannot hang on to it and glugs under the surface again, flailing to get back up. Ayrowynn finally decides she will attempt to help, leaping in the water, swimming to Jahlo, pushing him to shore, where Tessalia hauls him onto the frosty ledge.

When she hauls her butt out of the water, Ayrowynn points up the way, “There’s a fire and camp up there.”

Ayrowynn is shaking her head, “How does a Druid nearly drown?”

As the weary, wet arrivals come to the fire, it becomes obvious that everyone is exhausted. As they sit, warming themselves, Amaril has a few questions for Tessalia.

He questions her about the vials of liquid, the scroll and the ring he’s found. The ring causes a mighty GASP from the three serving ladies. He learns the scroll he discovered is a spell. Tessalia smiles as she reads, her eyes brightening.

“May I keep this?” she asks Amaril as she explains exactly what kind of spell it is, “It’s Minor Illusions. It allows me to fool enemies.” She rolls the scroll and replaces it in the case along with the rods with golden tops. (As long as Tessalia concentrates, she can maintain the illusion, if her concentration is broken, it will last two more rounds before fading.)

Tessalia does not know anything about the ring. Jahlo asks the serving ladies if they’ve seen the ring before and they nod, fearful and amazed. “That’s like... can I see it please?”

Amaril threatens them and finally agrees they can hold the ring. It resembles a spiral staircase in red gems. As they examine it, they notice inside the top gem a figure of a Lady. She seems to be seeking something. They are told they don’t recognise the figure, but, if Jahlo, Wik or Ooma stare long enough into it, a light may dawn and they may see the resemblance to another Lady they have met in the past. (DM NOTES: IF ANY OF YOU THREE READ THIS BLOG THIS WEEK, CONTACT ME, VIA E-MAIL OR POST IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN THIS INFORMATION QUIETLY...)

As the ladies hold Amarils hand (as he holds the ring), the ladies are fairly vibrating with excitement. Fequr looks directly into Amaril’s eyes, “You HAVE to save her!” She turns her eyes upon the group before releasing Amaril’s hand.

Ichabod requests to see the ring, and raises her eyebrows and smiles as Amaril offers her the same threat (to lop off her fingers) if she refuses to return the ring. Wik warns him not to let her hold it. He eyes Ichabod guardedly.

She questions him, “Why? Did I not return your ring?”

“Yes, but you took something from it, I know it.”

She laughs, and shakes her head, holding her hand out for the ring. As she draws her staff closer to the ring, it reacts with a violent start; glowing and vibrating. “This ring is part of my quest.”

Amaril asks the ladies, “Who needs saving?”

Fequr responds, “The Lady!”

As Ichabod rubs her fingers across the ring, it starts to hum. “This is the clue. DO NOT LOSE THIS RING!”

Amaril slides it on his finger, and, it is tight, and begins to vibrate or hum as he wears it. Ichabod sits very close to him and Wik sits on the other side of Ichabod as the group falls asleep, their snores softly wafting about.

The vials of coloured liquid are still a mystery.

Supplies are shared with Jahlo and Tessalia, filling their bags with rations and Jahlo is pleasantly surprised to find a squishy leather bag, about a foot by a foot big, and 10-twigs. (DM’s NOTE: JAHLO, IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE ASK ME FOR A BETTER DESCRIPTION OF THESE.)

Ooma seems to be under a sleeping spell and isn’t waking. The three, Fequr, Racelette and Adrie, offer to stay with her while the rest of the party goes off to explore.

Upon awakening, they discuss where they will head next. Wik suggests they head down to where he saw movement, and this suggestion is agreed to.

Traipsing back to the path, and down a narrow soggy sand path, down a slope and around a corner. As he crests the corner, he spies more of those reptilian creatures and immediately fires an arrow at the first one. He can see the bolt skewering through its eye and exploding his head into a mass of gore, dropping it.

Its’ friends are non-too-happy and swiftly fire back at Wik, the spear’s tip sinking into his thigh deeply. He yells, scrambling back around the corner, shouting.

The party stops and remains in place, listening to scrabbling noises. Morgan attempts to climb the hill when a spear comes sailing over the top. Ayrowynn, Jahlo and Tessalia scrape knees and fingers as they struggle to clamber up the tiered hill, and, after several tries, they are successful in cresting the top. Ayrowynn peeks over, coming face-to-face with one of the creatures. She fires her bow, killing it instantly. Catching the attention of those in the passage below.

Jahlo makes his way to Wik and lays hands on him, stitching the wound and nearly removing the injury, and as soon as he’s healed, he pops around the corner firing a bolt hitting a creature, and leaving him bloody, moving back behind the hill for cover. Ayrowynn, fires his bolt from the top down into the passage, killing it as the bolt rips through his throat as his parts splat everywhere.

Jahlo throws a bullet and nails his forehead, causing dripping blood to spurt down his face.

Morgan, finally reaches the top of the hill and chucks rocks at the creature, missing it. Tessalia throws her spear, losing it in the confusion. Wik fires an arrow, looking back at Jahlo, he snarls, “This makes us even.”

The arrow finds its way true into its heart. Wik shuffles forward, to check for loot. Amaril follows behind, and Morgan tumbles down the hill, reaching the bottom at the exact moment Amaril comes through the narrow opening.

In the flash of an eye, moving slowly, Wik steps on a trigger, a rock that moves underfoot and Morgan and Amaril are whisked away in a flush right behind him. He hears them shout and they are gone...

o0o

XP for this week – 200 EACH for Amaril, Jahlo, Morgan, Tessalia and Wik, with Ooma receiving Ayrowynn’s and Benji receiving nothing this week as he nearly let his owner drown! Ayrowynn has been called back to take care of a problem with her brother and will not be returning for the foreseeable future. She wishes the party well.

Treasure - The four reptilian creatures were carrying 24 gold pieces, and pouches containing 48 gems total, varying from 100gp to 1000gp. (8-gems each, we'll roll at the beginning of next game to determine who gets what...)

Story XP – If you wrote in the Journal, or a story in the community, please add 100 XP to your sheet.

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Ooo look, sparkles...

Fledgling Dungeon Mistress,

khrys

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