Chapter 2: Birdsong in Hollow Valley

Seeing the ghost, he whispers calmly, "Everyone stay behind me." as he nudges his way to the front on the stairway.
Bowing low, he addresses the ghost in his clear, monotonous voice. "Forgive us for interrupting your rest, honored friend. It was not our intention to disturb you." He remains bowed, until he hears a response from the ghost.

OOC:

Spout Lore, to see if Iko can determine the identity of the ghost.

Rolls

Spout Lore - (2d6+1)

(62) + 1 = 9

Nov 22, 2019 11:33 pm

somebox Inactive forever!

Wu Meng thought back to the unopened crypt in the first chamber, and wondered if the ghost's body was interred there. As Iko spoke with the ghost, Meng studied this flooded chamber as he did the previous two. He had to try to understand all of it.

OOC:

Edit: I'll ask
What happened here recently?
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is useful or valuable to me?

Last edited November 23, 2019 8:09 am

Rolls

Discern Realities - (2d6+2)

(46) + 2 = 12

Xian Feng

Nov 23, 2019 6:33 am

RoAries Inactive for 8 months

Feng remains perfectly still, carefully watching this apparition for anything she would consider sinister. She does this from behind Wu Meng.

Kuroi Mimi

Nov 23, 2019 9:04 am

Mimi is still slowly making her way down. "Hey, is anything there? Why are we stopping?" She asks, her attention to the stairs.

Nov 24, 2019 9:16 am

Iko, from his bone structure, you can tell that the ghost was of the Daguur people, an ethnic group that inhabits the steppes to the southeast, bordering the Haunted Desert.

Meng, based on the ghost's style of clothing, you know with absolute certainty that he was a disciple or master of Wind -- or rather, his era's version of it.

Iko doesn't hear a response, but he can see the softly glowing ghost reflected on the water's surface. It gestures for you to follow it. Then, it slowly slips into the murky water and moves off to your right.

What do you do?

Nov 24, 2019 11:13 pm

somebox Inactive forever!

"It doesn't seem to bear any ill intent. And I recognise its attire, as would Kalam. It was a disciple of the Eightfold Way. I don't see an exit, I intend to follow it as our next best option."

Xian Feng

Nov 25, 2019 6:46 pm

DarkReaver1998 Inactive forever!

"So be it. Kuroi stay behind me, don't piss of the ghost." Feng trusts Wu Meng, but she isn't confident this tomb is free of other dangers, and Kuroi is looking rather vulnerable to her at the moment.

Iko, Human Cleric

Nov 25, 2019 6:50 pm

evecar_solaris Inactive forever!

Iko follows, stating "I think you are right, Meng. Though I don't recognize the clothing, the ghost is of the Daguur people. Let us be careful, however. Those that have passed on often forget about simple things like breathing."

Kalam Makhir

Nov 26, 2019 5:12 am

I agree with you all equally. Though I myself am a student of the sky. It seems our venerable ancestor has something to show us. Sine the faux treasure vault was looted above. I can only assume that it is something of greater importance. Kalam follows along for many reasons. It is suffice to say that his curiosity is peaked and must be sated.

Nov 26, 2019 5:29 am

While Wei watches over Mimi and Orengi huddled on the stairs, the rest of you take deep breaths and follow the ghost underwater. The apparition sheds a spectral light, revealing the features of this chamber hidden underneath the murky water. In the center of the room lies a plain but large stone tomb. Four submerged passages lead out of the chamber. The ghost glides towards one of these and gestures for you to follow it without delay.

What do you do?

Nov 26, 2019 8:46 am

evecar_solaris Inactive forever!

Meng continued to swim towards the passage the ghost indicated. They had followed it so far now, it was best to continue rather than pause to investigate the tomb.

Kalam Makhir

Nov 27, 2019 12:43 am

RoAries Inactive for 8 months

Kalam does a quick breathing exercise to expand his air capacity for the swim. Then plunges in after. When the spirit stops and shows the indicated tunnel, Kalam also follows along.

Kuroi Mimi

Nov 27, 2019 2:04 am

somebox Inactive forever!

Mimi will simply remain resting on the stairs. She believes it's safer that way after suffering an injury. She is also probably explained by Wei that they had seen a ghost that some of them recognise as an ancient follower of the monk tradition, and so they try to follow it.

Xian Feng

Nov 28, 2019 6:29 pm

With nowhere to go but forward Feng follows after her companions, a tinge of curiosity in the back of her mind at what exactly they're being led into.

Dec 1, 2019 4:42 pm

evecar_solaris Inactive forever!

Feng, Kalam, Meng, Iko

Music

The specter leads you down the submerged, featureless hallway. Here and there, earth shows gaps in the crumbling stonework where twisted roots have broken through. You pass several chambers to the left and right, but the ghost leads onward, leaving you to wonder what ancient secrets might be found within. Then again, given the deteriorated state of the upper chambers, it's unlikely these fully-submerged halls have fared any better.

At length, just when you begin to fear you might run out of breath, you emerge into a sinkhole in the woods. The water's surface is all but hidden underneath a layer of scum carpeted with dead leaves, and the limestone walls are covered in muck, but at least you can see the moons and the stars above.

The ghost nods, farewell, and makes as if to leave. What do you do?

Kalam Makhir

Dec 1, 2019 5:59 pm

"Why have you brought us to this place?" Kalam asks, but as the spirit turns to leave, " Please, we wish not to leave our companions in your resting place. Could you point us in the direction back to help them leave?" Kalam bows low, almost prostrated before the spirit.

Dec 2, 2019 3:28 pm

[ +- ] Feng, Kalam, Meng, Iko

[ +- ] Wei, Mimi, and Orengi

Dec 3, 2019 12:24 am

They had held their breath for a while, answers or no, Meng needed to surface to catch some air. He swam upwards, and poked his head out of the water to see what the situation was with the sinkhole, how high it was to the top, and whether the sides could be climbed.

Dec 3, 2019 1:30 am

OOC:

It's a roughly 45-foot climb. There are handholds, but covered in muck. It won't be easy, but definitely doable. No roll necessary, just RP a tough climb if that's what you decide to do.

Dec 3, 2019 1:41 am