Azad peers at the dark colored glass, the illuminated characters bright in the gloom of the chamber.


OOC: I would say that Azad is nearing the end of the levitation spell’s duration, but that it is active at this time.

“Should we join the others?” Wandreck asks Ella.

Ella nods in agreement with Wandreck's suggestion and moves a bit further inside the tunnel while still keeping a watch on the party's rear. She is still war of patrols coming out to investigate the fire and, more to the point, coming up behind the party.

Ella will maintain rear guard for the moment.

"This levitation device must be the lift...although it is a poor name as it moves things up and down.

Step back for a moment, this sign here says that the lift is in working order, it just needs to be started."

Once the lift is clear, Azad will press the glass sign.

After taking in the features of the room, and epecially upon seeing the levitating column apparently not functioning, Trisvyre moved to the top of the stairs covered in the rotting vegetation.  While Azad worked on the elevated platform and its accompanying glass stand, she tried to find any traces of her fellow scouts having tried the stairs downward.

Ella and Wandreck are joined on their watch by Harkmur and Sir Cal. Inexplicably, despite being indoors, within a few moments of the party reaching the vine covered doorway it begins to rain; a gentle, steady downfall that causes the oil fire to hiss and smoke, but does not completely snuff out the flames.

Shortly after the rain begins, a steel golem comes lumbering out of the thick foliage to the east.



The construct approaches the smoldering section of grass. If it is mindful of the adventurers’ presence, it gives no sign. Standing close to the rapidly weakening flames, it sprays a fine white foam onto the fire from a tube in its chest. The foam blankets the burning field, smothering the remnants of the blaze within moments. The construct surveys the scene then, seemingly satisfied with its work, it proceeds to venture back toward the line of trees at an unhurried pace.

Azad touches the glass, an action that causes the characters on the dark surface to vanish. From above, disembodied female voice speaks a few words.


The section of steel floor bordered by the visible seam suddenly lowers, traveling downward into a wide pit that it apparently covered, the slow movement accompanied by a low, steady hum. Watching, the wizard sees that the metal platform travels down for almost fifty feet before coming to a halt with a metallic clunk. Examining the newly revealed recess, Azad sees a pair of steel doors on the eastern wall at the bottom of the steel cavity, which slide open after a pause, blue tinged light washing through the portal.

Trisvyre approaches the stairwell. Peering at the steps themselves and the walls, she can perceive no sign of her fellow scouts having utilized the stairs. However, as she looks closely, she notices a handful of bones, likely those of a medium sized animal, scattered amongst the rotting vegetable matter.

Then, the decaying vegetation moves. In a matter of seconds it rises, forming a tall, humanoid shape, a dark hollow present where the creature’s face should be. It starts forward, extending its arms toward Trisvyre.

11:35, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 6 using 1d6.  Surprise.

Trisvyre is not surprised.

11:29, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

11:30, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Shambling Mound.

The party wins initiative and may act first.

"It's very possible that the vines have had enough time to grow again. That is, it might be that these vines grow very fast. It seems more likely than murderous grass", she says, baffled at what she has just witnessed. "I'd rather face a band of orcs by myself than half the things we've seen dow-"

She's cut short by the steel golem's appearance. She readies herself for combat and is about to charge when the construct leaves. "Well, that's curious." The priestess allows herself a half-smile and relaxes. "What about this lift, Azad? Is it safe to jump in now?"

But then the monster makes a grab for Trisvyre. Stifling a curse, she runs into the fray.

19:00, Today: Salenth Ravanys rolled 17,3 using 1d20+1,1d6+2.  Attack THAC0 16.
That should hit AC-1
This message was last edited by the player at 18:01, Tue 20 Apr 2021.

OOC: My apologies. I should have included this information in my prior post. The shambling mound has an armor class of 0.

Lumwik strides forth, his axe rocking gently until he gets close enough, then it erupts in violent swings.

ooc:19:24, Today: Lumwik rolled 28,14,15,15 using 1d20+9,1d8+12,1d20+9,1d8+12.

Hits AC -3 for 14
Hits AC -13 for 15

Assuming Ella is aware of the shambling mound and able to cover the distance this round, she joins Lumwik and moves forward to strike it with her flametongue. She brings her sword across in an overhand sweeping motion, flames bursting forth just as the blade strikes into the mound.

OOC: Hit AC 0 for 15 points of damage!

19:31, Today: Ella rolled 13,15 using d20+4,d12+4 with rolls of 9,11.

Wandreck hurries to catch up with the party.

"Well, I..." the wizard's response is cut short by the sudden attack by the rotting vegetation.

"Is every damned plant in this place alive?"

Azad holds his staff out and utters, "Horreat".

---

Cast Reduce (reverse of Enlarge) on the creature from  staff; no charges.

Range: 40 ft  Duration: 8 turns  Area of Effect: One creature or object  Saving Throw: Negates

Reduces a creature’s size and weight by 160%. Can affect up to 80 cubic ft of living matter, or 40 cubic ft of non-living matter.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 04:41, Wed 21 Apr 2021.

Trisvyre jumped back a little as the vegetation on the stairs began to coalesce into a vaguely humanoid form.  She cried out a warning to everyone when it became clear this was a threat, and she drew the flashing elven blade she'd taken from her fallen comrade in the underwater room.

When the creature extended its arms toward her she slashed at it, crying out, "Get back you putrid thing!"


OOC:

19:52, Today: Trisvyre rolled 20,21 using 1d20+4,1d20+4.  Attack Shambling Mound.
19:54, Today: Trisvyre rolled 15,12 using 1d12+5,1d12+5.  Damage to Shambling Mound.  Assumed large creature.

Before the mass of vegetation can lay a hand on the elven scout, it finds itself under assault, as Salenth, Lumwik, and Ella all rush the beast, landing heavy blows on its rotting form.

12:42, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 7 using 1d20.  Shambling Mound - Saving Throw.

Trisvyre herself slashes a deep gash into the monster’s chest. As she draws back for a second strike, the plant creature abruptly shrinks to the size of a gnome. The scout follows through with her attack, bringing her blade down on top of the monster’s head, splitting it cleanly in two, the twin halves collapsing into small piles of harmless vegetation.

OOC Combat over.

"Hmm. I will have to remember to try that more often."

The wizard turns back to the pedestal. "Let's see if this so-called lift will come back to us" he pushes the glass again.

If it returns to its previous spot:

A broad smile crosses Azad's face, as he is quite happy with solving one minor mystery in the cave of wonders.

"If everyone will get on the lift I think we can get down to where the Cargo Hold 5 is, Level 4 it was called."

Following the surprise encounter with the shambling mound, Ella returns her sword to its scabbard and approaches Trivyre and lightly places her hand on the elf's shoulder.

"Close call. You alright?" she asks.

“Too late,” Wandreck huffs as he catches up to the party.

Panting, Salenth hooks her weapon to her belt and leans forward, hands resting on knees. "This is getting a bit... tiresome." After a moment, she stands back up again. She checks to see if Tris is injured. "Let's not get eaten by plants any more."

"Or blasted by golems," Ella adds with something approaching a grin. Looking around she continues, "never in my life have I seen such a realm filled with things equal parts beautiful and terrible."

Trisvyre thanked everyone for their rather speedy and effective help.  “I’m fine, I’m fine,” she assured them.  “It startled me I’ll admit, but with everyone’s help it went down rather quickly.  Thank you.”

Once Ella and Salenth were satisfied, Trisvyre moved toward Azad and the floating platform.  “I never would have said this a few days ago, but I think this device might be safer than the stairs.  I’m ready, let’s go down.”

Though skeptical of magic, the magic here seemed very powerful and Lumwik got on the lift, with only a slight hesitation.

After seeing to Trisvyre, Ella joins her companions and prepares to descend into what Azad was calling the "lift", but what she thought of as a magical portal.

Ranzarth peered into the darkness where the mass of plants had risen up. "Does it" pointing to the screen that Azad seems to be working on, "state where this path leads?" He gently nudges the plants with his blade to ensure they don't come to life again.

"No, unfortunately. And this mirror does not appear to be the speaking sort.

I tell you, one could spend a lifetime...a human lifetime anyway...in this place trying to learn all of its secrets. Of course, trying to avoid being eaten by the plant-life would grow tiresome!"

Once all his companions are on the lift, Azad presses the glass square any quickly joins them. He watches the walls for any signs that indicate they are at Level 4.

Ranzarth’s cautious prodding of the plants produces no response, reassuring the elf that the strange creature from the stairwell is truly dead.

The company joins Azad on the steel platform and when the wizard presses his hand to the panel of dark glass, the disembodied female voice speaks again, and the section of floor begins to descend. It moves at a slow pace, requiring a few moments to reach the bottom of the pit that it travels through.

On the eastern wall of the cavity are a pair of steel doors. Just left of them, etched carefully into the wall, are a series of small, dark colored characters that are indecipherable to most of the adventurers.


Without any action on the part of the members of the company, the twin doors slide open, revealing a large room with steel walls, brightly lit with blue tinged illumination.