"I have one curing spell - I can give it to Ben, or to someone else who is wounded. As for the Maw, can we burn it?"

Eagle nods. 'I too have a healing spell, though I may need to ask Melora to tend to myself. Why don't you try to bring Ben back to consciousness and we can assess which of us needs the last spell?

'I also feel we should attempt to close this chasm somehow, though perhaps we should seek counsel from a sage on the surface first?'

Saliq knelt beside Ben and looked at the thief critically, wincing at his wounds. "Come on my friend, this is no time to sleep on the job. There is gold a plenty to spend."

---

ooc: Saliq spends an AP to help Ben.

16:14, Today: Saliq Musfara rolled 5 using 1d4+1. Inspiring Word.

---

Turning away from the thief the Illusionist glanced at Eagle and nodded solemnly. "I agree we should close this accursed chasm. Perhaps the runes we noted could tell us something?"

Slowly regaining consciousness, Ben spends a few minutes examining his woulds, and drinking from his wine flask.

"Thanks guys, damn bird was tougher then a dwarf-cooked goose. No offense..."

Ben regains consciousness, though the same cannot be said for Skaald.

Norion examines the chamber for signs of structural weakness and after some time is able to determine a way to collapse the chamber above the pit, if needed. Some tools would be required, but it is certainly possible.

Examination of the runes reveals no clue about the chasm. This chamber appears to have once been a worship hall for a pantheon of Ekaitz gods, to include Beltza Atarabi. Most of the runes are depictions of various religious content, though there is a heavy emphasis on the subject of death and afterlife. It is quite possible that this shrine was used to prepare corpses for their passage to the underworld.

The Ekaitz people believed all souls must first travel to the Endless Wall, a winding barricade deep beneath the earth that holds demons and devils at bay. There, souls would be judged: some to be doomed to forever build the Endless Wall and others to enjoy the fruits of the Eternal Garden.

Was it possible that the Endless Wall might be found somewhere at the bottom of the fleshy chasm the gibbering mouther had crawled out of?

There is no mention of any such chasm anywhere in the chamber, which suggests that the chasm is a more recent development. Perhaps the cult of Ga had something to do with its manifestation?

Ga's private chambers still had not been discovered. Perhaps other clues might be surface there.

"I would need some tools, and it would take a bit of work," Norion explained to the others, grimacing at the soreness of his wounds, "but this chamber could be collapsed and that pit buried under rubble."

He looked at the opening with contempt. "I'd like to set about doing just that as soon as we're able. The sooner that staircase is lost, the better."

"How do we know the hole wouldn't simply eat all the rubble we drop. or that the rubble wouldn't hurt innocents at the other end?" Ben inquires.

Seeing Norion in pain, and feeling his own, Duvall says, "I have some healing I can give out to one person. Where is it most needed my friends?"

Most party members are badly wounded, though Eagle and Sularia appear to be in the worse shape.

The companions completely search the grand chamber and unless anyone dares brave a descent down the grotesque staircase into the howling chaos below, there is not much left to be done here.

The only area that remains unexplored is the staircase which the dire rats used to flee. That set of stairs traveled up, rather than down, so it is possible there is another exit leading somewhere into Godswalk Park. Perhaps these stairs also lead Ga's private chambers, which as of yet remain undiscovered. Of course, there might also be other dangers lurking above, so further exploration is not without its dangers.

Collapsing the Grand Chamber atop the Gaping Maw would not be terribly difficult: it will just require some tools and perhaps a few laborers. An engineer would also be handy, just to make sure there are no mishaps.

It is quite possible all of these arrangements could be made within the city. News of this seeming portal would be of interest to nearly any temple, the local Druid's Circle, the City Watch, or countless other organizations. Some might not have an immediate interest in collapsing the portal, though many will.

It just boils down to what the companions wish to do with this information. Information is power after all.

OOC: Really up to you guys what we do next. Here are some options:

1. Investigate stairs where rats fled.
2. Return to the city.
3. Report the Gaping Maw to ???
4. Attempt to collapse the Gaping Maw.
5. Something else???


PC          AC   HP    AP    Notes
Ben         7   05/12   2     Init +2
Duvall      4   07/10   3
Eagle       6   02/11   1
Norion      3   14/24   2
Saliq       7   04/07   2     Init +2
Skaald      5   DEAD    0
Sularia     8   03/07   2     Init +1

This message was last edited by the GM at 16:12, Sun 04 Nov 2012.

As the others discuss things, Ben finally realizes that Skaald has passed.

"I only knew the man for a few days, but it seems like we should, I don't know, feel a little bad or something?"


He thought back to the day in the woods, when Skaald had shared his talent with the lyre, sharing several folk songs native to the Hinterlands and the Northwoods.

>nice fella<

Scratching at the all-to-healthy fleas on his arse, Ben glances at the gaping Maw. It half reminded him of the cave they entered this entire mess thru. Was that irony? he wasn't sure.

"I say we give him back to his druid buddies on our way out, he might have kin or some-such."

Having settled that, he steps over towards the hole, and ventures a gaze down into it.

"Is this what was supposed to be in the well, or is that another one of these portal thingies? maybe instead of breaking it, we can figure out how to fix it, put it back where it belongs. What say? Should we talk to Otto about this?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:16, Thu 01 Nov 2012.

Saliq bows his head as Ben mentions Skaald. "He was a gallant friend and we must take his body to the druids - along with word of this unholy maw."

The Illusionist draws the Moonblade and looks up the stairs the rats fled, a determined look crossing his face. "Before we go I say we should investigate those stairs. Perhaps Ga's quarters lay there and he may have known the secrets of this thing. Who is with me?"

Saliq starts moving towards the steps before looking back to see if any follow.

Norion turns from his study of the foul hall's structure at Saliq's words. Taking a grip on his axe, he falls in step behind the illusionist. "I'm with you," he says as they move toward the stairs.

As Eagle becomes aware the Skaald won't be waking from his sleep he mutters a blessing in his druidic cant, and retrieves the ranger's lyre from his belongings. Although dented by the attentions of the gibbering mouther, the instrument is tuneable, and he starts to pick out a haunting lament, the gist of which seems to be that Skaald is now free to roam the wild pastures of the stars above Stormahaven.

When he has finished he turns his attention back to his living companions. 'I am weak, and my magic energy is low. I will follow you up the stairs, but will wait at the top, keeping watch for the goblins, until I have heard it is safe.'

Eagle then waves mistletoe across his bloodied body where the bird attacked him, while muttering in his wild language. Though some blood congeals the action seems to make little difference to his overall health.

OOC: Cast cure light wounds on myself: 13:34, Today: Eagle rolled 1 using 1d6. cure light wounds. Yeah, worked well. . .

She knew she would loose any argument about searching for answers, Sularia gave one last repect for poor Skaald, "Stay safe until we return for you. We will not be long, and soon you'll know peace outside this mad house."

Following behind, she felt the weight of Skaald's sword by her side. She wondered why did it have to be a broad sword.

Duvall is ready to explore further, but before they go, he casts a healing spell on Norion. "If you fall, we all could fall, so allow Kord to bless you, my friend."

17:15, Today: Duvall Kane rolled 7 using 1d8. CLW on Norion.

With a shrug, Ben moves to the front, and begins to eye-ball the steps for possible traps or other hazards...

The heroes ascend the narrow, winding steps, ever vigilant for any foes which might lie in wait. After a short climb, the stairs terminate at a heavy wooden door, which is slightly ajar. A sliver of flickering light is visible along the exposed door jamb suggesting that the chamber beyond is lit. The area around the door smells heavily of strange and quite pungent chemicals, not unlike the odor which hangs over the tanners' and dyers' workshops clustered along some of the dirtiest lanes in the Foundry District.

Ben searches for traps near the door and finds none.

Duvall hefts a hammer and shield and slowly shoulders the door open...

Saliq grips the Moonblade more firmly, ready to meet any attack that might come from within.

The door easily swings inward with but little force, revealing a small and cluttered alchemist's workshop.

A large candelabra, still burning, sheds light on the chamber.

The walls of the cozy chamber are dominated by shelves and cabinets, the contents of which cause the wooden planks to nearly buckle and groan under their weight. Numerous small boxes, bottles, vials, jars, decanters, sacks, measuring implements, tongs, stirrers,  bundles of parchment, and other assorted sundry line the workshop's shelves and it is quite obvious after casual observation that this room served as an alchemist's laboratory.

Such a collection of items might command a considerable fortune in Stormhaven's markets, though sorting through and carting everything off might take time. Still, given a little knowledge of such things, it would not be too difficult to gather high commodity and easily portable items if one did not want the trouble of trying to haul everything out of the workshop.

Aside from the door which Duvall pushed open, there is but a single exit visible in this chamber: a narrow portal between two massive bookshelves. A thick curtain of colorful beads obscures view of what lies beyond.

"If we find the right kind of evil genius, we should be able to sell this room to the whole!" chuckles Ben as he wanders thru the wonders of the room.

He checks under tables and behind things for anything resembling a box-o-treasure, as well as the walls for secret door or hidden compartments.

Should he find nothing, he will examine the curtain for traps as well.

Ben, and perhaps others, spends some time rifling through the room's contents, searching for anything which catches the eye.

Aside from a wide variety of alchemical supplies of known and unknown origin, the groups turns up a sack filled with 110 coins of various type. Additionally, a smaller pouch contains three finished gems: a greenish stone, a brownish-red stone, and a bluish stone. Finally, while there are numerous vials of various mundane liquids within this room, someone discovers what surely must be another enchanted potion!

No hidden or secret doors are discovered upon the group's initial search and Ben does not discover any traps near the beaded curtain blocking the only other exit in this chamber.

OOC: The sack contains 60 cp, 30 sp, and 20 ep. The 3 gems are a: 10 gp Moss Agate, 100 gp Carnelian, 50 gp Lapis Lazuli. The potion's nature remains a mystery for the moment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:31, Sun 04 Nov 2012.

"I'll investigate the potion later." Saliq says, slipping it into his backpack. "Now for the curtain?"

Using the tip of the Moonblade he nudges aside the beads to get a glimpse inside.

While others search and ransack at leisure, Sularia maintains a vigilance. After being surprised so often before and not having their ranger, she felt a need to stay at the ready.

Saliq pushes the beaded curtain aside and catches a glimpse of a short corridor leading into a what appears to be a small bedchamber. This room smells heavily of wild animal, though no beasts are anywhere to be seen.

A wooden palette is suspended from one side of the room, reachable via a short ladder, while a heavily worn mattress sprawls across the top of the palette. An embroidered woolen blanket cast over the mattress, though the bed is not made by any stretch. Below the palette is a large, sturdy footlocker. The chest is fastened shut by means of a heavy iron lock.

A length of rope runs along the room's far wall, fastened to which are numerous mismatched garments that appear to have been hung up to dry. Perhaps Duvall recognizes several of the robes as ceremonial vestments of some of Stormhaven's clergy, most notably Melora and The Raven Queen. Aside from the clerical garments, Ga appears to have amassed quite a collection of various concealing robes, cloaks, and shawls. Perhaps these costumes enabled to mongrelman to easily move through Stormhaven without attracting to much attention?

A hidden alcove juts off the room's far end, partially obscured by a hanging shawl. This alcove is an irregular shaped den that appears to Norion to be a recent addition. Within the alcove is a small shrine, atop which is a crude clay idol depicting a multiple-eyed, fanged entity quite similar to the painting the heroes found at the goblin shrine.