Grand Duchy 83

Grand Duchy of Adventure

Session 83
March 21-28, 2016

The Ruined Temple

A Hole in the Roof

Tserdain 27 Yarthmont

Draven and Griffin perch on the top of the ruined Hutaakan temple, looking down into the warm darkness. The wind howls and gusts powerfully and Griffin has to tighten his grip on the edge and lean into it to keep from being toppled down into the hole. A moment later, Iris comes flying up to the edge. She is giddy with excitement as she peers down into the hole. “Ooh, now what?” she says. “Draven and I can get down there magically, but it doesn’t look like there is anywhere for you to climb down.”

Griffin scowls as he looks in and sees that indeed, it would be a challenging climb, the first part of which would force him to hang suspended from the inside curved surface of the dome. It is 30’ down to the balcony area surrounding ¾ of the south end of the large chamber.

Griffin grumbles. “Well, since you’ve got the maneuverability right now, get on in there the both of you and check it out. Don’t touch anything, and DON’T LAND, but see if you can check out the darker corners and under the balcony. I’ll drop a line and see about getting myself on in there.

He starts pulling rope out of his pack while looking around for a place to secure it. I suppose I can just rappel down to that railing there. It looks like a straight drop down would get him close to the edge of the balcony. Then perhaps Iris, Draven, and I can get the door open for the rest. No way am I going to have any more climb up here than necessary.

“If all else fails, perhaps we can carry him together with us? I’d want to try that outside before actually attempting it, though…”

With that Draven slips inside and peers around, allowing his eyes to adjust to the light of the flames below. While of course he pays close attention to any movement or possible danger, but generally heads towards where the front door should be, to see if it is in fact barred from the inside.

Draven floats down through the crack in the domed ceiling while Griffin begins preparing his rope. Iris watches Draven descend, “I’ll wait up here for a moment,” she explains to Griffin.

Draven drops slowly, straight down through the hole and comes to hover a few feet off the balcony floor. The floor of the main room is another 20 feet down, but without landing and walking to a different position, Draven will not be able to descend further as his Boots of Levitation only have the ability to move straight up or down. His view from down here is virtually the same as it was from up above except he can see more into the northern alcove, past the black stone altar that sits there. A 30’ tall statue of a finely dressed Hutaakan can be seen against the far wall. The room is quiet and dark except for the light streaming in from the hole above and the bluish ring of flame that circles the wide, dark shaft. Off to his left, Draven can see where the chain attaches to an old wooden winch. The chain extends up toward the ceiling of the dome where it turns and comes back down to hold the metal cage which hangs suspended, at about the same level as the balcony, directly over the dark, circular hole in the floor.

Griffin’s admonitions to caution ringing in his ears, Draven makes sure not to touch anything as he looks around before returning up through the hole to report what he’s found.

As Griffin continues readying his climbing gear, Remar yells from down below, “What’s going on up there? I can’t keep this spell on forever, you know!” Iris remembers that Remar had cast the Flight spell on her and that it wouldn’t last forever.

Session Notes

Super short play by post session. There was a lot of stuff going on and some shifting and changing of players happening about this time. No worries. We got right back to it!

Cast of Characters: 

Garrett "Griffin" Constantine, a Thyatian rogue of a gambler from Penhaligon rolled by +Arne Jamtgaard 

Draven Rickart, a Thyatian Acolyte of the Church of Karameikos ministered by +Jason Packer 

Iris Varda, a Thyatian explorer and historian searching for answers and adventure, guided by +Alex Safatli 

Remar Umerus, an Alphatian battle mage that escaped forced service in the Thyatian army currently marshalled by +Patrick Kelly 


and +Jason Woollard as The DM