Underground Outpost
| Underground Outpost | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8/12/23 - 8/17/23 |
| Storyteller | Foster |
| Tier | Any |
| Player Characters | Zeal, Grist Vanafeld, Illiam Elro, Iosayas, Berta Stormhammer, Aleth, Tuli Mrysky, Explosylva, Damian Brooks, Femi, Terog Shalesmiter, Arina von Gicking |
| Rewards | 150 exp, 15 gold each |
| Result | Success |
| Author | Zeal |
| Downtime | 4 days |
Log
A large group was gathered to set out for a location that Grist, Berta, Tuli, LOC, Terog and I are funding and leading. The goals were to make sure it was completely cleared out and get started on building the foundation of what will soon be an outpost, and eventually a city, dedicated to being a safe place for all. Once we got there some conversation was had, mostly over delegation of tasks but not fully, before we split up. Grist, Berta, Iosayas, Illiam, Aleth, Tuli and I went down into the depths to check it out one last time for anything that needed to be dealt with before people were brought in. Femi used her connection with nature to ensure the perimeter up top was safe at all times, while Explosylva, Terog and the like began expanding the entrance to the underground. It was only big enough for one or two people at a time, but it needed to eventually be able to accommodate wagons or other large objects that may need to be brought in. Arina delegated roles to some of the dwarves from Ashenforge that were able to come and help with construction, keeping things moving smoothly up there. Damian did odd jobs about the area, helping wherever needed.
Down below, we first checked out the river to make sure it was safe. From the bridge we lowered down Tuli into the water. He didn't find anything of interest, and confirmed the river seemed clean enough to drink from. We have yet to figure out how far the water runs, but we also don't want to just throw our only expert swimmer in and lose him for who-knows-how-long, if he can even make it back from where it takes him. That mystery will have to wait for another time. After that was done Tuli and Berta went about clearing out an area that would make a fine barracks, and Aleth got help from Damian in building a water pump. With food being cooked outside and a clean-enough source of water being found and exploited inside, we at least had what was needed to ensure everyone was provided for in the coming days.
Up top, Explosylva and Terog's efforts in expanding the tunnel were met with surprising resistance. The stone above was abnormal, but they weren't sure exactly how. It seemed to disintegrate the second it was separated from the pile, and smaller amounts vanished faster than larger clumps. This would require magical expertise.
Back below, I found a symbol on the ground in the office that resided in the temple to Irori. It wasn't a symbol to Irori, or any god I recognized for that matter. Nearby, Iosayas found words carved into the wall behind a fallen bookshelf. "-- curs -- -- Fo--il -- -- le -- --ie". Illiam had been able to confirm both the symbol and these words were magical in some way, and through their magic they were able to fill in some of the worn away gaps, likely from the acid of a slug monster we detonated there many months ago. I gleaned that "Fo--il" was Fossil and connected the symbol to that of the Fossilized King, the god also known as Ayrzul. A keeper of secrets and a god little is known about, we could at best surmise they were cursed in some way by the Fossilized King and encased in this stone dome, if the rumors about them being aligned to the Earth Plane and hating fire are true. When Illiam outlined the indents with magic we were able to get "We we -- cursed by the Fo -- il -- -- ng and left to die.", which confirmed our suspicions. "We were cursed by the Fossil King and left to die." Was the closest we could grasp for it.
While I examined the temple library below, Illiam and Damian were able to work together and figure out the earth wasn't disintegrating, it was returning to the earth plane. This stone was conjured from the earth plane in some kind of dome. Aleth was able to use her knowledge to map out the general structure of the dome and get us a better idea of what we were working with, here. A resource that was just as durable as any other stone but could not be restored like your everyday stone wall. This place also was once a valley, but no longer.
All-in-all, we were able to map out the place, confirm it was safe, get water set up, and open up the entrance further. More research will need to be done later, on both the river and the earthen curse that afflicts this place, but neither are our highest priority now that we know they aren't dangers to an attempt at expanding civilization. Explosylva and Berta's mount, Stupid, have also apparently confirmed the Earth Plane rocks taste good and pop in your mouth. I don't see the value in this information, but I'm noting it for if it means anything to others.