2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

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Oct 6, 2024 9:33 am

Oct 6, 2024 9:33 am

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

With the additional support and security of the rope, Vasco is able to shimmy up the obelisk and get a good view of the surroundings. Searching for signs of the reputed inn, he does spot a column of smoke emerging from the chimney of an intact building away to the north.

https://i.imgur.com/qqSXniA.png

From his vantage point, Vasco will also be able to observe most of the landmarks indicated on the map. If you’d like further details on any specific ones, just let me know.

---
6:20 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Oct 6, 2024 9:45 am

Oct 6, 2024 9:45 am

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Vasco felt like he was up in the sky or on a ship mast platform. He shaded his eyes and looked around, "Wow, I can see a lot of things from here. I see smoke way in the distance...probably chimney smoke. That can be our rumoured inn. I also see waterbodies and streams on the west side. Looks like a large one with some scattered structures." He squinted his eyes to focus.

OOC:

What are the two stars on the northwest side. One is closer to that bridge like structure. Also, is that a building on the extreme west bank of the lake? Is it swamp land on the western side of the lake? What is that structure on the island between the two streams at 11 o'clock position. A castle or something?

Last edited October 6, 2024 9:45 am

Oct 6, 2024 10:04 am

Oct 6, 2024 10:04 am

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

OOC:

Going by 1 square = 50 ft and with a pace of 50 ft/rd, we could reach the inn in ~30 minutes/rounds.

Oct 6, 2024 1:44 pm

Oct 6, 2024 1:44 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

testlum says:

OOC:

Going by 1 square = 50 ft and with a pace of 50 ft/rd, we could reach the inn in ~30 minutes/rounds.

The "per round" movement rate is generally used for melee. It assumes movement without any degree of caution.

Cautious exploration movement rates are "per turn" ... in your case, 60' per turn if mapping, or five times that rate if not mapping. So, unless you want to move incautiously and run a much higher risk of running into unnoticed trouble, you're most likely moving at 300' (six square on the city map) every ten minutes.

Oct 6, 2024 1:47 pm

Oct 6, 2024 1:47 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

OOC:

I counted again and the distance is closer to 35 squares, so it'd be roughly an hour then!

Oct 6, 2024 2:03 pm

Oct 6, 2024 2:03 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Stalker05 says:

OOC:

What are the two stars on the northwest side. One is closer to that bridge like structure.

These are the remains of two colossal statues. All that is left of the one on the eastern side of the river is the pediment and two enormous marble feet and ankles. The one on the western side is of a seated and robed figure - it is missing its head but is otherwise complete.

Stalker05 says:

Also, is that a building on the extreme west bank of the lake?[/ooc]

It is the partly intact remains of a building.

Stalker05 says:

OOC:

Is it swamp land on the western side of the lake?

Yes.

Stalker05 says:

OOC:

What is that structure on the island between the two streams at 11 o'clock position. A castle or something?

Yes, it looks like a walled citadel - a keep or donjon surrounded by a curtain wall with towers. It is mostly complete but in a poor state of repair.

Ellagel Noreddottir

Oct 6, 2024 9:09 pm

Oct 6, 2024 9:09 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Ella admired the obelisk in silence, trying to commit as much as she could about its features to memory. There was an obvious historical sense to the scenes depicted on the monument, and a perspective from which the story was told. If she had more time, and enough parchment, she might — at a later time — attempt to copy the reliefs on each face of the obelisk. For now she mostly attempted to discern patterns in the telling depicted in stone, and determine if each face of the obelisk corresponded to a specific time, dynasty or some other abstract temporal divider.

OOC:

Not attempting anything specific. I'd suppose Ella knows some basic history of the human lands, but she's trying to figure out what this monument is generally attempting to portray. In doing so, she is also walking around the monument, observing it closely for any specific concealed or defaced elements, any hidden compartments or mechanisms that might be hidden under the stonework (not taking a turn for each face, but trying — at a cursory glance — discern if there is anything odd, or interesting, at her level of the obelisk.

Regarding languages: Ellagel's 14 intellignece would entitle her to four languages. But being an elf, I understabnd that she has learned all the racial tongues of the enemies of elvenkind, but cannot learn any other languages, such as other human languages, living or dead. Is that reading correct?

Last edited October 6, 2024 9:12 pm

Thrudmarr Halvorsson

Oct 7, 2024 12:11 am

Oct 7, 2024 12:11 am

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Thrudmarr watches the others examine the obelisk for a few moments, his eyes glazing over as they start speaking words he doesn't understand. "My-thick? Arch-on-tean? Big words make Thrudmarr head hurt." He shifts from foot to foot restlessly.

"Big stone boring. No moving parts. Can't eat it."

He starts to wander a few steps away, kicking at loose pebbles on the ground. "We go soon? Thrudmarr say go to inn smoke, find food. Sun will sleep soon."

Zacharias Polipulis

Oct 7, 2024 4:05 pm

Oct 7, 2024 4:05 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

OOC:

Assuming Jacky spends some time pointing out the letters in Mithric. Given that learning a dead language takes a while, I'll leave it up to you, @Burbage, to inform me of Zach's progress.

I see, Joseph, that begins to make sense. Zach slowly sounds out some Mithric consonants as the rest of the group decides where to go next.

Grimidek Granite

Oct 7, 2024 5:04 pm

Oct 7, 2024 5:04 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Grim takes a moment to observe the obelisk, and silently offers dour dwarven prayer to fallen heroes long past. Monuments like dis oft serve to honor fallen friends. We’re on hallowed ground, especially in light of…well, all de destruction.
Grim waddles around the obelisk. Assisting Ella in investigating the stonework and any hidden passages.

Last edited October 7, 2024 5:16 pm

Oct 7, 2024 5:05 pm

Oct 7, 2024 5:05 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Avraham says:

OOC:

Assuming Jacky spends some time pointing out the letters in Mithric. Given that learning a dead language takes a while, I'll leave it up to you, @Burbage, to inform me of Zach's progress.

That's fine. If Zach is going to make a conscious effort to learn Mithric, then we'll say that he has a certain chance to be able to understand any Mithric that he comes across. That chance will improve over time provided he keeps up his studies.

Oct 7, 2024 5:10 pm

Oct 7, 2024 5:10 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

matmaisan says:

Regarding languages: Ellagel's 14 intellignece would entitle her to four languages. But being an elf, I understabnd that she has learned all the racial tongues of the enemies of elvenkind, but cannot learn any other languages, such as other human languages, living or dead. Is that reading correct?[/ooc]

Correct ... for elves, learning additional languages over and above the ones that all elves know requires an intelligence of 16 or higher (OSRIC page 4).

Oct 7, 2024 5:28 pm

Oct 7, 2024 5:28 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Scouting the obelisk at ground level, neither Ella nor Grim find any concealed elements or suspicious anomalies apart from the ankh-shaped recess.

In terms of the symbolism of the obelisk, Ella knows from the rumours gathered before the expedition that there is a strong affiliation between the ancient Archontean god Thoth and light, so maybe there is a connection there to the sun imagery?

Might the lizard imagery be a reference to the "hoppers" you’ve heard mentioned?

There’s a slight chance of the list of names meaning something to Ella and Grim. See if you can roll under your intelligence on 4d6 for Ella, 5d6 for Grim.

---
6:20 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Grimidek Granite

Oct 7, 2024 5:48 pm

Oct 7, 2024 5:48 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

OOC:

Rolling

Rolls

Int 13 - (5d6)

(35552) = 20

Ellagel Noreddottir

Oct 7, 2024 6:50 pm

Oct 7, 2024 6:50 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Ella considered the names.

OOC:

Success? Her INT is 14.

Last edited October 7, 2024 6:52 pm

Rolls

Do they mean anything? - (4d6)

(4114) = 10

Oct 8, 2024 9:26 am

Oct 8, 2024 9:26 am

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Having mentally noted all the landmarks and interesting places he had seen from this position, he started to climb down. Upon returning to ground and untying the rope, he conveyed all the findings to others. "Looks like we need to move up a few distance to reach the inn, I spotted a keep ahead also. Maybe we can comeback later and check that pyramid ahead?"

Zacharias Polipulis

Oct 8, 2024 3:09 pm

Oct 8, 2024 3:09 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Makes sense, Vixen. Anyway, I'm getting thirsty.

Oct 8, 2024 3:36 pm

Oct 8, 2024 3:36 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

Ella recognises a few of the names inscribed on the obelisk. They are all previous emperors of the Archontean Empire.

---
6:20 pm, Demmasday 1st Lucreon (April) 2993 AEP
Ellagel, Elven Fighter/Magic User 1/1: 6/6, 90’
Grimidek, Dwarven Cleric 1: 9/9, 60’
Jacky, Halfling Fighter/Thief 1/1: 6/6, 60’
Thrudmarr, Wiskin Fighter 1: 5/5, 90’
Vasco, Thorcin Thief 1: 6/6, 120’
Zacharias, Archontean Fighter 1: 10/10, 60’
—
Billie, Mule, 120’

Thrudmarr Halvorsson

Oct 8, 2024 10:14 pm

Oct 8, 2024 10:14 pm

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

WhiteDwarf says:

Grim takes a moment to observe the obelisk, and silently offers dour dwarven prayer to fallen heroes long past. Monuments like dis oft serve to honor fallen friends. We’re on hallowed ground, especially in light of…well, all de destruction.
Grim waddles around the obelisk. Assisting Ella in investigating the stonework and any hidden passages.

"Friends fall down? Where?" Thrudmarr looks around, confused.

Avraham says:

Makes sense, Vixen. Anyway, I'm getting thirsty.

"Inn? Drinks? Thrudmarr thirsty too! We go now?"

OOC:

Happy to hang around if the others are still poking around, but Thrudmarr is ready to get his drink on. :) Would make sense for us to make sure we have somewhere safe to retreat to before exploring much further.

Jacky Thistletop

Oct 9, 2024 12:10 am

Oct 9, 2024 12:10 am

2. The Ruins of Arden Vul

"I'm afraid I'd be a poor teacher, Zimba," Jacky admits as the other man practices his words. "I never finished the study book - too much work! Translating that one bit's about the start and end of my Mithric."

The halfling leans back against the obelisk while the others poke around, thoughts already drifting toward what he'd have for dinner tonight.

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