Survey Party 002
Global Character Log
Discuss.
Ruminate.
Write your summary.
Post Survey Party 002 (COMPLETED)
Post Survey Party 002 (COMPLETED)
Last edited by Deschain on Mon Jul 27, 2026 5:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Post Survey Party 01.5
"I'm really not sure what you think there is to add to the discourse 'ere. I dropped off the water, a druid named Linden offered to check to see if it would make us evacuate our bowels to death or convert us to some briny bunch of bastards, it ended up clean. Most druids are standoffish at first, a bit wooden, but Linden was willing to branch out so we tacked him on when we decided to head to the fountain again. Devin showed back up too, also good as we can always use someone at range. Bigwig Empire man said something about a bounty for water, zombies, or something but I was halfway through the tent flap so I didn't catch it.
Tracing our way back to the fountain we touched upon a batch of ghouls and some skellies. Linden slowed them down enough with some ground tentacles we picked them off pretty clean. We'd only just gotten the fountain in sight when we also saw more of the same baddies as last time, at least 2:1 in our disfavor. Some trepidation was present, but we committed pretty quick to a bottleneck and ranged attacks to whittle 'em down. Lutrum had a good idea by making an illusion to lure them into an area Linden could then ensnare, giving us a drip feed of targets. Turns out they had range too. The plan was solid enough but it got clocked in the mouth so things devolved into a pretty standard clusterfuck. Attrition was all around, luckily me and Big Z hit really goddamn hard so we wore them down a bit faster. I know I blacked out for a second, but we won. I stood for dear life with an assist from Big Sis while they decided what was going to happen next.
Only interesting thing I noticed was the semi-dead always stared at Devin when he was around. Haven't had human, maybe they taste good? Maybe don't tell Grundr, but the best steak I ever had was carved off the backside of an orc the size of a Hook Horror. Still can't figure out why people get all up in arms when I tell 'em arse is the tastiest thing you can eat."
Brunhildo's Song of the Session
Tracing our way back to the fountain we touched upon a batch of ghouls and some skellies. Linden slowed them down enough with some ground tentacles we picked them off pretty clean. We'd only just gotten the fountain in sight when we also saw more of the same baddies as last time, at least 2:1 in our disfavor. Some trepidation was present, but we committed pretty quick to a bottleneck and ranged attacks to whittle 'em down. Lutrum had a good idea by making an illusion to lure them into an area Linden could then ensnare, giving us a drip feed of targets. Turns out they had range too. The plan was solid enough but it got clocked in the mouth so things devolved into a pretty standard clusterfuck. Attrition was all around, luckily me and Big Z hit really goddamn hard so we wore them down a bit faster. I know I blacked out for a second, but we won. I stood for dear life with an assist from Big Sis while they decided what was going to happen next.
Only interesting thing I noticed was the semi-dead always stared at Devin when he was around. Haven't had human, maybe they taste good? Maybe don't tell Grundr, but the best steak I ever had was carved off the backside of an orc the size of a Hook Horror. Still can't figure out why people get all up in arms when I tell 'em arse is the tastiest thing you can eat."
Brunhildo's Song of the Session
Last edited by Deschain on Sat Jul 25, 2026 5:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Post Survey Party 01.5
GRUNDR
Scrawled with a shaky hand over some arcane diagrams on pages spattered with blood:
I didn’t think we were gonna make it. That was overwhelming. My comrades were all in the thick of it. And what was I? USELESS! All I could do was hurl little beads of fire at the onslaught. Even my helper spells did nothing against the curse of this city. Didn’t even use all my spell slots because they would be worth less than just flinging another fire bolt! I’m just a spineless little worm, just like my father said. My father
A space, then the writing resumes, more steadily.
No.
“Calm down. See the truth. Work the problem.”
I didn’t do nothing. I helped. I helped! I did some damage. I brought back Zenitha. She seems to love challenging these undead. But she slaughtered so many. Her smites were incredible! Fascinating to see evocation arcanochemistry resonating with abjuration against necromantic reanimation. I could see more of those extra weave particulates with each flash of her spear. They remind me of some of the residue left behind when I cast protective spells of my own.
Lutrum was a force to be reckoned with. While he didn’t do the most damage, his ridiculous illusion locked down the battlefield so well it made me jealous. I wish I was as good at combining material weapons with arcane ones as he was. Once we get back to the wharf, we will need quite the rest. I wanna see if I can replicate the weave lensing he was using with that illusion. Maybe I can try and refract reality around me a bit to make me harder to hit. Trichromatic aberration would probably work.
Devin and I held a commanding view over the battlefield from the second floor. The undead seemed to really have eyes for him. His flurries of arrows peppered the undead with impeccable skill. Should I similarly try and work with arcane projectiles? I’d have to improve my targeting runomics a lot to achieve the unfailing accuracy required to make that worth it.
Hildo showed us what he was made of. I didn’t even need to see what he was doing to understand. The whistling of a handaxe, the sing of Big Sis as it obliterated those ghouls left and right. I could feel it through the floor. I’m not sure he could teach me anything magically, but the way he stands obstinately in the thick of things and has no fear is something my clan would be proud of. That dwarf was truly made of stone in this fight.
Linden was a new addition to our party this go around, and I do not think we would have survived without him. I certainly would not have. His entanglement spell worked really well at stemming the tide of undead so we could whittle them down in our choke point. The combination of that and Lute’s silent image are what did it, and either one on its own may not have been enough.
I went down in this fight. I wasn’t the only one. I don’t remember what happened, only that I wanted to take a potshot at some skeletons out the top floor window. Next thing I knew, I was looking up at this aasimar adorned like a peacock! The celestial features framed by feathered hair and the clinking of potion bottles was new. He had a maneuver that would make any wizard blush. Using your familiar as a spyglass to aim your spells is ingenious! I’m not sure if I’ll ever take the spell, but if I do, that piece of tech is going right in my pocket.
He also may have given me the key to what I’ve been mulling over. Coming to and seeing the abjurative arcane resin on his hand as he looked down on me…that’s how I’ll use these arcane reaction products. If I can just take the radiant protective motes of my abjuration spells (like I saw with Zenitha’s smites), the adhesive nature of abjurative healing like I noticed here, and stitch it into a framework not unlike the shield spell which I also used to decent effect in this fight and…!
My brain is still fried from the period of unconsciousness. And from the severe puncture wounds I sustained. I can’t think of anything we really even learned during our mission. We found a path to the source of the undead I think? We also had some information exchange with the other party of explorers who scouted the lighthouse. The most important thing we learned is this: the undead problem appears to be getting worse. Securing the city is not going to be as simple as searching some ancient dwellings. We have a problem to solve. And based on what we heard, that lighthouse might help us make some progress. At least understand what we are up against here so we can work the problem.
I need a rest, then I need to do some serious study on Danzig’s book. Runomics, weave refractometry, symplectic arcanostoichometry, kinetothurgic adhesion dynamics…I have a lot of work to do.
Scrawled with a shaky hand over some arcane diagrams on pages spattered with blood:
I didn’t think we were gonna make it. That was overwhelming. My comrades were all in the thick of it. And what was I? USELESS! All I could do was hurl little beads of fire at the onslaught. Even my helper spells did nothing against the curse of this city. Didn’t even use all my spell slots because they would be worth less than just flinging another fire bolt! I’m just a spineless little worm, just like my father said. My father
A space, then the writing resumes, more steadily.
No.
“Calm down. See the truth. Work the problem.”
I didn’t do nothing. I helped. I helped! I did some damage. I brought back Zenitha. She seems to love challenging these undead. But she slaughtered so many. Her smites were incredible! Fascinating to see evocation arcanochemistry resonating with abjuration against necromantic reanimation. I could see more of those extra weave particulates with each flash of her spear. They remind me of some of the residue left behind when I cast protective spells of my own.
Lutrum was a force to be reckoned with. While he didn’t do the most damage, his ridiculous illusion locked down the battlefield so well it made me jealous. I wish I was as good at combining material weapons with arcane ones as he was. Once we get back to the wharf, we will need quite the rest. I wanna see if I can replicate the weave lensing he was using with that illusion. Maybe I can try and refract reality around me a bit to make me harder to hit. Trichromatic aberration would probably work.
Devin and I held a commanding view over the battlefield from the second floor. The undead seemed to really have eyes for him. His flurries of arrows peppered the undead with impeccable skill. Should I similarly try and work with arcane projectiles? I’d have to improve my targeting runomics a lot to achieve the unfailing accuracy required to make that worth it.
Hildo showed us what he was made of. I didn’t even need to see what he was doing to understand. The whistling of a handaxe, the sing of Big Sis as it obliterated those ghouls left and right. I could feel it through the floor. I’m not sure he could teach me anything magically, but the way he stands obstinately in the thick of things and has no fear is something my clan would be proud of. That dwarf was truly made of stone in this fight.
Linden was a new addition to our party this go around, and I do not think we would have survived without him. I certainly would not have. His entanglement spell worked really well at stemming the tide of undead so we could whittle them down in our choke point. The combination of that and Lute’s silent image are what did it, and either one on its own may not have been enough.
I went down in this fight. I wasn’t the only one. I don’t remember what happened, only that I wanted to take a potshot at some skeletons out the top floor window. Next thing I knew, I was looking up at this aasimar adorned like a peacock! The celestial features framed by feathered hair and the clinking of potion bottles was new. He had a maneuver that would make any wizard blush. Using your familiar as a spyglass to aim your spells is ingenious! I’m not sure if I’ll ever take the spell, but if I do, that piece of tech is going right in my pocket.
He also may have given me the key to what I’ve been mulling over. Coming to and seeing the abjurative arcane resin on his hand as he looked down on me…that’s how I’ll use these arcane reaction products. If I can just take the radiant protective motes of my abjuration spells (like I saw with Zenitha’s smites), the adhesive nature of abjurative healing like I noticed here, and stitch it into a framework not unlike the shield spell which I also used to decent effect in this fight and…!
My brain is still fried from the period of unconsciousness. And from the severe puncture wounds I sustained. I can’t think of anything we really even learned during our mission. We found a path to the source of the undead I think? We also had some information exchange with the other party of explorers who scouted the lighthouse. The most important thing we learned is this: the undead problem appears to be getting worse. Securing the city is not going to be as simple as searching some ancient dwellings. We have a problem to solve. And based on what we heard, that lighthouse might help us make some progress. At least understand what we are up against here so we can work the problem.
I need a rest, then I need to do some serious study on Danzig’s book. Runomics, weave refractometry, symplectic arcanostoichometry, kinetothurgic adhesion dynamics…I have a lot of work to do.
Tomahawk
AKA Gründr the Orc Wizard
AKA Gründr the Orc Wizard
-
toastwizard47
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sat May 23, 2026 11:09 am
Re: Post Survey Party 01.5
Devin's Dialogue.
Well, it seems the undead are a problem that we will be dealing with for the aforementioned future. In any case, I didn't know I look so good with blonde hair.
I met back with the rest of the party after a brief jaunt to hear about the makings of a temple in the vicinity. It mattered not of other points of location at the moment as we were all in need of supplies & drinking water. As a fountain was our next task at hand. Our practitioners in the arcane arts were able to ascertain our advantage with our future plights of ghouls & zombies galore. We had found an initial what looks to be a scouting party in the start of the city with what followed up to feel like an undead brigade.
Twas a hard fought battle with Zenitha and Brunhildo showing their endurance in the face of our current plight. Lutrum the bard & Linden the newly met up formerly a tree Druid did well to hold most of the attention causing the first sight of fauna in this desolate land. Lutrum made a mirage that seemed to be the spitting image of myself in a golden variety. I fear that in the adrenaline of the situation I may have egged on the adversary due to a bit of vanity coming forth.
The back of my neck still feels like it has its hair on end knowing I will be the source of attention when we find the source of these endeavors.
In any case maybe I can get lutrum to use that image to help sell big pitches to the governor?
Well, it seems the undead are a problem that we will be dealing with for the aforementioned future. In any case, I didn't know I look so good with blonde hair.
I met back with the rest of the party after a brief jaunt to hear about the makings of a temple in the vicinity. It mattered not of other points of location at the moment as we were all in need of supplies & drinking water. As a fountain was our next task at hand. Our practitioners in the arcane arts were able to ascertain our advantage with our future plights of ghouls & zombies galore. We had found an initial what looks to be a scouting party in the start of the city with what followed up to feel like an undead brigade.
Twas a hard fought battle with Zenitha and Brunhildo showing their endurance in the face of our current plight. Lutrum the bard & Linden the newly met up formerly a tree Druid did well to hold most of the attention causing the first sight of fauna in this desolate land. Lutrum made a mirage that seemed to be the spitting image of myself in a golden variety. I fear that in the adrenaline of the situation I may have egged on the adversary due to a bit of vanity coming forth.
The back of my neck still feels like it has its hair on end knowing I will be the source of attention when we find the source of these endeavors.
In any case maybe I can get lutrum to use that image to help sell big pitches to the governor?
Nate aka Devin
-
AgentCarterRedux
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed May 06, 2026 1:42 am
Re: Post Survey Party 01.5
Zenitha journal
Oh Otar,
If the old Captain were here, he'd let out one of those long, hearty laughs of his and say, "Well, what did you expect, Nitha, my dear, something ordinary?" Even bloodied and barely able to hold my pencil (we'll get to that shortly), I can't help but think of him and how much fun he'd find all of this. I'm not stymied, mind you, far from it, but there's an undercurrent of terrible wonder that makes me glad for the stubborn joy you and I hold in our hearts. I can see how the morning I've had might be cause for despair in certain folks.
If one cares to look, there are all manner of reasons to be joyful. Pip's tavern has immediately become the heart of our colony's social structure. The equity promised on this enterprise manifests nowhere more than in this humble place. We sit and drink and talk all together, share our fortunes and our ills, from the scruffiest powder monkey to the governor himself. It's easier when your whole existence is contained to a single wharf, but I still pray that the sense of camaraderie and mutual aid remain throughout the inevitable and necessary expansion. I've yet to encounter anyone who doesn't, at least as far as can be seen, have the success of the colony and this new land at the forefront, even when the benefit to themselves is equally prominent.
Yes, yes, I know, what bloodied? How bloodied? Where bloodied? Why pencil? I can hear your voice though time and distance. I'm fine. I'm writing, aren't I? That means I'm still alive. (I think that's how it works? I've never encountered a scholarly wraith.) The water from the fountain we discovered ended up being perfectly potable, as far as anyone could tell. No signs of physical poisons or contaminants, and aside from the proximal presence of undead, nothing arcane has shown to be amiss. We appear to have a safe source for fresh water! That is, we will soon, which brings us to my current state, both spongy and bruised.
Several members of the community had specific requests for the fountain's bounty, but leadership was set on making it fairly and easily available to all in the colony. As much as I adore Pip, I know how many barrels he has in reserve that aren't even done brewing yet; he doesn't need first access. There are families and animals that need sustenance, and healers who need safe cleansing options. (Say what you will about it's efficacy for appearance, I still don't believe that prestidigitation can disinfect a wound. Remember the stench on Lorgraz's arm? Eugh... If Lothralia hadn't sat on his head and forcibly washed him, it absolutely would've fallen off.) Having visited previously, we decided to make the quick trip back to the fountain and secure it, then go over the lighthouse-temple that Linden was telling us about. (He still hasn't opened up much, but he's excellent in a tight spot!) It sounds like it's tied to that pristinely-robed creature that came from the beacon side of the wharf. I think there may be a solution to the undead/lack of life problem that's pervading everything we've seen so far. At the very least, it'll point us in the right direction.
My use of the future tense when speaking about the lighthouse has probably clued into the fact that we never actually made it there. Someone had the wise idea of trying to lure out anything that might be a threat so we could make quick work of it, like last time, buuuut it turned out that we'd already lured out quite a lot with our last visit. Otar, dude, there were six ghouls and eight skeletons when we returned. That's an even dozen of evil! I...did not expect that. Like, at all.
We were able to sneak through the back windows of a relatively sturdy house. Our casters and distance folks stationed themselves upstairs, Brundildo and I stayed below to make mincemeat in the entryway bottleneck. Apparently it was weird that I went out with Lutrum's illusion man to draw the grotty creatures in, but it worked! I made it back to the doorway just fine. Oh alright, I got dropped in the doorway, but they got me back up, I healed a bit more, and it was fine. I admit, the fracas was a tad chaotic. Upstairs people came downstairs, skeletons were climbing through the windows, and we took a surprisingly amount of hits (Brunhildo was a brick wall!), but between Linden's vines keeping them still, Lutrum's illusion wasting their attacks, Grundr's healing, and Devin's stacked attacks, it all somehow worked. We walked away! I hobbled more than walked, but still, we made it back.
All of that is why I want to find out more at the lighthouse temple once I'm properly rested. There's a sealed door with religious significance, so be it curse, blight, or a blocking of divine favour, I feel strongly that answers lie beyond it. It calls to me in some way, though I don't feel compelled to it, if you get my meaning. I'd say we could kill two birds with one stone, but in a place with no native life, I don't want to kill anything that isn't already dead.
As strong as I'm feeling (current ouchies notwithstanding) and as many useful skills as I've learned since we've arrived, I fear that I've spent too much time on exploration and too little on my own livelihood. Yet again, I'm broke. Once I've rested up, I'm going to make the rounds and see if there's any work to be had that I'm suited for. We're too small a community for anyone to need a child rescued or a thieves nest broken up yet. There haven't been too many injuries or sicknesses among the population, save for those of us who go out looking for the threats, so healing is already well in hand. Do you think I could be of any use to a smithee? Maybe I'll find Kaelen in a good mood.
Ah well, naught to be done now, so there's no use fretting. It's best that I close now anyway. I believe I've finished clotting, so it's safe to finally go to sleep. Give my love to everyone. I miss you. I hope I can help make this a land worth your journey.
Z
Oh Otar,
If the old Captain were here, he'd let out one of those long, hearty laughs of his and say, "Well, what did you expect, Nitha, my dear, something ordinary?" Even bloodied and barely able to hold my pencil (we'll get to that shortly), I can't help but think of him and how much fun he'd find all of this. I'm not stymied, mind you, far from it, but there's an undercurrent of terrible wonder that makes me glad for the stubborn joy you and I hold in our hearts. I can see how the morning I've had might be cause for despair in certain folks.
If one cares to look, there are all manner of reasons to be joyful. Pip's tavern has immediately become the heart of our colony's social structure. The equity promised on this enterprise manifests nowhere more than in this humble place. We sit and drink and talk all together, share our fortunes and our ills, from the scruffiest powder monkey to the governor himself. It's easier when your whole existence is contained to a single wharf, but I still pray that the sense of camaraderie and mutual aid remain throughout the inevitable and necessary expansion. I've yet to encounter anyone who doesn't, at least as far as can be seen, have the success of the colony and this new land at the forefront, even when the benefit to themselves is equally prominent.
Yes, yes, I know, what bloodied? How bloodied? Where bloodied? Why pencil? I can hear your voice though time and distance. I'm fine. I'm writing, aren't I? That means I'm still alive. (I think that's how it works? I've never encountered a scholarly wraith.) The water from the fountain we discovered ended up being perfectly potable, as far as anyone could tell. No signs of physical poisons or contaminants, and aside from the proximal presence of undead, nothing arcane has shown to be amiss. We appear to have a safe source for fresh water! That is, we will soon, which brings us to my current state, both spongy and bruised.
Several members of the community had specific requests for the fountain's bounty, but leadership was set on making it fairly and easily available to all in the colony. As much as I adore Pip, I know how many barrels he has in reserve that aren't even done brewing yet; he doesn't need first access. There are families and animals that need sustenance, and healers who need safe cleansing options. (Say what you will about it's efficacy for appearance, I still don't believe that prestidigitation can disinfect a wound. Remember the stench on Lorgraz's arm? Eugh... If Lothralia hadn't sat on his head and forcibly washed him, it absolutely would've fallen off.) Having visited previously, we decided to make the quick trip back to the fountain and secure it, then go over the lighthouse-temple that Linden was telling us about. (He still hasn't opened up much, but he's excellent in a tight spot!) It sounds like it's tied to that pristinely-robed creature that came from the beacon side of the wharf. I think there may be a solution to the undead/lack of life problem that's pervading everything we've seen so far. At the very least, it'll point us in the right direction.
My use of the future tense when speaking about the lighthouse has probably clued into the fact that we never actually made it there. Someone had the wise idea of trying to lure out anything that might be a threat so we could make quick work of it, like last time, buuuut it turned out that we'd already lured out quite a lot with our last visit. Otar, dude, there were six ghouls and eight skeletons when we returned. That's an even dozen of evil! I...did not expect that. Like, at all.
We were able to sneak through the back windows of a relatively sturdy house. Our casters and distance folks stationed themselves upstairs, Brundildo and I stayed below to make mincemeat in the entryway bottleneck. Apparently it was weird that I went out with Lutrum's illusion man to draw the grotty creatures in, but it worked! I made it back to the doorway just fine. Oh alright, I got dropped in the doorway, but they got me back up, I healed a bit more, and it was fine. I admit, the fracas was a tad chaotic. Upstairs people came downstairs, skeletons were climbing through the windows, and we took a surprisingly amount of hits (Brunhildo was a brick wall!), but between Linden's vines keeping them still, Lutrum's illusion wasting their attacks, Grundr's healing, and Devin's stacked attacks, it all somehow worked. We walked away! I hobbled more than walked, but still, we made it back.
All of that is why I want to find out more at the lighthouse temple once I'm properly rested. There's a sealed door with religious significance, so be it curse, blight, or a blocking of divine favour, I feel strongly that answers lie beyond it. It calls to me in some way, though I don't feel compelled to it, if you get my meaning. I'd say we could kill two birds with one stone, but in a place with no native life, I don't want to kill anything that isn't already dead.
As strong as I'm feeling (current ouchies notwithstanding) and as many useful skills as I've learned since we've arrived, I fear that I've spent too much time on exploration and too little on my own livelihood. Yet again, I'm broke. Once I've rested up, I'm going to make the rounds and see if there's any work to be had that I'm suited for. We're too small a community for anyone to need a child rescued or a thieves nest broken up yet. There haven't been too many injuries or sicknesses among the population, save for those of us who go out looking for the threats, so healing is already well in hand. Do you think I could be of any use to a smithee? Maybe I'll find Kaelen in a good mood.
Ah well, naught to be done now, so there's no use fretting. It's best that I close now anyway. I believe I've finished clotting, so it's safe to finally go to sleep. Give my love to everyone. I miss you. I hope I can help make this a land worth your journey.
Z
~ Johanna, playing aasimar paladin, Zenitha.
Re: Post Survey Party 002
Linden’s Notes
I began the day at the Pub where I was able to spend more time with some of the other adventurers. Brunhildo showed me a water sample from a local water source, a fountain, that Pip wants to use to make more alcohol. I was able to assist in testing it to make sure there is no poison or contamination, and it found it to be clean thankfully. With this knowledge, myself and some other adventurers quickly planned to help secure the water source to help the residents.
On our way to the fountain, we encountered more skeletons and these undead-looking seaweed people, which I later learned are ghouls. I quickly discovered I could slow down their advance with some vine I can produce, which stood in stark contrast to the lifeless stone city. One of the seaweed people was eyeing Devin, do they hold a grudge against humans from their former life? Additionally, these undead do have weapons though they are very worn. Does this indicate that there may be multiple occurrences of undead being raised and these are from a newer batch where their weapons have not yet completely decayed? The more I see of the ruined city, the more questions I have.
When we arrive at the fountain, we find significantly more undead standing around it. We devise a strategy to use the buildings as a choke point and set up in the house, some upstairs and some downstairs, to repel their assault once we get their attention. What happened next was probably the first time I was afraid that I was in over my head. Without Brunhildo and Zenitha bravely and stubbornly holding the door against the onslaught, we would have been quickly overrun. Lutrum’s illusion helped immensely to herd the enemy into one area which allowed my vines to be even more effective. In addition to Grundr’s healing, Devin’s ranged attacks, and no small amount of luck allowed us to emerge victoriously.
I heard that this group of undead was larger than last time the fountain was visited and I worry that these bodies are being reanimated if left unattended, so I burned them. If that is indeed happening and my hunch about the lighthouse is correct, deciphering the secrets of the lighthouse may be more urgent than I originally thought.
I began the day at the Pub where I was able to spend more time with some of the other adventurers. Brunhildo showed me a water sample from a local water source, a fountain, that Pip wants to use to make more alcohol. I was able to assist in testing it to make sure there is no poison or contamination, and it found it to be clean thankfully. With this knowledge, myself and some other adventurers quickly planned to help secure the water source to help the residents.
On our way to the fountain, we encountered more skeletons and these undead-looking seaweed people, which I later learned are ghouls. I quickly discovered I could slow down their advance with some vine I can produce, which stood in stark contrast to the lifeless stone city. One of the seaweed people was eyeing Devin, do they hold a grudge against humans from their former life? Additionally, these undead do have weapons though they are very worn. Does this indicate that there may be multiple occurrences of undead being raised and these are from a newer batch where their weapons have not yet completely decayed? The more I see of the ruined city, the more questions I have.
When we arrive at the fountain, we find significantly more undead standing around it. We devise a strategy to use the buildings as a choke point and set up in the house, some upstairs and some downstairs, to repel their assault once we get their attention. What happened next was probably the first time I was afraid that I was in over my head. Without Brunhildo and Zenitha bravely and stubbornly holding the door against the onslaught, we would have been quickly overrun. Lutrum’s illusion helped immensely to herd the enemy into one area which allowed my vines to be even more effective. In addition to Grundr’s healing, Devin’s ranged attacks, and no small amount of luck allowed us to emerge victoriously.
I heard that this group of undead was larger than last time the fountain was visited and I worry that these bodies are being reanimated if left unattended, so I burned them. If that is indeed happening and my hunch about the lighthouse is correct, deciphering the secrets of the lighthouse may be more urgent than I originally thought.
Grant
Linden, Aasimar Druid
Linden, Aasimar Druid
Re: Post Survey Party 002
Minstrel's Musings
8 Springrise
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth"
Wise words I once heard from a tavern brawler of some renown. Dear Readers, our plan was twofold and simple. Clear the fountain, then check out the lighthouse. Boy, were we naive to think we could accomplish both tasks. We decided on the way to the fountain that the best course of action would be to "Shake the Tree" by working our way around the fountain plaza while making enough noise to draw out any creatures that may be lurking within the surrounding buildings.
Before we even made it to the plaza, our assumptions regarding the nature of the undead were shattered as we encountered a small group of roaming ghouls. Breakthrough #1, some of the undead here are roaming. Battle ensued. Thanks to my empirical employment of the scientific method, we learned that the skeletons are, in fact, roused by sound. Breakthrough #2. During the fight, the ghouls seemed fixated on Devan leading to breakthrough #3; the ghouls hate humans, or love them, or are casually attracted to them. If you're a human, probably best to stay near the wharf until we figure this out.
Ok, so we deghoulified the ghouls, and unskeletoned the skeletons without too much issue. Back to the plan, "Shake the Tree". Enter the plaza, send an illusion I had summoned ahead, make a little noise, pop them on their noggins. We walk in to the plaza to find a full on infestation. Ghouls everywhere, skeletons everywhere, a general feeling of impending dread everywhere. Do we run? Hell no! We are brave and foolish. Ok, new plan. There's an empty abandoned building in front of us. Send out an illusion and a web of vines to slow them down, draw them in to a single choke point and take them out one by one. It's not like they can attack us from range anyway.
We set about putting our plan into action. It immediately went to shit. Zenitha went out with an illusion of myself to attract the attention of the undead horde. I was nervous, but on the surface I looked calm and ready. They looked up. Zenitha attacked and ran toward the sanctuary of the house. The ghouls ignored the illusion, some of them. They ignored the illusion? Fuck! I should have made it look human. Zenitha made it as far as the entrance to the house and went down. Linden locked a bunch of them down with grasping vines. Devan tried to shoot from the second story window but was met with a volley from one of the groups of skeletons. Yes, a volley. Somehow we had missed they were carrying bows. We were going to die in that God forsaken plaza. Brunhildo was right, don't go chasing waterfalls. Breakthrough #4. Fuck, we should have listened.
Their horde was too large to handle with our plan gone awry. Do we run? Can we get Zenitha up and get the hell out before they reach us? Is it every man and woman for themselves? No. Escape is not an option. We fight and we die.
I'm going to skip ahead a little bit. My friends, you know I didn't die. I'm here writing this to you now. You know we all came back battered and bruised, but alive. What you didn't see was the overwhelming bravery, fortitude, cunning, and grit manifested by each and every member of our team. Zenitha, Brunhildo, Grundyr, Linden, Devan, and myself summoned every iota of strength, ability, and magical power we had. We fell. We were raised back up. In the end, we were victorious.
We did it all for you, my friends, and so Goody has fresh water to make more booze. Mostly for you, though. We'll do it again, too. Probably should come up with a better plan first. Maybe we won't get punched in the mouth this time.
♫ Lutrum
P.S. We could use fresh arms and armaments. I personally am seeking a heavy crossbow and heavier armor like scale male or, ideally, half plate. Donations can, as always, be dropped off to me personally at the Limping Biscuit or with Goody in my absence.
8 Springrise
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth"
Wise words I once heard from a tavern brawler of some renown. Dear Readers, our plan was twofold and simple. Clear the fountain, then check out the lighthouse. Boy, were we naive to think we could accomplish both tasks. We decided on the way to the fountain that the best course of action would be to "Shake the Tree" by working our way around the fountain plaza while making enough noise to draw out any creatures that may be lurking within the surrounding buildings.
Before we even made it to the plaza, our assumptions regarding the nature of the undead were shattered as we encountered a small group of roaming ghouls. Breakthrough #1, some of the undead here are roaming. Battle ensued. Thanks to my empirical employment of the scientific method, we learned that the skeletons are, in fact, roused by sound. Breakthrough #2. During the fight, the ghouls seemed fixated on Devan leading to breakthrough #3; the ghouls hate humans, or love them, or are casually attracted to them. If you're a human, probably best to stay near the wharf until we figure this out.
Ok, so we deghoulified the ghouls, and unskeletoned the skeletons without too much issue. Back to the plan, "Shake the Tree". Enter the plaza, send an illusion I had summoned ahead, make a little noise, pop them on their noggins. We walk in to the plaza to find a full on infestation. Ghouls everywhere, skeletons everywhere, a general feeling of impending dread everywhere. Do we run? Hell no! We are brave and foolish. Ok, new plan. There's an empty abandoned building in front of us. Send out an illusion and a web of vines to slow them down, draw them in to a single choke point and take them out one by one. It's not like they can attack us from range anyway.
We set about putting our plan into action. It immediately went to shit. Zenitha went out with an illusion of myself to attract the attention of the undead horde. I was nervous, but on the surface I looked calm and ready. They looked up. Zenitha attacked and ran toward the sanctuary of the house. The ghouls ignored the illusion, some of them. They ignored the illusion? Fuck! I should have made it look human. Zenitha made it as far as the entrance to the house and went down. Linden locked a bunch of them down with grasping vines. Devan tried to shoot from the second story window but was met with a volley from one of the groups of skeletons. Yes, a volley. Somehow we had missed they were carrying bows. We were going to die in that God forsaken plaza. Brunhildo was right, don't go chasing waterfalls. Breakthrough #4. Fuck, we should have listened.
Their horde was too large to handle with our plan gone awry. Do we run? Can we get Zenitha up and get the hell out before they reach us? Is it every man and woman for themselves? No. Escape is not an option. We fight and we die.
I'm going to skip ahead a little bit. My friends, you know I didn't die. I'm here writing this to you now. You know we all came back battered and bruised, but alive. What you didn't see was the overwhelming bravery, fortitude, cunning, and grit manifested by each and every member of our team. Zenitha, Brunhildo, Grundyr, Linden, Devan, and myself summoned every iota of strength, ability, and magical power we had. We fell. We were raised back up. In the end, we were victorious.
We did it all for you, my friends, and so Goody has fresh water to make more booze. Mostly for you, though. We'll do it again, too. Probably should come up with a better plan first. Maybe we won't get punched in the mouth this time.
♫ Lutrum
P.S. We could use fresh arms and armaments. I personally am seeking a heavy crossbow and heavier armor like scale male or, ideally, half plate. Donations can, as always, be dropped off to me personally at the Limping Biscuit or with Goody in my absence.
Jason
♫ Lutrum Bravesong - Level three bard
Torbin Houston - Level two ranger
♫ Lutrum Bravesong - Level three bard
Torbin Houston - Level two ranger