After gaining the gold, Onyxclaw hoes to the tiefling woman and smiles. “Pretty tee-fee-ling lady….gold as promised.” The kobold hands over the sack with the agreed amount of gold for the maps.

Andromeda watched Onyxclaw collecting the last of the coinage from the new party, and so she said to Travic, “Splendid!  A celestial jewel doesn’t have nasty side effects as such, but we may not always appreciate its portents.”  She drew upon a thin silver chain necklace and reeled up a dark azure jewel that had been hidden under the high neckline of her dress.  Andromeda dangled the jewel up with one hand, then with the touch of a finger made the jewel glow brightly from within.  The inner light revealed glittering fields of tiny stars and colorful nebulae suspended within, like a clear night sky encapsulated in the gemstone.  She held the gleaming jewel up to her smiling face, allowing the stars to project faintly across her pale cheek.  “The projection of the cosmic tapestry is difficult to read unless it’s quite dark, unfortunately.  Just like the real stars in the sky, you see?”  She let Travic handle the celestial jewel if he wished to, though she kept it on its necklace.

Once Onyxclaw had returned with the maps Andromeda put out the mystical glow and dropped the celestial jewel back down into her neckline.  She then flagged down the proprietor of the Yawning Portal, Durnan, and announced brightly, “Good evening, proprietor!  My companions and I are ready to make our very first descent into the well!  We have the gold pieces to pay for your services, if you would be so kind?”

Onyxclaw smiled as Andromeda spoke to Durnan and nodded. “Yes. Down hole….you take shiny coin “ He said, holding out a gold piece

Devan adjust his hat as they were about to head out,"Ah, so this is it, the first venture to danger. Truly, we have to be cautious about going in. We're facing powerful foes like liches and maybe more powerful foes, but it sounds like an unforgettable trip that has a need to be written down in the history books... Ah, but of course Miss Andromeda's the one who has the honor of writing it down, I'm just taking doown notes just for no reason." he says, whistling to himself with suspicious intent.

Song pats Onyxclaw on the shoulder, “thank you sir! here you are! these came at great cost! i hope they bring you great fortune! My adventuring days are over but im glad there are new heroes like you taking up the challenge.” She twitches. PTSD.

Durnan takes the gold and looks Andromeda over with discernment, “Hmmm. Celestial Druid???? But you dont seem to have much experience by the looks of you and your accompanied. I warn ya lady, if you just wanna go down and back up that’s no problem at all, but dont go down any tunnels. Come right back up.” Sounds like he’s given tourists the rope ride plenty of times.

He leads you all over to the big iron basket chained to the winch. “Listen up every body!!!! New daring dungeon delvers!!!! Place your bets!!!!” He leans over to you, “if you guys wanna introduce yourselves now is the time!” He grins.

Jhank snarled and rolled her eyes, making a point not to meet any possible stares. Instead took to checking the sharpness of the four blades she carried, her left hand absentmindedly crawling up to the choker she wore.

Devan shifts his hat downward to cover his face when the proprietor ask to introduce themselves,"Well, I'm no one special, but my name's Devan Crier, just the average joe." he says, making glances around the crowd,"But, ugh, I'm sure you've heard of this new thing called the printing press. In fact, I've heard Mr. Durnan here made a deal with a company called Crier Press, which I have no relations by the way, who specializes with this new crazed. In fact, word on the ale says they'll release a thing called a newspaper to all you tavern patrons, and they'll be featuring, well us upstart adventuring crew." he says then raises both his hands up,"Now I'm not one to boast of our skills, were nothing special but keep a lookout cause they're might be a tale that might pique your interest. Not that I know or anything, not like I write this thing or anything to give you guys a scandal or two." he says, making shifty glances to random patrons then starts backing away very shady-like,"Anyways, I think I said my peace, anybody else got something to say."

murmuring. people are interested, but so far you notice most of the bets are that you die.

Andromeda smiled and nodded, "Very discerning of you, good barkeep.  I may lack adventuring experience, BUT I am well-learned in adventuring theory and philosophy!  Besides, one must start somewhere, yes?"


Andromeda hadn't expected such fanfare to come along with their descent, and so was left gaping in embarrassed astonishment when Durnan opened the floor for self-promotion.  She felt the eyes of the ambivalent crowd upon her, and that made her cheeks color.  Have to say something!  With a nervous smile Andromeda announced, "I am called Andromeda, of the Circle of Stars!"  With a wave of the hand she conjured a cloud of twinkling stars over her head, for a bit of improvised showmanship before going on, "The heavens portend triumph and great deeds from this merry band, be assured.  I, um... intend to do my very best, as do we all!  ...Thank you?"  Looking aghast and embarrassed, Andromeda tugged on Durnan's sleeve and whispered urgently, "May we descend now, please?"

---

This Performance check was rolled after writing the post, but the result checks out ;P

• 10:55, Today: Andromeda rolled 1 using 1d20.  Performance.

Onyxclaw, like the Dragonborn, said nothing. But instead of a snarl, he seemed to draw his cloak and hood tighter to hide himself, only his draconic-like hand showing holding the staff. When the others looked at him, the hood of his cloak shook….clearly saying no.

…he didn’t like crowds of big people.

You all climb into the big basket and the winch begins to lower you down, safely, yet you know danger awaits below.

140 feet and you light torches or cast magic light, above the lights from the tavern are just a small yellow circle.

Here are your 5 tunnel and their markings:

1. A horrified demon with his mouth open

2. An eagle

3. The familiar symbol of a displacer beast and tree

4. A scorpion and crown

5. A money bag and goblin

''Z mentioned the tree 'n' Displacer. Wanna try here?'' Jhank gruffed, pointing at the symbol with her torch and barely missing Andromeda's head with it.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:55, Sat 06 Nov 2021.

Andromeda clambered carefully into the basket with the others, clinging to one of the support cables for dear life.  She put on a nervous smile as they began their clanking descent, but it was clear she was quite nervous.  She laughed anxiously, “This is going to be… lovely!  Yes, most thrilling.”

The inn’s warm light slowly receded and gave way to the deep darkness below, at which point Andromeda lifted her celestial jewel necklace over her head, wrapping the silver chain around a shaking hand.  She touched it with an index finger, causing the stone to flare up with a bright, glittering light that projected detailed patterns of stars and nebulae out in all directions.  Andromeda smiled and took a deep breath as she looked into the glimmering jewel, seeming to take comfort in its cool illumination.

The platform finally arrived with a clunk at the well’s bottom, and Andromeda stepped off with gratitude for having solid ground beneath her feet.  She raised up the glowing jewel to illuminate their surroundings, revealing the intersection of five tunnels.  Each had its own engraved symbol, although only one of them was familiar.  She remarked curiously, “These are not the same symbols described to us… except this one.  Perhaps the magic of this place offers new paths to each party?  How curious!”  She shone the celestial glow upon the image of the tree and the displaced beast and said, “It seems this will be the only path for which we have a map.  The others are entirely unknown!  I will second madame Jhank for this path.”

---

Cast Light for 20 feet of bright light + 20 feet of dim light

"A third from me." Travic said, slightly confused by the strange symbols. "As long as we stick together in this very confusing mess." He looked nervously down the pit, and then in the tunnels beyond. His elven darkvision should help him see what dangers lay ahead.

"You've got my vote." Devan says to the others as he stares at the five signs,"Alrighty, then by majority we head toward that direction. Either way, I'll show what creatures on the other side what for with my one-time boxing lessons." he stated it like it was some kind of proud achievement, when in reality it was like buying a black belt for 5 gold and saying your a master of martial arts with no skills.

While waiting for their descent Jhank grew bored of seeing how capable her weapons were of killing and listened to the bets being placed. ''You know,'' she began, ''we could make ourselves some good money if we bet for ourselves. These bastards,'' she jerked her head towards the general direction of the crowd, ''don't know about the gunk in the bottle that old guy gave us. And if we die,'' she shrugged, ''feh! Not like we'll be paying.''
This message was last edited by the player at 01:41, Sun 07 Nov 2021.

The basket hasn't even been raised yet. You might get away with ringing the bell and coming back up for free.

This message was deleted by the player at 01:36, Sun 07 Nov 2021.

A voice yells down. It's not Durnan's voice, "Say! You all forgot to bet on yourselves. What do you think??? 10 to 1 odds you come back out! Pretty good! Just toss your coins in the bucket."

''I'm in,'' Jhank says more perkily than she's been since getting information, chucking five gold coins in the bucket.

Onyxclaw is the last oiut of the bucket, and when he see's the doors, runmages in his sachel, producing the map with the tree and dispklacer beast on it. "Have map....have map"


When the voice calls down, Onyxclaw jumps a little, but looks confused. "Bet? Who is odd? Yoiu are in what?" The kobold shrugs, confused at the concept of betting, and walks up to the door with the tree and displacer beast. "We go in?"

Andromeda glowered up at the voice echoing down the well, hands on hips.  She answered Onyxclaw’s question, “It means that some ghoulish folks up above are so certain we’ll die on our adventures that they reckon they’ll make money on the prospect!”  The pale druidess fished in her purse and threw a handful of gold coins into the bucket.  She said to the others, “I’ll take that bet, because I know they’re wrong.  That’s because I forbid any of you to die, and will ensure you don’t.  Simple as that!”

With that matter settled, Andromeda turned toward the passage bearing the symbol of the tree and the displacer beast and declared, “Our path is chosen, now all that remains is to walk it.”  With the celestial jewel aglow upon one hand and the mysterious potion ready in the other, the druidess strode into the passage and toward adventure.

---

Subtracted 5gp for the wager :)

In reply to DM (msg # 48):

"All in." Travic said, throwing ten gold coins into the pot.

The kobold didn't understand fully, but fished two gold from a pouch and put it in. He shrugged, following suit....everyone else was doing it - maybe it was a big person luck thing.

The kobold turned and looked at the door, holding the potion. He sighed and followed the druid

---

<OOC - Onyxclaw will wager 2 gold (though he still doesn't understand the concept he will follow suit)>

Devan says as he watches everyone betting on their survival,"I'm no betting man myself, just the punching guy. And sides, I think it's just about time for us to head to our destination, don't you think. Getting extra money is great and all but having the adventures is the best experience or so I've been told." he explains and follows suit with the others.