The Librarian frowns as he sits at his desk and reads the reports that have come back from his contacts around the Netherworld.

"A Rainbow?  In the garden?" he mutters to himself.  Quickly, he pens notes to both Esmerelda and Lilianne.  The note says ...


This message was last updated by the GM at 23:56, Fri 05 Nov 2021.

The non-descript and gnome who is well known for being the most colorless gnome to ever exist was in the midst of her chores and tending her goats when the emissary arrived with the note.....

"So what is this now?"


She reads the note......


"Well it is about time, I have been asking for a set of ring gates forever and a day, so I can have a large pond and waterfall, and perhaps too a rainbow....not a full one, but one in proper shades of grey."


Begins her journey to the library........
This message was last edited by the player at 22:48, Tue 02 Nov 2021.

Lilianne was working on collecting the information for her next book on arcane anomalies, when the note from the Librarian arrived. She set down her quill and read it with a slight frown, requests from the Librarian were rare and she immediately wondered what could be so special about that rainbow. Her curiosity piqued the elf rose from her seat and went to meet with him.

"Ladies." The Librarian says by way of greeting, "Thank you for coming so promptly."

He indicates a couple of chairs already set in front of his desk.  There is a round backed carver style chair, similar to his own, for Lilianne and a higher chair, with a base that will help a smaller person step up onto the seat, ready for Esmeralda.  "I have a report of an unusual effect in the Pear Orchard at the far end of the North Wing.  Apparently there is a some sort of rainbow effect on one of the hedges, and I would like to know more about it, as it is not something that we would expect to find there.  Both The Agent and I are excepting visitors, or else we would stroll down and have a look for ourselves, So I thought you two might be able to have a look for us.  We will, of course, be suitably grateful at the conclusion of your investigation."

"Tea?" he asks, pouring himself a cup from the pot on the table.

"You know that I do like freshly steeped tea, you lovely librarian."

Esmerelda thinks about the idea, and immediately wonders about mirrors and perhaps a prism or prismatic form of magic.....

"If you please." the elf said with a slight nod of thanks and a faint smile. For a couple of heartbeats she contemplated the information, apparently it was a stable effect, which indicated a non-natural occurance. There were only few mundane explanations for a permanent raibow and she, and the gnome, would eliminate them first before investigating an arcane reason. "Of course I will look into the matter." she answered the implied question, obviously she could not confirm for the gnome, but she would do her best to figure out what it was and if it was posing a danger to the people.

"And you Esmerelda?  Will you go with Lilianne?" the Librarian  asks as he pours their tea.

“Oh certainly I would not miss out on this at all.”

"Excellent.  When you have made your preparations, the Pear Orchard is right at the end of the Noth Wing.  Be careful not to follow the path all the way, stepping off of the last stone might take you somewhere else, if The Innkeeper has activated it for some reason.  Better not to step on that last stone, at all." He reminds them.

"Of course." Lilianne confirmed gently, giving a slight nod in response to the Librarian's warning words. She took a sip from her tea and the thought of complimenting the maker for the wonderful aroma flitted through her mind, however, the man on the opposite side of the table seemed sort of busy. Putting down the delicate ceramic, the sage put on a friendly smile as she rose to her feet "It seems we have our task laid out for us. We will not keep you from your preparations." she said in a melodic voice "Will you join me on the way to the orchard, Miss Najeet?" she asked, folding her hands in front of her.

"Do not worry deary, I believe if I get lost I will certainly find my way back though who will man the brewery?"

Esmerelda smiles and nods at the man....
Perhaps the keeper sensed she needed some adventure or perhaps he felt she had need of leanring more of witchcraft....who knows....The aspect of the keeper existed here, and yet the avatar she thought might not really be all of his presence....she kept most such thoughts to herself.....

OOC Note.

I have changed this 'adventure' thread to Group N.  This is because there may be some visitors to the Netherworld shortly.  This way you can converse with them, try to sell them things, and do all the normal RP / Crafter type things with them (or on their behalf)

This thread now operates in a different timeline to the main Netherworld threads is Group 0.  The two will converge again AFTER we have completed this little quest.

I'll get a proper post up for you, later today.

The stepping stone path leads to an orchard of pear trees, which is surrounded by a tight, impassable hedge. 10' feet above you, the tops of the tree canopy block your view of the sky, although light filters down to dapple the ground below. Almost every tree has a ripe pear, or two, hanging at a convenient height for plucking. As you look upwards, you see that the tangled canopy of branches is beset with nasty looking thorns and is thick enough to stop you climbing out.  You know that it isn’t wise to follow the path right to the end, as the portal might be active.

Up in the orchard canopy you spot a  thin line of coloured droplets, winding around between long sharp thorns.  The droplets don’t glow brightly, and  might not even be noticeable if you weren’t looking for unusual colours here.  Just a few barely noticeable points of muted colour.  They weave their way through the upper branches in a curving and bending line.

"I see, I see, a rainbow it does be...perhaps a visiting leprechaun?"


Esmerelda casts detect magic......

Lilianne took in the rainbow from a distance, enjoying the multiple colours and wondered how it could actually be a threat to anything. Unless of course, it was one of the prismatic spells. The thought brought her focus back to the present. Noticing that it were indeed droplets of some kind, the elf extracted a small vial from her pockets. She was about to gather some of the drops for analysis in the container, when she remembered the words of her father "If you don't have to touch it, don't!"

Rather than holding the vial herself, and possibly subjecting herself to a harmful effect, the sage cast a simple spell to manipulate it from a distance. Carefully she controlled the magic to collect the samples...

ooc: Cast 'Mage Hand'

“I use that one myself sometimes… I have an iron flask in case it cannot be held…”


Esmerelda looks for magical emmenations from the area…

Esmerelda does not find any unusual magical auras in the area - although the whole aura has a faint magical aura, which is probably to do with the fact that this  area is a magical portal of great power.

Lilianne's vial floats up towards one of the little droplets, and center's itself under it.  Using the mage hand, Lilliane scrapes the vial to one side, expecting the droplet to fall into the vial.  It sort of does, although it clings to the lip rather than drop in.  The droplets on each side bounce slightly, all in time with each other.

“ I detected no magical cause…..“Are they individual living things?”

The elf frowns at the droplet's unwillingness to obey gravity, but figures it made sense, since the liquid seemed to hang in the air doing just that. She looked around to find a fallen twig, picked it up gingerly and used it to poke a different drop to see its reaction.

Esmerelda creates water to make a light rain fall on one of the individual droplets…

Lilliane finds that the droplet she pokes, appears to cling to the stick for a moment or two, before jumping free.  Droplets on either side  of the poked droplet bounce in time with it.

Esmeralda's light rain does not appear to have any effect at all.

A young couple come bursting into the orchard, hand in hand and giggling.  As soon as they see you, they drop hands and the girl blushes.  "Err, sorry miladies" The boy says bashfully, and the pair start to withdraw.

"Hold on dearies.   It seems we are intruding on your spot.  Tell me have you noticed this here before?"

She points to the droplets of rainbow hue as they dance in the air...

"We just came to collect a few pears." the Boy says hastily, although the girl adds, "They were there last week when we came." Although she then blushes and looks downs towards  the floor.

Thank you, there are plenty of pears, dearies, but might be best to stay clear until we get to the bottom of this colorful mystery.  Check in with me at roots, brews and remedies for the all clear.”

Lilianne was stumped. Distracted enough to not notice the two lovebirds immediately. "Oh... hello." she greeted them.

She heard the answer of the girl and was wondering why this phenomenon had not been noticed earlier. It was either non-hazardous or dormant until the activating conditions were met.

"Say, have you touched any of these droplets? Did you come in contact with them?" the elf asked while wrecking her brain if she had ever heard of something similar in one of the books she had read or perhaps a bard's storytelling...

ooc: Lore check 37.

"No, I was laying down under one of the trees ...  err ... I slipped over ...  and I noticed them up there among the branches.  I thought they looked pretty, but then I was distracted and forgot about them ...  err ... because we needed to pick some pears." she finishes lamely.

"I have other spells that might be useful to investigate, but do not have them prepared.  Perhaps we can place a warning to keep people away and continue to research the phenomena at the library, and return to see what other things we may try?"

Lilianne made a mental note of the statements but her mind was already tinkering with another approach. "Same here, Miss Najeet, but there is something this reminds me of..." she told her partner in investigations, trailing off at the end, starting a simple conjuration. When the incantation finished, a handful of giant beetles appeared, which the elven woman directed to fly towards the rainbow, touching the tiny droplets in all their pretty colours...

"Hmmm... let's see if my theory is correct..." the mage said, begging for patience for a moment.

ooc: Cast Summon Monster III, summoning giant fire beetles.

The large beetles struggle to get through the branches and thorns to reach the pale coloured droplets above, although when they manage to collide with  the droplets the surrounding droplets all shudder,  then bounce and ripple in time with each other.  The same thing happens, when the beatles are directed to fly back downwards, almost as if the sticky drops were all pulling away from the beetle's back at the same time.

However, as the beetles come back down to land, and start foraging  among some fallen pears, you can see a few droplets stuck to their back ripped from the strange rainbow in the tree branches.  The droplets all seem to have a very thin, silky filament attached to them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:09, Sun 14 Nov 2021.

PM

Lilianne nodded at what happened to the beetles, wary of the possibilities. "Better safe than sorry is the human expression, correct?" she said to the couple who only wanted to... pluck a few pears. "At this point we cannot say if this phenomenon could prove harmful and I insist you evacuate the area. Once we have a thorough examination and are sure there are no harmful side-effects, this place will be open to public access again. - Thank you for your understanding." the mage toold the two, then made a shooing motion.

She waited a few heartbeats for the couple to move away before addressing Esmeralda again. "I have the hunch the two were not coming hear to find some pears, the young man was more likely intent on plucking a different fruit, would you not agree Miss Najeet?" Lilianne remarked in a consirational tone and a smirk.

"But back to business." she told herself more than the gnome at her side. "Did you notice how the droplets stuck to the beetles and how there went a ripple through the rainbow effect? Now, look at the drops on their carapaces, they have some filaments still attached." the elf pointed out, letting Esmeralda catch up to her own observations before going on "So, this altogether reminds me of a spider's web. The way the droplets are sticky and interconnected. But I am not sure what kind of prey the creator of this web is hunting." she mused.

Allowing the other academician to share her opinion, Lilianne brought the vial and the stick back into her hands before scraping some of the droplets stuck to the beetle's backs also into the recepticle.

ooc: She is using the stick of course, not bare hands ;)

Esmerelda looks thoughtful…

“Lure, trap, life force connection?  I know not, but such a web could be a hostile takeover of the realm a violation of the boundaries of our world…..,,”


Or perhaps the two of them are already compromised….perhaps it best your beetles not remain to spread what is already here…”

It only takes a moment or two to harvest the droplets from the beetles' backs, and by the time you look back, the young couple have disappeared -  presumably back towards the hub.  Or maybe to find a different secluded area ...

The elf watched the animals feed upon the fallen fruit, which always had a bit of a soothing effect on her. Taking a deep breath she nodded at Esmeralda's concerns and with a gesture of her hand the insects vanished back to where they came from.

"Do you have means to determine any of your suspicions?" she asked the short person next to her curiously.

“Maybe stories of the fall of the dark elves they were seduced by the spider queen and became fully evil, how they were tempted or called is a mystery that time forgot.  Unfortunately no evidence but without suspicion we would simply report we have seen no proof of harm.  I intend to research in the library for perhaps some threads that will lead to answers…”

How do you want to continue?  We can keep playing (once you have decided a course of action) or we can wait until the visiting PCs leave.

The elf's features hardened for a moment when the brewer brought up the separation of her people, it was a wound that was inhereted and would likely pass on to every generation that would follow. Something that Esmeralda probably did not know about.

Lilianne inhaled softly then answered the short woman "I will look at the droplets in my laboratory. Perhaps I can find some alchemical clue to point us in the right direction." she said, closing the vial and carefully stowing it away.

ooc: Lilianne will go back to her lab to do a complete alchemical analysis.

"I will go to the library and start the research to see what might come of it, and perhaps there is something that cross references well.....  Then maybe prepare more spells and return?  Perhaps also get scouting parties sent out to make sure this is an isolated instance..."

It doesn't take long to get to your destinations, and before long Esmerelda is in the Library and Lilianne is in her workshop.

Esmerelda will start her search for history of the appearance of mysterious colors, rainbows, or lights.......

Esmerelda finds a number of interesting examples of unusual and colourful effects

• The Eternal Rainbow on the prime material plane known as Old Arth, that appeared along the length of a waterfall and has been there ever since.
• A tale of long filaments used to fish for souls in the River of Souls.
• A tale of a dungeon chamber, lit by a permanent illusion of a snooker table - where all the balls glowed.
• Strange green light covering the sky at the north and south poles of an unnamed  material plane.
• A detailed description of how colour changes in the River Hangawara can be used to judge the mood of The Great Spirit of the mountain.

"Interesting.....perhaps I should look into what planes are currently adjacent to ours, and specifically adjacent to the location of the stepping stones.......or was at the time of the happening."


Researching the comology of the planes......

Esmerelda discovers that Netherworld is a 'pocket plane' set entirely in within the Astral Plane.

Esmerelda begins to delve into the astral plane for a creature or similar thing...

Including the fabled silver cord mentioned in astral travels.....

Digging further, Esmerelda finds information on a number of creatures, including

• The Astradaemon - A large and ugly daemon
• Dragon Horse - looks a bit like a horse, solitary, possibly helpful.
• The Astral Shark - a voracious predator
• Corpse Spinner - a  gigantic silver spider that hunts across the planes.
• The Soul Spider, although its 'proper' name is the Soliquid Astralis.

The Soul Spider is probably the best fit, it spins a long thin filament, much like a strand of spider's web, and casts it into the river of souls.  Sticky beads on the thread bind to a soul, and allow the spider to draw it back to itself.  However, there is little detail. Some speculate that a Soliquid is an immature version of a corpse spinner, others that it is a different, but related species.

There are a number of different texts on Astral travel, but one theme runs through all of them. When a living mortal travels  across the astral plane, its  physical body stays behind, and a new astral body is created.  A silvery thread of life force links the two bodies. If the thread is broken, the mortal body dies and the astral body joins the River of Souls as it makes its journey to The Bone yard.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:51, Fri 19 Nov 2021.

"This is a lot to take in, perhaps my other fellow investigator would like to help sort through this and might have some fresh ideas as well."

Lilianne leans back in her chair and looks outside the window, not registering the people walking by. Why would any sort of creature, intent on feeding, create a gigantic web, when it cannot catch anything bigger than a common fly? She had to admit that whales fed on miniscule creatures in the sea but she was still not getting why the creator of the web didn't seem to be present.

PM

“Lill, look what I have found…”

Points to the open books and her strips of ribbon marking pages..

ooc: Sorry, got caught up in catching up with too many things after returning from vacation...

"Hmm..." Lilianne replies thoughtfully, slightly irritated at the butchering of her name. However, it was not the first time the shorter lived people did that, so she kept from addressing that issue. "That is indeed interesting. - I found that the strands of the web share properties with ghost salt, which allows attacking incorporeal beings." she added to Esmeralda's observations.

"I would assume you can trap incorporeal creatures with this web." the elf thought out loud. "We would need to think of a way to verify that assumption." she said, tapping her lips with her finger while lost in thoughts.

ooc: Knowl. o.t. Planes check 23 - How to confirm that suspicion.

The librarian looks up from a book he is browsing through, The Complete Book of Demons,  "Experimentation, I presume.  It is not something that I have come across before."

He pauses for a moment, "How does that fit with your research?" he asks Esmerelda.

Esmerelda did enjoy calling the larger one “little” just for fun even though it seemed to perplex the woman…


“It would seem we know very little but the property of capturing or making weapons or oils might be something…. Perhaps it is some part of the boundary of our home, to keep creatures native to the astral plane out… the keeper would understand the nature of the boundaries that comprises an encapsulation…”

"I can assure you that it is NOT part of Netherword's boundary defence systems." the Librarian responds, shuddering slightly.

“Right!  So I meant to try dancing lights and twinkling to try to communicate with the drops themselves…what does you demonicon tome relate?”

"Oh, I had another group in earlier, who were investigating demons.  This is one of the books they were looking at.  It just describes different types of demon, and delineates some to their strengths and weaknesses.  Nothing to do with your investigation, I am afraid." he thinks for a moment and then adds, "Have you investigated the extent and the structure of the web yet?"

“Summoned creatures seem the best idea touching it ourselves seems a bad idea.  Do we have any scouts to check everywhere else?”

Lilianne had been lost in thoughts, wondering about the ideas Esmeralda came up with until she had another thought herself "Hmmm... if you feel the droplets are an entity and not the result of an entity's work, how about we try detecting their thoughts? We could determine if it is actually a living being, even if it is just a rudimentary intellect we can still receive emotions, would you not agree?"

"I have already asked Security to check the rest of Netherworld.  While they are still searching, there have been no reports of other sightings." the Librarian  responds to Esmerelda's question.
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:56, Mon 29 Nov 2021.

"Aye detecting thoughts is a great idea.  We should return and try some of these ideas and hopefully continue to clarify.  Can you detect evil?"

The Librarian looks up and smiles, "Oh, can I introduce Mattias, from the Netherworld Security Agency. He will accompany you."

“Greetings I had not realized the NSA was realized as yet.  Please bring your agents to my brewery soon I would know them each as I will cooperate and aid them as I am able, but I will know them first.  Do you want to open a tab?”

An affable fellow presents himself, he is clad in chain and carries a pole arm with a trident head on his back.
Well hey there, Ma’am. No need fora tab I try not to drink on duty. he says with easygoing professionalism.
The others are all on assignment I’m afraid, are you looking for a bouncer here at your uh … establishment? he looks around as if expecting tables a stage and a bar.

"Not so much, my place is not that popular for people to hang out in, and I do alright with any riff raff, I could potentially turn part of the main floor into barracks area.  Gurads have to eat, sleep and drink I assume.  Unless you have already found the proper space and accomodations..."

"No, Mattias.  I would like you to accompany these two ladies and watch out for them.  They are investigating an unusual occurrence.  Most of your colleagues are working for me, at the moment, and are looking in the darker and quieter areas of  the Netherworld." The Librarian says, making sure the position is clear to everyone.  "Once you are ready to continue, I will check the outside of the plane.

"Yes we need a man, perhaps if all else fails he can shoot an arrow ar the phenomena and see what happens..."

Mathias stands a little straighter being addressed by the Librarian.
Absolutely Sir He says with polite deference and a head bow. His manners seem casual and easy as if he had lived a refined life but he isn’t a fearful as a common man would be. I’m ready on command

I’ll throw anything you like at it, but surely I’ve got a fine bow here. He tells the potion maker. I’ll bring that for our journey and perhaps you can bring the mead?

ooc: Sorry, I'm a bit lost here, we were looking at the 'web', then suddenly we're at the library, then at the inn, or... ???

You are in the Library.

Esmerelda looks over the books she has laid out....

"Can we leave these here, for when we return?"


Looks at the other two...
"So back to investigate the rainbow beads again?"

"Your reseach books will remain just as you leave them.  I will make sure of that."

The librarian says reassuringly, then adds.  "And I should be back before you return, as well."

Lilianne pursed her lips as she thought about how to proceed. "I am afraid I did not prepare a prayer to detect evil, but tomorrow I should pray for that and more divinations to determine the web's properties." she told the brewer. "Unfortunately I did not encounter anything like this before." the elf admitted.

Right then - rainbow drops of webbing. I’m game.
Says the fellow as he prepares to follow.

"Remember, investigate the extent and the structure of the web.  It might help you. I'll check outside."

With that the librarian starts to fade.  Matter seems to radiate from his body and merge into the surroundings, and his figure becomes paler, then translucent, and then, just before he disappears completely, you see a ghost-like, presence sitting in his chair.

You are alone in the Library.

"So he is off to the astral plane then it seems, hopefully we do not end up having to launch a rescue effort.  So the extent of the invasiveness is also what we need to know."


Esmerelda heads back to the location of the disturbance

Mattias moves to the door, opening it for his client and watching carefully for any danger. He exits after the little lady and makes a clicking sound with his mouth and a little whistle.
Refresh the dice log

22:55, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 26 using 1d20+7.  handle animal.

22:55, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  perception.

As they go a Racoon comes out of hiding and climbs up the gentleman's armor to curl up into a backpack.

"Hopefully something semi-harmless and useful maybe a special breed of phase spider and something we can domesticate.........I keep trying to get some ring gates so I can have a large pool of water and a waterfall all in one spot.  Plus a good place to keep my created water for the brewery, but not sure when that might happen....be good to draw in business as well and I plan to have a water wheel installed too.....I know big plans, little body....."

mmm…hmmm

Y es…
Of course….
That’s an idea

The bouncer is affable and certainly seems interested in his clients monologue.  He might even understand what she is talking about as he’s brighter than the average security goon. His eyes are everywhere else.

Back in the pear orchard, nothing has changed - except for one of Mattias's colleagues  who has instructions to keep stray individuals away from the area.

Inside, the same faint glistening droplets are spread across the roof of tree branches some ten feet above your head.


OOC: FYI  I am away from home for the next few days, and may not be able to post

Matt approaches the Orcish monster and greets him. The large green body stuffed into a hodge lodge of plates stitched together with links artfully clearly towers over the ordinary man when they clasp hands the green one grunts something and continues to look around. It seems alertness is the one thing the two have in common. Matthias says nothing with a dozen friendly words and returns to his client looking up at the drops.

Well, I suppose we climb the tree?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:40, Fri 10 Dec 2021.

Esmerelda tries to see the clear area of the disturbance

“Actually we had a few new ideas we were going to try…”

Esmerelda casts dancing lights sending three orbs as close to match of the colors….
She tries to match the twinkling of the lights…

“Hopefully we can work out communication of some sort…”

Matthias readies his weapon protectively the three blades over the gnome as she works.

On the other side of the garden, the large half Orc loosens the chain hanging at this hip.

The area is silent but for the Gnome.

Esmeralda sends her glowing orbs up close to the web, and makes them change colour in an attempt to communicate - and the droplets on the web start to flicker back.  For a moment it is exciting as it looks like they are responding however, after a few moments, it becomes clear that they are just reflecting the light from the spell.

Now that you know that, you realise that taking a few paces either side, or even moving your head from side to side,  causes the twinkling effect, which is caused by the normal light and shadow of the tree canopy affecting the way that light is reflected from the droplets.

So uh… now what?

I don’t know much about strange things but it seems ordinary enough. Shall I knock the drops down?  Shoot something?

We can still climb the tree…

Esmerelda changes tactics and combines the lights into a single source as she tries to see if the illumination makes the shimmering droplets easier to see and perhaps can find the boundary of the area…

“Just reflecting i am trying to see if a color light makes them easier to spot…”

Sounds good, La...er Esmeralda Mattias lets her name roll out his mouth, boyish charm shining through. Something about him doesn't entirely fit his status but that's probably true of all the wasted souls residing here. Whatever they had been ... they aren't that now. Now Mattias is a friendly bouncer, a bodyguard with nice clothes and an easygoing attitude best for avoiding conflict and calming irate drunkards. His saunter seemed born of luck and prosperity mixed with the common sense of necessity.

He lets his Ranseur lean against his left shoulder while unwrapping some kind of food with a bit of bread in a cloth, he chews thoughtfully while she works and walks around the space examining it. He breaks up some of his bread into crumbs tossing or blowing the powdered crust into the area. He's checking for who knows what? boundaries, behaviors, light sound smell, even just a gut feeling.

23:46, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 24 using 1d20+7.  perception.

The latest examinations show the web in a new light. Rather than a spider's web, a single thread winds through the tree branches gradually leading towards the side of the orchard,  where it runs down through the bushes, and disappears into a hole.

A hole that shouldn't really be there.

It isn't a nice round, easy to see through hole.  Instead, imagine a thin place in a hedge.  You know there is a hole behind, you can (just about) see through it -  but there are still leaves obscuring your view.

"Now this is odd to say the least, as if some ice fisherman on the other side, has cut a hole, and sent his line and hooks through to our world....."

The metaphor is odd in that she relates this world to be the one under the ice.....perhaps she has the mindset related to the winter witches.....what is it about them and cold anyway???

Well, if this is a fisherman’s line we should cut it, or maybe grab on follow it up and choke the bastard.

Matthias readies his weapon to cut the line.

I am away for the next couple of weeks.  That gives you time to decide what you are going to do about this hole.

Lilianne was lost in a reverie of sorts, contemplating all information they had gathered thus far.

ooc: Sorry, been busy with work and season's festivities/family.

The latest examinations show the web in a new light. Rather than a spider's web, a single thread winds through the tree branches gradually leading towards the side of the orchard,  where it runs down through the bushes, and disappears into a hole.

A hole that shouldn't really be there.

It isn't a nice round, easy to see through hole.  Instead, imagine a thin place in a hedge.  You know there is a hole behind, you can (just about) see through it -  but there are still leaves obscuring your view.

You have discussed cutting the thread, and following it through the hole.  Now it is time for a decision.

Matthias experimentally wraps the end of his weapon around the line near the hole and gives a little tug.

"Sometimes action beats inaction as it were."

Matthias's gentle tug on the thread makes the droplets closest to his weapon bounce and sway, buy does not break the thread.  Once he stops tugging, the thread returns to its normal, quiet state.

He pulls harder pulling more thread out of the hole

The thread snaps.

"Well now this is an interesting turn of events....."



She hands the man a wooden spool for thread....

"Wrap it carefully up deary and Peerhaps we will be able to collect it all, might have to send for some ladders and more help...."



Esmerelda calls into the hole....
"Hello!"

There is no response to Esmerelda's call.  Nothing disturbs the normal sounds of the orchard.

Matthias wraps up all the thread.

Okay then, easy job is still a job.

How are you wrapping the thread up?

In reply to The Librarian (msg # 100):
On the wooden spoon as directed. But he will need to get higher up soon once the easy straight part is done. He may tie the wooden spoon to the end of his pole-arm to continue when that happens.

With an occasional humming of some perky tune he’ll twist the spoon to gather up the thread and clean the mess letting the rainbow drops stick or fall away to be swept later.

Mattias winds the thread down from the orchard's canopy, noting that the threads is reluctant to pull away from the foliage and that the  coloured beads are sticking to each other and their colours bleeding in together.

Now you know that the hole in the foliage is there, it is difficult to ignore it.  However, nothing comes through the hole.

Matthias drops the thread into a sack and wraps it around itself then puts it in his backpack. He then tentatively sticks something into the hole, a stick at first if one is available, if not, he will test with his dagger.

Mattias spots a branch, from one of the pear trees, laying on the ground,  which is about five feet long and a couple of inches in diameter.  It takes a moment to strip the leaves and twigs, but he soon has a reasonable 'poking' stick.  When he inserts it into the hole, nothing stops it going all the way in.  The hole is at least five feet deep, probably even more.

Moving the stick around shows  that it is roughly circular and about three feet in diameter.  It is easily large enough to crawl through.

"A burrow then, is it.  Xertainly not a giant weasel then for the cord bit makes little sense.  Has to be some misguided leprechaun or some other thing run amuck.....Pull out your stick..."




She yells into the hole....
"Hello!"

Again, there is silence from the other side of the hole.

Sends more dancing lights down the hole to see how far until it turns or branches.....


"Do we want to summon creatures to check this hole?"


Esmerelda considers what might happen were a swarm to go down the hole.....where would it come out or what might happen, but aggresion was not yet called for

The dancing lights swirl around themselves and then dive through the hole, and appear to go right to the end of their range.  However, moving them around  implies that there is a large space behind the hole.  Looking through the hole only shows whatever colour Esmeralda has chosen for the lights.

"Opens into a larger area just at the end.......So where in netherworld would this be?"


Esmerelda thinks perhaps an unauthorized gate in/out....field expedient gate?

Well, can’t say it’s safe to go in…but whatever let’s go on in?

The quiet of the orchard is disturbed by the squawking of a small flock of the netherworld's green and yellow birds as they fly in, circle the trees before settling on the ground under a  tree where a couple of pears have fallen.

OOC:  Netherworld has two forms of 'natural life' - small green girds (known as Budgies) and russet coloured squirrels.  Introduced by travellers over the years, they survive here quite happily.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 10:16, Sun 06 Feb 2022.

Matt goes into the hole

"If you feel any change in the air or pressure, you stop and let us know."

PM

Lilianne watched the others investigating the thread and then the hole that they discovered. She was ready to cast a spell the instant the young security officer would get into trouble.

The young tiefling was swift on her feet as she entered the orchard. Dressed in practical pants with a dark striped pattern, a white linnen shirt and dark vest the woman displayed a preferrence for the functional. A casual bob framed a stern looking face, finding her employer she went straight for the elf. "Lilianne, I'm sorry to interrupt your investigation, but your presence is requested in the library." the tiefling told the mage. "The messenger stressed it was urgent." she added with emphasis, only then she acknowledged the presence of Esmeralda, with a court nod.

Standing straight and her arms behind her back, the factotum waited for a reply.

"Careful in there whelp, I do not want to have to explain where you ended up."

it's a tunnel - made of that thread...not unlike a spiderweb funnel but this is the narrow end and it seems to open up ahead.

Change in pressure? like going in the mountains? huh

Does Matthias feel any change in pressure? what is the temp, humidity and smell? What does he hear? are there any shadows or movement?


he considers a moment.
19:14, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  perception.

Lilianne pressed her lips together, forming a thin line. She was not happy being called away just as things were progressing significantly, but it seemed the matter was pressing. "I am sorry, Esmeralda, duty calls. Please excuse me, I shall make sure to be back as soon as it is possible." she told the brewer.

Turning towards the tiefling the elf inclined her head "I will go then, you stay here and lend any assistance that is asked for." Lilianne instructed before gliding out of the orchard.

At Mattias really considers the space in front of him, he notices a very slight mustiness to the air, and perhaps a hint of musk.  There are no shadows that he can see, while temperature and humidity seem to be the same as in the orchard - perhaps a little bit cooler.

The floor seems to be springy, although his feet stick slightly on the coloured droplets under his feet.  While it isn't brightly lit, droplets around the walls shed a small amount of light, and look quite pretty with their different colours -  the colours are static, as the droplets don't appear to change colour.  It is almost like they are dimly lit starts glittering in the firmament of the walls.

Esmerelda watches the mans progress as she her self feels the dirt and debris at the entryway to make sense of it all.....

She jots the notes and description of the hole in her journal, if she gets drawn in she plans to let the journal offer whatever clues it will....

Noted are the location of the hole that should not be, the weblines and shimmer droplets that led to it, and that the security agent crawled into the hole for additional details.....

She writes with one hand as the other explores the silky nature of the hole.....

No change in air pressure… It’s pretty … almost inviting Matt says. Houses his ranseur pole through the web tunnel to the left and down. He trie to find if there is a rock tunnel or a floor outside the web.
He talks absentmindedly to the boss while doing this.

What do you say we just build a little stone wall in the garden in front of this hole and forget about it? That an option? My number two is to toss a bunch of fire in here and use this as a garbage dump/ incinerator. Whatever made it won’t bother us.

Avoiding the greenery that surrounds it, Esmerelda finds that the entrance to the hole isn't as silky as she thinks it should be.  The small droplets cling to her fingers, before her movement breaks the sticky grip.

Matt's pole does not sink into the floor, however it makes a dent, which slowly moves back into place.  The blade, of course, might have a different effect.

Note:  Netherworld is a small place, and both Esmerelda and Mattias will know Jacqueline.

"Don't just stand there, what do you make of this, your the font of knowledge as ot were....."

Under her breath she muses...
"Wonder if her an that drow have met, dern know it alls."

Jaqueline watched her employer leave with mixed emotions, of course she would help Matt and Esmeralda investigating this matter, but she had not been briefed on anything that was going on and wasn't sure how she could be of assistance at this point.



The tiefling frowned and wondered if she should really dignify the insult of the gnome with an answer. Sighing she decided that Lilianne's orders were to support the two and she would not disappoint her. That didn't mean she could not echo the way the request was made.

"You're being reckless and one of you is going to die." the woman stated in a matter-of-fact way, looking the gnome directly in the eyes. "Seeing that Matt is the one crawling into an unknown creature's lair he will be the most likely to suffer loss of life and limbs." she added, a sour undertone evident in her words.

"Have you considered what might happen if he was subjected to a paralyzing agent, like many spiders are using; or if he became unconscious through multiple other options? - You have not secured a means to get him back to safety, have you?" she told the brewer, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"I suggest to use caution and at least secure him with a rope, so we can drag him back out if he suffers from any of the aforementioned conditions." the tiefling advised, crossing her arms before her chest.

Matt comes out.
Yeah thanks for all that.   He pulls out the stick wrapped in silk and uses a tinder twig to light it. Let’s see how this reacts to fire.

Matt finds that the droplets flash into flame, but the thread doesn't burn at all.

"Hello Matt, nice to see you." Jaqueline said when the young man reappeared. "I'm sorry but Lilianne did not fill me in on your investigation thus far, can you summarize it for me, please?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she watched the droplets going up in flames.

Ah well, I’m just the support to help Ms Najeet here. But near as I know there was this thread with color drops on the tree. We followed it to this hole in space. Inside there is a tunnel of thread leading somewhere-like a big wolf spider funnel not too sticky.  I can’t tell if it’s a tunnel in open space or a tunnel inside a stone cave, I’ll have to damage the tunnel to figure that out and…well…the rope is a good backup but only if someone on the other side can really hoist.

So anyway Librarian wants to know more. I say we can just block it off and ignore it but if not maybe walking around between the worlds or damaging it are good options?

He tosses her the stick with thread and colored drops wrapped on one end for her examination.

Matt has an easygoing likable personality, he’s a bouncer for the bar and is known for de-escalation and disarming people. Certainly not an overly aggressive warrior. He wears fine clothes of a former aristocrat, or courtier but has been here in nether a long time. His  mail is a thigh length poncho over stockinged feet in soft boots, wool red pants and a white blouse. The chain can be open at the front with the coif down most times. He has a soft vest and his gear over it all his hat is usually hanging from a belt and carry’s a ranseur.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:51, Thu 10 Feb 2022.

The tiefling, not known for her amicable personality but rather for her very varied skillset, looked at the thread and droplets. One hand went to her ear which she tugged on a few times while pondering the issue. "So, you've established the thread and bubbles are harmless, that's good. How about we remove all of the thread from the vegetation and cut it off at the entrance to that hole. Then we wait for whatever comes to replace the thread?" the woman suggested.

"Even so, I should get some supplies and quill and paper to take notes." Jaqueline remarked waiting patiently for Esmeralda's comments.

I don’t know we’ve established that philosophically speaking. Don’t know what happens if you rub the colors on your skin or eat them. And I don’t know what would happen if I go in and get caught or tangled in this stuff. Maybe it will cocoon me and I’ll come out younger and more vigorous?

Anyway I can keep watch while you do your alchemy.

Everything is quiet in the orchard, until the small flock of birds  suddenly all take flight together, and swoop out into the wider spaces of the North Wing.

"We first found the lights and the strands and our research in the library, we found the hole, and the gentleman of his own free will climbed within.  I had suggested summoned creatures first, but I did naught to stop him, perhaps his orders or general commands compel him to act in certain ways.  I have no responsibility for him, though I would try to save his life were he to be attacked.  Do you wish to call him back and return to review and perhaps obtain some new research for the benefit of what we have found thus far?"

"Sorry  I was a bit  harsh there."


Calls to the man in the hole
"Do you need to report this to your team and get some backup?"

OOC Matt came out in msg 127. I think we are waiting for any tests you guys want to do then we go back in.

Matt will check the area the birds spooked from he’ll toss some dust looking for hidden invisible creatures

Matt finds nothing, except for the remains of a fallen pear - that has been well pecked and has almost disappeared.  It looks like the birds had finished their lunch, and then left.

OOC:  Do you have a plan?  How do you intend to proceed?

“So you found nothing in residence or anything at all in the hole?”

Matt is thinking I’m just waiting for the two geniuses to finish and come back. I’m the hired help not the planner.

But there’s a question.
Huh? Oh well I bet if we keep walking there will be something. It’s like a web funnel and it opens up further in. I can’t tell if it’s in a giant open space or a cave I don’t know if damage to the web would make one fall or not. Is that other lady coming back or is it just us?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:34, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

"Might be we have misjudged the space and the size of the occupant if one exists, perhaps something like a tiny spider mite....a phase spider might be, phase spide mites?  Something to think about...."



Esmerelda chants something that she must have read once...


“So, naturalists observe, a flea Hath smaller fleas on him prey; And these have smaller fleas to bite 'em, And so proceed ad infinitum. Thus every poet, in his kind, Is bit by him that comes behind.”
This message was last edited by the player at 20:19, Wed 23 Feb 2022.

If you say so Love, but I only know what I said,

I can tie a rope to you if you like to go in an look around?

As she had remarked before the tiefling returned with a notebook under her arm, but it seemed she was ready to go exploring now as she also wore a nice set of leather armor.

"I see you didn't venture further without me, good good." she commented when she saw the two looking at her. "You can tie that rope around my waist and I will go in, my eyes are better suited to operating in dark places and I don't weigh as much as you." Jaqueline told Matt, lightly patting his shoulder.

Lifting her arms she waited for the man to go ahead with her suggestion.

“It held his weight fine, perhaps take in some fruits, honey, meat, an assortment of foods and set it, we can check later to see if anything has been consumed a nice charcuterie board perhaps?”

With a raised eyebrow the tiefling looked at the local brewer "You wanna make a picknick?" she asked with slight amusement. "But seriously, I will go in and take a look around. There is no time to waste."

“Sure do that certainly.  I meant to leave it inside overnight and check back later on……”

Uncertain Matt looks to Esmerelda who he was directed to assist and waits for her nod to begin securing Jacqueline to the rope.

When it seems they agree he chips in. Yeah , I get it - if she doesn’t find anything some food might show what’s in there.

It doesn't take long to get Jacqueline roped up and ready to squeeze through the hole in the hedge.

The other side of the hole opens into a strange landscape.  A long 'tube' leads away from you -  the floor curves up to meet the walls, and then onto the ceiling - and it isn't symmetrical -  wider in some places, higher in others, undulations in the floor.  The whole thing appears to be made of the thread, woven together to make a strong material -  and the little droplets still give off their multicoloured light and make every surface (including the floor)  slightly sticky.

It stretches as far as you can see, in the dim light given off by the walls, and you can just make out an opening on each side.

OOC: New Map

well, what do you think?

Is the floor over some other solid floor? I've got the rope if you want to cut the webbing and look outside it..

Matt calls out.

“More and more it seems like some strange creature, maybe not a native of limbo, perhaps one lost with but managing survival nonetheless….”

Esmerelda considers further possibility….

“So the options seem a bit more research or just to explore the full thing and see what we come face to face with, though leaving food might still be a good start if contact is intended……”

I suppose I could continue to sit around here doing nothing while you egg heads do your research. No offense but I haven't seen any conclusions from the first round of research so I'm not expecting much.



Matt says while tying the second length of rope to himself from the base and stepping in.

once inside he says "Hey - before we go on while we are both tied in I want to see just how dangerous this is. he cuts through the bottom of the tunnel just a little and pushes his Ranseur pole down to see if there is any ground. If not he will drop a stone down there and listen for the sound of it hitting something.

The long thin ranseur blade  cuts into the spongy flooring fairly easily, making a thin wide slit.  When the blade is withdrawn, the slit seems to heal itself, and there is nowhere to put a coin.

Cutting a hole, large enough to drop a coin into, will be a much longer process, and will probably be hampered by the webs self-healing tendencies.

The tiefling crawled into the hole and was surprised how it quickly widened to a much bigger space. She noticed the openings but was undecided how to proceed. When Matt joined her she flashed him a quick smile "So you're just as curious. Let's hope that satisfaction will bring us back."

His idea to cut a hole into the webbing had her cringe, fabrics, and she compared the finely woven webbing with a cloth, had a tendency to rupture further if cut while under stress. However, the quick sealing of the gash surprised Jackie and she could not help but gasp. "That's something you don't see very often." she commented and moved on to the opening that was closer and peered inside.

ooc: Move to R4, peek into opening.

As Jackie peeks around into the opening, she sees that it is a dead end.

new map

Jackie was considering entering the dead end just to make sure it was not a trick of the mind or an illusion but changed her mind, there seemed to be no danger lurking inside and the time would be better used to explore further.

Moving on the tiefling inspected the next opening...

Yet another dead end, but Jackie has moved far enough down the space to see that it opens up ...

New Map  (you might need to refresh the page with the map on)
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:12, Mon 07 Mar 2022.

For a brief moment the tiefling wondered why anyone would create two dead ends in this 'tunnel' but with so little information the attempt to make sense of it was bound to fail. Wishing she had her notes available, the woman moved on towards the rear of the white rabbit's hole...

ooc: Oh well, move on then :D

Esmerelda makes another note in her journal. Then she sets it outside....

"Onward then it seems that we are determined to meet whatever is here face to face, so onwards we shall go, perhaps the next chamber will hold the answers...."

Matt isn't going to quit that easily, he cuts again with a dagger and pushes a coin through.

Matt settles down and starts cutting the floor with his dagger, and manages to push a coin into the slot before it seals over.  Esmerelda moves into the strange white area, while Jackie discovers that there are two branches at the end of the long tube.

Both are circular in format again, but are smaller than this main chamber, although  they are made of the same material.

New map.

"Perhaps we have this all wrong, the whole layout reminds me of some sort of great fish and even many of those live on some tiny things they filter from the water.....It fits, perhaps we will see more along the way,,,"

Curiously the tiefling watched Matt cut the webbing again, this time quickly inserting the coin, but it didn't seem to return anything of significance.

Facing the choice of two directions Jaqueline listened briefly for anything of note but could only hear her own blood rushing through her ears. She pursed her lips while considering her options and then continued to move on the _right_ way.

Matt tries to complete his experiment...

did it fall through? was there any sound?

If he can't discover anything he'll curse and complain and then follow along catching up to the front.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:05, Sat 12 Mar 2022.

Matt thinks the coin has been sealed inside the floor, but he can't be sure.  Then he catches up with the others.

Jackie follows the right-hand branch around in a semicircle -  which meets the other branch, coming back the other way.  Where the two branches meet, there is a large, irregular, chamber -  although made from the same material as everything else and with the same curved walls floor and ceiling.

In the middle of the chamber there is a single pillar -  again made from the same material as everything else, it has three small protrusions, two of which have tear shaped bags hanging from them, the third has a bag that appears to have split.

New map

“Now it seems we have egg sacks and some type of creatures with spinerettes… “

"Spinerettes?" the tiefling wondered, not quite clear on what the gnome tried to convey. It was apparent that this was some kind of breeding chamber, however, it was not clear if the creatures bred inside the sacks were a threat.

Turning to Esmeralda a malevolent smile came on Jackie's lips "What do you think: If we poke one of the remaining sacks, will mommie show up to protect the offspring?" she suggested, counting on most species' instincts to protect the next generation.

"No need yet to anger such creatures, the capacity to be of use outweighs the need for wanton destruction.......If insectoid they be I intend to meet them with their own kind and see what happens then..."

Jackie shrugged "Perhaps. But one thing is sure: The young creature is hungry and that means it is out there somewhere looking for food." the young tiefling mused out loud, leaving implications for the others to imagine.

"Singular is possible, though so is plural...from each egg sac..let us see if perhaps we can see what lies within the two or find what came from the first one......"


Esmerelda racks her brain to make sense of the evidence in front of her......knowledge check of some sort?

Matt looks around exploring the full space for threats. That being what he does and not the thinking and talking his clients seem to be all about. His only concern is to keep them from jumping on the baby alien monstrosity that successfully lured them into his egg chamber with a sparkly web.

This is good for a first recon. Let's go back and set a barrier - while you consult your arcane knowledge

Esmerelda wracks her brains, but all she can think of is her recent research in the library.

Digging further, Esmerelda finds information on a number of creatures, including

• The Astradaemon - A large and ugly daemon
• Dragon Horse - looks a bit like a horse, solitary, possibly helpful.
• The Astral Shark - a voracious predator
• Corpse Spinner - a  gigantic silver spider that hunts across the planes.
• The Soul Spider, although its 'proper' name is the Soliquid Astralis.

The Soul Spider is probably the best fit, it spins a long thin filament, much like a strand of spider's web, and casts it into the river of souls.  Sticky beads on the thread bind to a soul, and allow the spider to draw it back to itself.  However, there is little detail. Some speculate that a Soliquid is an immature version of a corpse spinner, others that it is a different, but related species.

Nodding Jackie considered their current information and what they really needed to figure out. "The immediate question that needs answering, if you ask me, is: Are these creatures a threat to our citizens and visitors? If yes, they need to be removed. If no threat, how fast do they replicate and how long until that threatens the people here?" she summarized, comparing the arachnid-kin to rodents. A couple of rats were no big deal, but they became a problem if they were too numerous.

"Any suggestions on how to determine that?" the tiefling asked the other two.

"The potential for harm is great indeed.  We should test the silk we collected and see the best way to remove it, fire, acid, or something  else.....Oh dear."

Still concerned about the safety of his clients Matt tries encouraging them to head back for this conversation.

Sounds good - let's take our web back figure out what destroys it and drop bombs of that in the hole.

he tries to encourage the movement back while keeping alert for threats.

20:51, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 22 using 1d20+7.  perception.

"We should dig into the lore, as  the potential is great tthat the set of clues is rapidly narrowing to two creatures the ecology of which is so vaired that thay may indeed be different stages of the same creature...."

The tiefling pursed her lips as she considered their options, then pulled her dagger from its sheath. "I get that we should not meddle with the babies, but that doesn't mean we have to leave empty handed." she mentioned and went over to the open, empty bag. Taking care that she was not cutting into the pillar but rather cutting the remains of the eggsack from the 'stem' and removed the item. "To give Lilianne something to study." Jackie commented with a lopsided grin.

ooc: I assume that the empty eggsack has no more life-giving connection to the pillar/stem, so where the connection goes dry is where she will cut.

As Jackie inspects the open bag, she realizes that there is no  dry part of the empty sack's stalk, nor that there was ever any connection between the 'stem' and the empty sack.

"Curious." the woman remarked but did not dwell on it long, instead she removed the empty sack carefully, not willing to spill anything that might remain inside.

I am not quite sure how you wish to proceed.

ooc: Jackie wants to take the sack with her, what does she have to do? You said it has no connection to the stem/pillar-thingamagic, is it lying on the ground?

ooc:  Let's assume that you held it in one hand (gauntleted if you prefer) and cut it with a dagger.  So the sack is now in your hand  :)

Are we heading back to the Library?

ooc: Sounds good to me. I'm fine going back to the library.

“Might be good to take that sack to be inspected by someone who knows something more, we should update the keeper…”

A couple of the security men, stopping people entering the orchard, nod to Matt as you make your way back out into the netherworld gardens - and from there it is just a short walk back to the Library.

Both the Librarian and Lilianne are there -  deep in discussion about some minor point, or another.

Matt shakes hands with one and let’s the ladies go first as they move to the Library.

Whatever that hole is I would stay back and keep an eye on it. He warns his fellows.

"Well we have a bit of a larger issue than we thought, take a gander at this thread and the sketch, along with what we think might be an egg sack....We might want to let the keeper know unless he already knows, what is going on."

Esmerelda thinks about the mantis men of the wastes and wonders if this is related to the thri-kreen rather than the spiders.....

The Librarian takes the thread  and looks at it briefly, then finds a cloth to wipe the stickiness from his fingers before he looks at  the sketch.

"That is quite an impressive structure." he comments, "And clearly detectable from outside.  The keeper must be badly distracted, not to notice something like that, so it is up to us to resolve the problem."

He pauses for a moment as he wipes his hands again, before handing the sketch back.  "Sorry." he comments casually as he indicates the  stickiness  transferred from the thread to the map.  "When I investigate outside, it looks like an accretion of astral matter. You know, the dust and detritus that hangs around on the astral plane?" he half by way of a brief explanation.

"From the size of it, it must be a large Astral creature, perhaps the Corpse Spinner or Soliquid Astralis that we spoke about earlier.  If so, you must destroy any remaining egg sacks, and fairly quickly.  We don't want either of those gaining access to  Netherworld.

While you do that, I will think about how we might remove the whole structure."

Jaqueline went without any other comment to the library, giving Lilianne an acknowledging nod, bowing slightly in greeting to the librarian. She listened to the comments made and nodded, filing away the information in her notebook.

When it was clear they had to eliminate the egg-sacks the tiefling felt her initial feelings confirmed, it was dangerous to the citizens of the Netherworld. "Sir, may I point out that one of the eggs has hatched, thus we have one small creature roaming around already and I can only guess about the mother-arachnid." the woman said, looking from the older man to her employer.

"Then we shall have to search the whole of the netherworld," the librarian responds to Jacqueline.  "But before that, we must deal with the threat that is before us ...  that thing attached to our orchard."

Then more lightly he adds, "Think of all of those poor pears that won't get brewed into perry ..."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 12:48, Tue 22 Mar 2022.

“We have the thread but the web heals so we should try some brute force removal acid or fire….”

I somehow expected one of you to use glasses full of acid and fire and whatever right here and figure out what works best

"You expect rightly, if our hast has such things here, if not we can go to the brewery.  Weak acid might remove the coasting, but also make it harder to burn, the strands we collected seem different than the inner, as the strand did not heal.....  Though the right place to sever might be the real way to be rid of the problem."

The tiefling listened and pursed her lips as she contemplated the new information, before asking her employer: "Lilianne, do you think you could provide us with some flasks of alchemist's fire to resolve this situation?"

Lilianne nods and provides a flask of alchemist's fire and another of acid.  When you take them back to Esmerelda's farm to test the thread, you find that both of them work, to some extent. While the stickiness is burned away, you are left with a fine grey dust, although it clearly isn't ash of any sort.

The whole process, acid or fire, produces a thick acrid smoke, that makes you cough.  And that is just a small amount of the thread ...

"Silver?" 


Esmerelda investigates the dust left behind......

It is not silver.

"We should see what this ash is, though the burning will cause problems for the residents, and we may have to find another way, perhaps cut and fordib the thing from healing, though what might pull it away from this plane is uncertain......"

Just throw the fire in the hole and cover it up with a piece of wood or a Magic wind or magic wall or something,
… it can’t be that hard.

"I have no spells that will seal away the dark acridic smoke...perhaps another caster or adventurer that could be hired to fill the hole with stone?"

Jackie took a pinch of the dust and examined it closely, wondering if her experience with gold, silver and platinum could tell her more...

ooc: Craft Jewelry check - 26. Perhaps it's a metal or gem residue that she recognizes?

The dust is not metallic, nor is it anything you have seen before.  It is, however, very fine-grained and very light grey.

Then you recall the words that the Librarian spoke a few moments ago,  "When I investigated outside, it looks like an accretion of astral matter. You know, the dust and detritus that hangs around on the astral plane?"

"Might be mites, some sort of debris feeder from the astral plane....seems my earlier  idea might have some value....  So the accumulation for debris, perhaps that means  we should remove it from the astral side of our world.  A bit of tidying up or housekeeping if you will. "

"I really think we should get going, the longer we wait, the bigger the chance another of these creatures hatches." the tiefling mentioned. "A wet cloth will protect our lungs long enough, I assume. Tie a rope around my waist in case I pass out and we're good to go."

Do you have a plan that you are all agreed on?

Esmerelda nods in agreement

The brute force approach, has to be tried

The three of you make your way back towards the orchard, stopping off to collect the things you think you might need on the way.

The guards nod to you as you make your way into the restricted area, and soon you are before the breech.

OOC:  What are you collecting on the way, and where from?

I was assuming that items such as stockpiles of acid, alchemists fire and such would be at the NSA office. 


"We should put the fire brigade on duty in case this gets out of hand, we do not want to lose the orchard."


Esmerelda pulls out a large scarf, shemagh and looks at figuring to make a very thick mouth and nose covering for sure.....

OOC:  Yep, you can have 5 of each.  What else are you taking?

There is no fire brigade.  That sort of function is handled  as it happens.  In this case, you guys will be the people on site ...

Jackie collects two vials of acid and two bottles of alchemist's fire from Lilianne's, one dose for each eggsack. Heeding Esmeralda's warning, the tiefling also took a blanket to suffocate any flames should the need arise.

"Are we ready to go in?" she asked as they stood before the tunnel.

Esmerelda takes some buckets and once they arrive she fills them with water via her orison

“We are ready?”

I was waiting Matt says coming out of his reverie. He heads back to the garden ready to jump in and kill something

So, between you - there are seven alchemists fire,  seven vials of acid - and sufficient cloth for facemasks.

What is the plan for their use?

"I feel like I am trying to choose the best tool to deal with a hornets nest before I know what hornets are,"


Esmerelda smiles and laughs a little at her own joke...


"Obviously deal with the other two egg sacks first?"

Jacqueline smirked at Esmeralda's comment "Yes, that sounds a bit like what we are about to do." she told her companion, then proceeded to douse a cloth in water. She tied it around nose and mouth before she picked up both acid and alchemist's fire and walked to the egg sacks. "No time to waste, really." she told nobody in particular and went on with the plan.

Matt follows the lady's lead, he wears a mask and ties the long rope to himself for safety before going in with his Ranseur at the ready.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:44, Sat 16 Apr 2022.

ooc: On vacation for a week, will try to keep up on my phone though.

Jacqueline pours acid, and then alchemists fire over one of the 'egg sacks' and steps back as it goes up in a plume of acrid  smoke, although this time the clothes wrapped around faces protect against the worst of the stinging effects of the smoke.

Then, some of the smoke appeals to swirl together, becoming lighter and more translucent in the process.  For a moment it takes the form of an elderly woman,  hunched over and supporting herself on a stick, before changing into the shape of an attractive younger woman with flowing hair.  But those are but fleeting glimpses, before the shape take on the more familiar, and indistinct, shape associated with ghosts, spirits and incorporeal undead.

“Did anyone recognize the forms? An old crone a fertile maiden, perhaps a banshee forming?”

Huh. Should’ve just built a wall I suppose.

Matt says standing ready. Shall we burn the rest and head back to our exit?

I haven't forgotten you :)  Just feeling a bit crappy ATM

With no response to Esmerelda, or Mattias' question, Jacqueline shrugs and applies the acid and alchemist's Fire to the second of the egg sacks.  Again there is a plume of acrid smoke, which swirls upwards before part of it detaches and coalesces into a coherent shape.  This time it is a young child, a girl, but with a massive wound across her head - a blow that would certainly have killed her.

The ghostly shape looks around, almost fearfully, before she too changes into the more traditional, 'white sheet', shape of a ghost or the incorporeal undead, then she disappears from view.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:41, Mon 02 May 2022.

"These were trapped souls." the tiefling stated rather emotionlessly, "So that creature traps the souls on their way to the afterlife?" she asked Esmeralda, looking to confirm her own conclusion.

Right, can we burn it all down? is there anything left?

If I recall from our last foray didn't we explore the whole place? We haven't found any creatures...

“Well this seems to confirm the soul fisher of us ne sort or the other for certain, the question though remains where is the creature?”

"A patient hunter will wait for its prey." Jackie cited an old saying. "We just wait until it comes back, when it does we can get rid of it." the tiefling suggested. The plan shouldn't have to be too complex, this was the creature's lair it had to return eventually.

I have assumed that you explored the final loop of the 'structure' -  and found it to be the same as all the rest.

Are you planning to wait, or try and destroy/burn the whole thing?

My suggestion is to wait for the beastie.

With a sigh the security agent accepts the charge. He snacks on nuts, dried fruit and popcorn in a pouch and waits and watches.

A bemused grin snuck upon the features of the tiefling as she watched Matt getting comfortable. "I see you came prepared." Jackie commented, eying his snacks.

"Pretty sure we are going to be facing an angry beastie when it returns for sure, do we want to see about reinforcements?"

Esmerelda checks her iron vials, knowing that her remedies are ready, should they be needed....


She notes his snacks..
"The military travels on it's stomach is what I heard.....Say did you ever serve in security before?"

As you stand around chatting, Mattias notices that part of the central column is starting to dissolve, and a spider, about the size of a dire rat, starts to crawl out.


New Map
You guys have initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:11, Wed 11 May 2022.

"Drat!" the tiefling spat as the spider emerged. "Looks like an aous to me." she commented to nobody in particular while she drew her dagger and took a defensive stance.

ooc: Total defense AC+4. AC20/13/17
Jackie isn't much use in combat but can provide a flanking bonus or draw attacks to her.

Esmerelda had just loaded her crossbow waiting for the spider to appear



Today: Esmerelda Najeet rolled 4 using 1d6.  Damage . 07:29, Today: Esmerelda Najeet rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Attack crossbow .

“The itsey bitsey spider fishing for souls…”

Mattias?

The guards quickly attacks with his ranseur at the creature

Sorry I was traveling

08:23, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 7 using 2d4+2.  Damage .
08:23, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Matthias ranseur

As the spider appears, Jackie takes a defensive stance, and Esmerelda shoots her crossbow at the creature, before it gets into combat, and the bolt sinks into its body, causing a greyish green ichor to leak out.  Mattias stabs at it with his ranseur, drawing more Ichor from the beast.

The spider scuttles across the floor and lunges at Matt’s leg, sinking it’s fangs through the chainmail links and into the security man’s leg.

---

Mattias -  Fort Save DC 14 or lose 1 level  -

Mattias – Lightly Wounded   
Esmerelda - Uninjured
Jacqueline - Uninjured

Spider – wounded
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Sun 22 May 2022.

Esmerelda reloads her crossbow....

"If anyone gets bit, let me know I have my remedies on me just in case."

The tiefling grimaced when she saw Matt being bitten and decided to give up her defensive stance. Lounging forward with the oddly shaped dagger, she cut the everything but itsy-bitsy spider, albeit not deeply. Perhaps it would draw the attention away from the Netherworld guardian.

ooc: Attack spider with kukri
17:43, Today: Jaqueline rolled 2 using 1d6+1.  Damage .

17:43, Today: Jaqueline rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Attack arachnid incl. Inspiration.

Ow! bite bite!

The bodyguard says - he turns his weapon to get a strike close up


18:34, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 12,8 using d20+5,2d4+2.  matt attack!

Esmerelda hurriedly loads her crossbow, while Matt and Jackie slash at the spider-thing again.  Matt's blow goes wide, but Jackie manages to catch it by surprise, and her Kukri cuts deeper than she would have thought - or hit something vital.  Rather than leaking, the grey green ichor almost fountains from  the small slash, and the spider seems to shrink slightly.  It pulls it legs in, curls up into a ball, and gives its life up to Jackie's blade.

Well done guys.  Just a decision about the structure now.

"Huh!" Jackie lets out in surprise at the spider's unexpected demise. She looked at her blade as the green ichor dropped to the ground, threatening to drip on her boots. "That was... easier than I thought." the tiefling commented to nobody in particular. "Is it really dead?" she wondered out loud.

Looking at the others her eyes fell on Matt's wound from the spider bite "Are you alright?" the brunette asked, her brow furrowed in worry.

"Aye! after I softened it up for you!"

Esmerelda is snarky as she moves quickly to attend the man's leg...she releases the tension on her crossbow, and her hand on the iron flask of a remedy.....

she begins to access the man for signs of poisoning the wound and the man himself.....
"How do you feel?"

@Jackie :  I did promise it wouldn't be too hard.

However, we still need to resolve something from an earlier post ..

@Matt - "Mattias -  Fort Save DC 14 or lose 1 level"  -

Esmerelda administers a remedy for the poison...

OK even with a plus 20 to the roll, I managed to roll a 1.  I believe that means you have to make the DC 14 roll on your  own...I suppose I should always simply take 10 on that task......
This message was last edited by the player at 15:09, Thu 02 June 2022.

ooc: Keep in mind Skill checks don't automatically fail or succeed on a roll of "1" or "20", it's the modifier which decides. So, with a modifier of +13 you'd still reach DC14 on a roll of "1", or "21" in this case.

17:56, Today: Nether Security Agency rolled 11 using 1d20+2.  Fort

Fail

The tiefling bit her lip, watching Esmeralda's work on the wound with concern. "Can you help him?" she asked, worry tinging her voice.

Mattias knows something is wrong. He jz0ust doesn't seem to have the energy and resilience that he had before.

Esmerelda readies a second dose of the remedy noting that this might be more about the secondary aspect of the bite than just poison....


"One way of another we will get him right as rain again."

I dunno, maybe a hangover or Whatever, let's just....burn this place down and get out...

OOC:  Sorry Guys, I went away last weekend -  then got hit with Covid, pretty much as soon  as I got back.  Felt pretty rubbish all week.  I'll get something together for you, tomorrow.

Esmerelda prepares for the fire by soaking her hand kerchief and putting it near her face, she heads for the door as she has no intention of being in the place as it starts to burn....


COVID sucks....get rest

"Um... are we sure this is not going to spread into the Netherworld?" she wondered out loud, not convinced the fire would be kept to the strange web construct. After all, there was a web outside the hole...

Concerned, as you are, you press ahead with your plan to burn the giant webbing structure.  Flasks of acid, and vials of Alchemists fires are dropped behind you, as you run  for the entrance.

You can feel the flames hot behind you, and acrid smoke starts to fill the empty spaces, with some billow up close enough to you, that you feel your noses and throats itch.  However, you reach the entrance, and force yourselves through into the orchard,  prepared to douse any flames that follow you through into Netherworld.  However, it is tendrils of the acrid smoke that follow, rather than the flames that you feared.

Looking around for a way to plug the hole, you notice that the smoke is suddenly cut off, and no more is escaping and a quick check, shows that the hole has closed itself over, apparently of its own accord.

A soft voice echoes inside your head, It is over.  Well done.  Then silence.

ha! should 'ave just done that the first time Matt pretends to be healthy and strong.

How else can I support you?

"Alright then, seems we need to let the residents know to keep a sharp eye out for things and to let someone know as soon as possible, so as not to get out of hand in the future...."


Looks to the group...
"Come to my brewery, I have a sealed jug for each of you."

OOC:  Are you going to report back to the Librarian?

The tiefling turned back to watch the opening vanish and let out a sigh of relief. "That was too close for comfort." she commented to nobody in particular.

Turning to Esmeralda she suggested "We should tell the Librarian how this went. He can check out Matt at the same time I'd say."

"He will want a jug as well........I will just have them delivered...."

Matt nods and goes with the ladies to meet the Librarian. He feels different, he can't wait to rest and recover but the job isn't over until he is released.

It doesn't take long to get back to the Library, and you arrive at about the same time as a messenger from Esmerelda's holding, carrying a  few bottles of cider.  The messenger looks unsure of himself, as he hands over the bottles.  "I just knew I should bring these ..." he says with a note of concern in his voice.

Inside, the Librarian waits at his desk.. "It is over?" he half asks, prompting you to report back.

Jaqueline was quiet on the way back to the Librarian, the encounter had given her a lot of things to think about and she would add to her notes once she was back at Lilianne's. When they arrived in time with the bottles she gave the messenger a nod of thanks, then turning to Esmeralda with a raised eyebrow "Neat trick, thanks!" the tiefling commented and took a sip of the refreshment.

Entering the library she gave the man a respectful bow "Sir, the threat has been removed as far as we can tell. Two creatures died in the flames before they could hatch, the third was killed but not before it managed to bite Matt. If you could have his wound looked at, it would be highly appreciated. Other than that the lair of webs has burned away without a trace. I'd assume any residue would be found in the ether." the factotum reported stiffly.

"Indeed, it is over....we had the tools and the talent and now it is time for cider.   The keeper let us know it was done.  I did suggest that we set up a system for people to notice and report any strange occurences at any location so that we may be aware of threats immediately.  I can survey the pasture of my goats, and my brewery, but have not the time to range so far afield.  Birds might be able to assist....


Esmerelda sets a jug on the librarians desk.

"Special brew, this one.  It is mostly pear, but with boost of apple and some cinnamon.... I call it pear-jack."

Matt nods as the others explain.

I'm sure to be fine...but I do seem a little foggy. This is why I've always asked for a good divine insurance for the NSA.

The Librarian lists to the brief reports, then cocks his head slightly, almost as if he is listening.  ”I think there was only one death.” he says after a moment's thought.  "The first two were, most likely, souls that you had released from the creature’s clutches.  I believe that you found a soul Spider’s cocoon, and that it would, eventually, have used those souls to mature into a full-blown Corpse Spinner.  There are many of both on the astral plane.  And as you know, Netherworld ‘floats’ in the astral plane … “ he says, simplifying the explanation slightly.

After taking a sip of the Pear-Jack he nods absently, "Very nice …”  again, there is a faraway look, almost as if he is listening, before he speaks again.  "I am told that you have a small reward coming your way.  You each have 2000gp of credit at Nishka’s Emporium and, if you speak with her agent, you will be able to claim goods to that value.

Mattias, I also understand that you will be feeling as good as normal in the morning.  Are there any questions, or are you ready to go shopping?” he asks with a wan smile.

"A reward is very generous indeed for us to have even thought was coming, it is a blessing then.  I have much to ponder or perhaps just browsing on days when the brewery is slow would be a welcome distraction at times......"

Esmerelda is sipping hers from a small horn cup that was in her pouch....

I assume, then, that you are ready to go shopping.  DM Artifex will handle that in The Nishka's Emporium thread.

Matt, you will regain your level over night. All of you will be on full HP, and find that any one-shot items used, that were originally on your character sheet, have been replaced.

ooc: Sorry, I thought I had answered this thread already.

Jackie thanked the librarian for his generosity and left with the other two.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:00, Thu 23 June 2022.

In reply to Jaqueline (msg # 268):

No worries  :)  There actually wasn't much else that we could do in here.