Exploring the Shattered Matrix

Sep 24, 2023 9:08 pm

Spirit Weaver

Their dark arts leave markings on their spirits that we can easily discern but physically they appear much as we do. Though their eyes will turn white the more they use their necromantic powers.

You say you are explorers. Would you be willing to sell us a map of your journeys. I believe the guard may have told you that trade with the surface is currently quite hard to maintain. We are eager to explore alternate options.

Sep 25, 2023 12:07 am

Given that things seem to be going much better, Skeeve relaxes somewhat. He magically "whispers", So, can we come join the conversation yet?

Assuming we can hear the conversation well enough, Skeeve also asks Gardakhan, Did the spider you fought have white eyes?

Blornvid

ForeverDED

Sep 25, 2023 2:33 am

"I think so. Will you excuse me? My companions are better at explaining our map than I am. As there is only really room for one of us on your bridge—not a criticism, just an observation—I'd like to switch places with one of them if that's ok."

OOC:

I hope you guys are ok with them knowing about the tiles.

Sep 25, 2023 3:18 am

The ambassador had no problem with you trading out

Blornvid

ForeverDED

Sep 25, 2023 1:48 pm

He waves to the others, assuming that Skeeve will go, considering that Gardakhan is justifiably reluctant to have dealings with any spider.

"Thank you. For future reference, my name's Blornvid. And yours?"

After getting the ambassador's name, he will say some other pleasantries and then make his way back.

Sep 25, 2023 2:13 pm

OOC:

I assume they already know about the tile pad. It is the most likely way they were trading before. I will assume Blornvid quickly briefs Skeeve on anything he couldn't hear. I will also assume that the answer to the white eyes question to Gardakhan is, "Yes."

Skeeve swaps places with Blornvid. Of course, it is not done as elegantly as they did it because Skeeve waits for Blornvid to come back, then goes out to meet the ambassador. When he reaches the ambassador, he says, "I am very pleased to meet you. Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with us!

"As my compatriot said, we are explorers, not emissaries. However, we are exploring on behalf of others and I believe they will be very interested to meet you.

"We don't have any maps exactly. Instead, we are using a portal device for travel. Are you familiar with the one near here?"

OOC:

I am doing a slight hedge here by just referring to it generically. Assuming the ambassador already knows about it, I will talk more about what (little) we know. Assuming things continue to stay friendly, he will get around to asking for more useful patterns they may know about. He will freely share the two others they know (Pattern #1 and Gardakhan's), but hold the return pattern for a bit.

Spirit Weaver

Sep 25, 2023 4:22 pm

GeneralET Inactive for 3 months

Spirit Weaver

You may refer to me as Ambassador. My title is actually Speaks for the Mute, referring to my role in speaking with those who lack mental speech.

Gardakhan is unsure at it was a quick and aggressive encounter but the Dream Eater may have had white eyes.

are you referring to the Matrix Node nearby? If so that would be most convenient. Or ancestors had use of the node but it's secrets were mostly lost during the Shattering. Or records were insufficient to help us connect to any other sites so we accounted it years ago. If you use some other portal we can work out actual usage with an authorized representative after you return should your people be interested. But I must inform you, when you leave this place you will be followed by some of our rangers while in the caverns nearby our city. This is a security precaution. I hope you can understand the need for this.

Sep 25, 2023 4:25 pm

Gardakhan nods at the mention of the white eyes. He refrains from being hostile to the spiders but still he can't bring himself to fully trust them. As the discussions continues he stands at the back and look nervously for signs of a trap.

OOC:

Pretty busy week ahead of me.
I'll still try to post at least once every day but feel free to advance the plot if I'm lagging to much.

Sep 25, 2023 6:33 pm

Skeeve replies, "We don't know it by that name, but the Matrix Node is likely what I am referring to. We will take your message for desiring trade back to our leaders. Is there any kind of token or message you would like us to deliver? We didn't know what we would find, so we have no token of our own to provide, unfortunately.

"Also, assuming we are talking about the same thing, it operates by using patterns as keys. Do your old records show any patterns for the Matrix Node?

"And it is fully understood that we will be tracked upon leaving the bridge. We appreciate you openly telling us, Ambassador."

OOC:

Skeeve is not asking for anything of particular value (other than the patterns, of course). Just if the Ambassador has a message or some other kind of sigil he would like to send with us.

Spirit Weaver

Sep 25, 2023 7:17 pm

Spirit Weaver

You may take this. It is a spirit emblem. Any mage may channel energy into it too activate it. It will produce an image of me and speak a few words. It is a minor magic and easily produced so you may examine it and not return it if needed. and the spider takes a small crystal from a pouch at it's waist and roses it to you.

As for the records on the Matrix I will look through the records. This will likely take some time. It has not been used in many years. I am only aware of it from it being referenced in historical usage agreements.

Sep 25, 2023 7:34 pm

Skeeve graciously takes the offered crystal and says, "May it be activated any number of times? Is it OK if I try it first so I can tell our leaders what to expect?"

Once that is handled (I assume no roll is needed if it really is such a simple thing), he continues, "More information on the Matrix will be greatly desired. Quite frankly, that is likely a potential trade item."

After that, he will head back to the other guys and recommend that they get on back to the tile pad. They do appear to be genuine, but at the same time they were a bit stand-offish and didn't invite us into their territory. Probably best to call this one a success and move on. He lets the other two know that they will be followed.

Skeeve will recommend trying the last unused pattern before returning home. That way the spiders won't necessarily know where we are really going. We have two charges left, so we should be able to hit the last pattern, then go back to the Expedition. Skeeve will make notes on what they saw, where the main bridge is, where the dock is, and what the spiders look like. He'll also note the comment about the white eyes. He figures they can take a few minutes when they get back to the tile to do that, since we'll basically have a couple guards. :-) I figure Skeeve can write while Gardakhan moves the tiles, if he's OK with that.

Blornvid

ForeverDED

Sep 25, 2023 8:53 pm

daryen says:

Skeeve will recommend trying the last unused pattern before returning home. That way the spiders won't necessarily know where we are really going.

"Aye. Better safe than sorry." Continuing, he adds, "If these spider-folk are as genuine as they come across, color me surprised. Either they're playing the long game, hoping to lure the lot of us into becoming their food supply, or they've found a way to go from 'everything is food' to 'we can trade with the ones that make things.' This batch of 'em anyway."

Sep 25, 2023 9:29 pm

Skeeve says, "Yeah, I don't know how to really read them, either. But I'm not gonna worry about it until Fiznik or Valpip are interested in sending us back. Even then they would have to send someone with actual authority to negotiate anything, and that's above our pay grade."

Sep 27, 2023 2:47 am

You make your way back to the tiles and Skeeve and Gardakhan spend a few moments arranging them into the proper pattern. You then step onto the tiles, take out the gem and it activates the tiles. The glow pulses up from the tiles and border washing over you only to fade again revealing another new chamber.

Upon arriving in the cavern, the world transforms. The damp coolness of the underdark is replaced by a dry and bitter cold. The air is cool and crisp but lacks the frigid bite of the wind you hear not to far off outside the cavern. A thin cleft in one wall of the cavern lets the wind and a trickle of water into the cave. The cavern's ceiling is adorned with massive, glittering stalactites that hang like ancient chandeliers, their pointed tips glistening with moisture. Beneath them, stalagmites rise from the rocky floor, their smooth surfaces polished by centuries of water droplets slowly dripping and depositing minerals.

The small crystal-clear underground stream meanders through the cavern, its waters reflecting the low light from glow of the moss. The sound of trickling water reverberates, filling the space with a soothing, melodic rhythm. The stream disappears into the cavern's depths.

Sep 27, 2023 2:52 am

Moving around you find the cleft leads up and you can see a patch of bright sky. Getting up there will be a bit of a climb. The stream winds through the cavern and and enters a steeply sloped passage heading down into the depths of the earth. Faint echoes of the wind from above are carried back from the dark passage down. The cave shows faint signs of small animal life but other than the tiles there are no signs of civilization or any people in the cave.

Sep 27, 2023 3:19 am

OOC:

Skeeve is absolutely ready for climbs these days!

So, a couple things:
1) There's the ole rope crossbow. If there are stalactites near to where we want to be, can he shoot it and use the rope to help us climb up?
2) Are there any platforms or ledges up there? If so, he can just magically lift either Blornvid or Gardakhan up to the platform. They can then either look out for us, or anchor a rope for Skeeve. (Or, worst case, Skeeve lifts them up one at a time, and they both serve as the anchor for Skeeve.)

Will either of these approaches work?

Sep 27, 2023 11:47 am

OOC:

The stelatites are only in the cave. the cleft is a large crack in the stone that ca be climbed up. The crossbow will definitely help as long as the target has something to tie around, unlike most of the lage flat but rough surface of the cleft.
As for mooving others withh your magic, well technically the is possible. However as it is a new ability I might require some tests for delicate work, like getting someone to the rock ledge without bashing them and making sure they have a grip before letting go. But not worries I am sure it will all work out :) (texting voice inflection is nigh imposible, even with emoji, so please not that this is me joking around)

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWX99TcAkOSo038aw3zeDgl09pTyjQeu2Ywg&usqp=CAU

The cleft witht the stream running down it can easily be reached and clambered into by the group The crack varies from 2 to 6 feet wide and is from 6 to 30 feet tall as it winds up and around. The biggest problem climbing up it seems to be the stream itself as it makes the rocks and boots that get wet very slipery.

Sep 27, 2023 2:13 pm

OOC:

Then I guess we do it the old-fashioned way! Skeeve will be alert to make sure he can catch someone if they slip. If he slips, I guess he's screwed. :-)

Skeeve is not interested in delving deeper into the cavern system. He is very interested in seeing what can be found outside.

"Well, I guess we get to climb now. Do we want to tie ourselves together to hopefully make things safer?"

Once we all get ready, I guess we start climbing up the cleft to see what is outside.

OOC:

Edit: BTW, how long of a climb up will it be to get outside?

Last edited September 27, 2023 2:16 pm

Sep 27, 2023 2:40 pm

[ +- ] climbing difficulty

OOC:

The cleft varies from a 3 to a 4 on the difficulty scale. See the top half of the illustration, image 1,2,3, for examples.
But don't worry. You will get to employee all your ideas soon 😜 😈 😜

Sep 27, 2023 6:01 pm