Caverns & Critters
The allure of treasure ... for those clever or lucky enough to survive...
OOC thread
Rules
- Each player should have 2 or 3 low-level characters. During the course of the adventure, all but one of your characters should die!
- However you want to manage your characters is fine (separate character accounts vs all under a generic account)
- This will be text based, so no stats or die-rolling required. So by "low-level", I mean the general vibe. No much, if any, combat experience. No magic more potent than cantrip level stuff.
- Playable races: human, elf, dwarf, gnome, half-orc. (If you've got something else in mind, PM me, but definitely no half-demons, half-dragons, vampires, werewolves, etc)
- Combat will be "defenders choice" (so the character's player on the receiving end of an attack decides the outcome). However, if the story is waiting for more than 3 days for your response, the attacker can go ahead and narrate the outcome instead.
IC:
"The river's gone down!" Wystan announced as he barged into the tavern. Usually sober and gruff, the ferryman actually looked excited, practically dancing over to the bar. "Gold nuggets and silver goblets await!" he sang to the girl behind the counter.
A few months ago, heavy rains had washed away a section of the river bank, revealing a cave entrance. Wystan himself had found two silver coins on the bank above the entrance, as if the flood waters had pushed them up there. But until now, there'd been too much water rushing into the mouth of the cave for any but a complete fool to think of trying to explore it.
As the flood waters started to recede and a few of the townsfolk made plans to go spelunking, rumors and speculation had run rampant and the whole place was in a tizzy over it. "Gear up, folks! Ferry's headed there first thing in the morn and ain't comin' back til our pockets are full of treasure!"
To say that the Fowler children hadn't fallen far from the tree would've been an understatement. Their father was well known in these parts, his infamy as both a trophy hunter and roadside bandit nearly equal in renown. In his children he'd instilled a fervent sense of greed and entitlement...a toxic combination by any definition. The eldest, Baron, sat at the bar in the tavern, doing his best to sweet talk the buxom lass behind the counter into free drinks. His sisters sat in the farthest corner, keeping watch with identical looks of indignant tolerance of all they surveyed. Treasure hunters by trade(if not by experience), they'd all taken their fair share of judgement from these same townsfolk who sat around them cheering and drinking at the prospect of the exact thing they'd all three been spat upon the week before.
Baron, having procured three ales at a discount, made his way to the corner table to rejoin his sisters. The three of them sat in a baited silence, nursing their drinks as they watched, their bitterness growing.
"I'll be damned if I let even one of them handle so much as one gold coin after everything they've put us through." one of the sisters muttered into her mug, the golden amber of her eyes locked upon the pale green of her twin sister.
The green eyed sister only nodded, short and nearly imperceptable before she turned to eye the old man gushing over treasure at the bar.
"Patience, Nesa." She said, as she rose to greet the ferryman.
Making her way through the crowd, Tyleri approached the counter and with rather more force than necessary, plunked three silver coins upon the counter and slid them toward the ferryman.
"For passage. Myself, my sister, and my brother."
Baron, having procured three ales at a discount, made his way to the corner table to rejoin his sisters. The three of them sat in a baited silence, nursing their drinks as they watched, their bitterness growing.
"I'll be damned if I let even one of them handle so much as one gold coin after everything they've put us through." one of the sisters muttered into her mug, the golden amber of her eyes locked upon the pale green of her twin sister.
The green eyed sister only nodded, short and nearly imperceptable before she turned to eye the old man gushing over treasure at the bar.
"Patience, Nesa." She said, as she rose to greet the ferryman.
Making her way through the crowd, Tyleri approached the counter and with rather more force than necessary, plunked three silver coins upon the counter and slid them toward the ferryman.
"For passage. Myself, my sister, and my brother."
"I figured you'd be first in line," Wystan replied, picking up the 3 coins and pocketing them. He hadn't really been planning to charge anyone, but didn't pass up the opportunity to take the silver from the Fowlers. Perhaps it wasn't fair of him to dislike the children just because he disliked their father, but everyone agreed that they were too much like their progenitor.
"I'd like to go too..." piped up the voice of another woman. Seth Allerton's widow, Rowena. "Though I'll have to owe you the silver," she added, ducking her head slightly in embarrassment at not having the money. She'd been trying to manage her husband's small homestead since he'd died unexpectedly a little over a year ago and it was getting more difficult with every passing month. She'd barely been able to scrap up enough coin to pay the lad that helped her out a few days a week.
If things didn't turn around for her soon, she might be forced to re-marry. But her only suitor at the moment was a rather nasty neighbor who only wanted Seth's land for his own.
Rowena glanced briefly at Tyleri, and gave a small smile, cheeks reddening further. She was older than the twins by about a year and they'd sometimes played together as children, but she hadn't spoken much to either of them in years and wasn't even sure which sister it was. "It's good to see you again," she said, rather awkwardly.
"I'd like to go too..." piped up the voice of another woman. Seth Allerton's widow, Rowena. "Though I'll have to owe you the silver," she added, ducking her head slightly in embarrassment at not having the money. She'd been trying to manage her husband's small homestead since he'd died unexpectedly a little over a year ago and it was getting more difficult with every passing month. She'd barely been able to scrap up enough coin to pay the lad that helped her out a few days a week.
If things didn't turn around for her soon, she might be forced to re-marry. But her only suitor at the moment was a rather nasty neighbor who only wanted Seth's land for his own.
Rowena glanced briefly at Tyleri, and gave a small smile, cheeks reddening further. She was older than the twins by about a year and they'd sometimes played together as children, but she hadn't spoken much to either of them in years and wasn't even sure which sister it was. "It's good to see you again," she said, rather awkwardly.
"Wystan, you ol' duff, don't you dare charge that girl a single copper!" A brassy voice chided from a table near the Fowlers. "If you had any sense you'd provide the service for free. With the amount of treasure that could be ferreted away over there, you're lucky we like you well enough to put up with it."
Elena waggled her finger at the ferryman while her companion nodded sagely with a mouth full of food.
Hunters and trappers by trade, Elena Woaden and Alder Roake were known to be an odd pair but ultimately harmless. Unmarried and creeping into middle age, they had been together since they were kids still learning the trade from Elena's father. They'd just never gotten around to tying the knot. If you saw one, the other was rarely far behind.
Or, more accurately, if you heard Elena, Alder wasn't far from her side. The two were just about inseperable.
Alder offered a gentle smile to Rowena - it really was a shame what had happened to poor Seth. To honor his friendship, they did as much as they could to help his widow, offering her the first pick of meat and materials. They'd give them for free if the woman would let them.
With the Fowlers, on the other hand, it was hard to come to any trade at all. Their father had always complained bitterly when a deal came even close to fair, and now they carried on that legacy, trying a third of the goods or coin their meat and furs were worth. And considering how often their father had caused them trouble -- directly or otherwise -- it was amazing the trappers continued dealing with them at all.
But Alder insisted that it was the right thing to do, and Elena rarely went counter to his advice. And on some level, they saw the endeavor as a game. Maybe they'd never win, but it was worth the challenge.
Wystan grinned at Elena and shrugged. Even her chiding couldn't dampen his spirits today. "You two going too?" he asked. They'd be a welcome addition to the expedition.
"Waddaya think we'll need?" The ferryman posed the question to Tyleri, Elena, and Rowena. "I got some rope, a pick and a shovel, a lantern... and of course, a sack to haul out our loot."
Rowena couldn't help but get a bit excited with the treasure hunt suddenly scheduled for tomorrow morning, but added quickly, "what about chalk or something else to mark our path?" The question itself was perhaps revealing of her own biggest fear of becoming lost in an endless dark maze of cavern tunnels. She'd had several nightmares about it over the past week as she was deciding if she was going to go or not.
"Ah, good thought..." agreed Wystan, then looked between Tyleri and Elena, "What else?"
"Waddaya think we'll need?" The ferryman posed the question to Tyleri, Elena, and Rowena. "I got some rope, a pick and a shovel, a lantern... and of course, a sack to haul out our loot."
Rowena couldn't help but get a bit excited with the treasure hunt suddenly scheduled for tomorrow morning, but added quickly, "what about chalk or something else to mark our path?" The question itself was perhaps revealing of her own biggest fear of becoming lost in an endless dark maze of cavern tunnels. She'd had several nightmares about it over the past week as she was deciding if she was going to go or not.
"Ah, good thought..." agreed Wystan, then looked between Tyleri and Elena, "What else?"
Alder considered Wystan and Rowena's words and nodded. "We don't have any chalk, but charcoal we have aplenty--"
"We could go scrounge some from what's left of the old quarry?" Elena offered, knowing full well that said quarry would take half the night getting to and from. Wouldn't leave much time for sleeping, even if they left now, but she meant what she'd said.
"We'll also bring lanterns and rope, a few traps, and our bows, in case some animals have taken up residence since it's opened. We've not seen tracks, but we've also not been so close to the entrance to get a good look."
Didn't make sense to go in blind and, if they could do some working, why not work? Elena resolved to bring her club and Alder would likely bring his sturdy walking stick for defense. Both would also have knives for skinning and other utility tasks. Which would work as weapons in a pinch, but neither would dream to use them as a first resort.
They thought a moment further and came to similar ideas.
"Flint and tinder, a pot, and some extra scraps of cloth," said Elena and from Alder came, "Firewood, bedrolls, and tarps." They surprised one another, shared a look, and laughed. "For just in case of camping or injury," the both agreed.
"We could go scrounge some from what's left of the old quarry?" Elena offered, knowing full well that said quarry would take half the night getting to and from. Wouldn't leave much time for sleeping, even if they left now, but she meant what she'd said.
"We'll also bring lanterns and rope, a few traps, and our bows, in case some animals have taken up residence since it's opened. We've not seen tracks, but we've also not been so close to the entrance to get a good look."
Didn't make sense to go in blind and, if they could do some working, why not work? Elena resolved to bring her club and Alder would likely bring his sturdy walking stick for defense. Both would also have knives for skinning and other utility tasks. Which would work as weapons in a pinch, but neither would dream to use them as a first resort.
They thought a moment further and came to similar ideas.
"Flint and tinder, a pot, and some extra scraps of cloth," said Elena and from Alder came, "Firewood, bedrolls, and tarps." They surprised one another, shared a look, and laughed. "For just in case of camping or injury," the both agreed.
"Charcoal should do just fine," Wystan said. "No need to go traipsing all the way to the quarry," the ferryman said, waving a hand dismissively.
But he grinned at the list Alder and Elena rattled off. He figured they'd know best. "You two sound like expert treasure hunters!" he proclaimed. "Let me buy you all a drink," he says, uncharacteristically generous and purchases a pint of ale for any of the would-be treasure hunters.
The next day...
"Here it is!" Wystan exclaimed as he brought the ferry up close to the river bank, holding it steady so that they could step off the small craft. The crew was smaller than anticipated as the Fowler siblings never showed up. "Right over there... see it?" He pointed. "And right there's where I found them coins."
The opening looked to have collapsed inwards recently and a light, continuous stream of cool air poured from it.
The ferryman whistled as he tied the vessel to a sturdy tree near the bank. "Here, take these, will ya," he said, handing Rowena a rope and a lantern. "I'll grab the pick and shovel."
Rowena cautiously poked her head inside the opening to have a look. "Oh, it's cold in there!" she exclaimed as she looked left and right. "And still a bit wet too," she noted, seeing about an inch of river water still covering the floor as far as she could see... which wasn't very far.
But he grinned at the list Alder and Elena rattled off. He figured they'd know best. "You two sound like expert treasure hunters!" he proclaimed. "Let me buy you all a drink," he says, uncharacteristically generous and purchases a pint of ale for any of the would-be treasure hunters.
The next day...
"Here it is!" Wystan exclaimed as he brought the ferry up close to the river bank, holding it steady so that they could step off the small craft. The crew was smaller than anticipated as the Fowler siblings never showed up. "Right over there... see it?" He pointed. "And right there's where I found them coins."
The opening looked to have collapsed inwards recently and a light, continuous stream of cool air poured from it.
The ferryman whistled as he tied the vessel to a sturdy tree near the bank. "Here, take these, will ya," he said, handing Rowena a rope and a lantern. "I'll grab the pick and shovel."
Rowena cautiously poked her head inside the opening to have a look. "Oh, it's cold in there!" she exclaimed as she looked left and right. "And still a bit wet too," she noted, seeing about an inch of river water still covering the floor as far as she could see... which wasn't very far.
They'd prepared just as they'd said - both trappers laden as though expecting a long hunting trip.
While Wystan talked, Alder poked around the rubble with his walking stick, hoping to disturb any rodents or snakes that might have taken up residence. Nothing showed itself, not even crayfish or the like in the muddy pools in the passage.
"Well, that breeze probably means it opens up someplace else," Elena offered, "if memory serves right." Her father used to tell stories about bear-hunting when he was a young man, and how he'd learned to tell the difference between a good bear den and an open tunnel. They preferred closed, defensible caves, if his stories held any truth. The opposite of this.
Alder hummed, mirroring Roweena's caution, and lit his own lantern, which he then hung from the top of his walking stick. It served to illuminate a bit further down the passage, but not by much, and it was unclear whether this entrance was a low or high point in the cave. "Watch your step," he warned, stepping inside and offering a hand to help people steady themselves on the muddy ground.
When it came Elena's turn, she refused the assistance, the gesture belying her fear. Description of the cave was one thing, but being in it something entirely other. Cold and damp were also terrible conditions to start any journey.
While Wystan talked, Alder poked around the rubble with his walking stick, hoping to disturb any rodents or snakes that might have taken up residence. Nothing showed itself, not even crayfish or the like in the muddy pools in the passage.
"Well, that breeze probably means it opens up someplace else," Elena offered, "if memory serves right." Her father used to tell stories about bear-hunting when he was a young man, and how he'd learned to tell the difference between a good bear den and an open tunnel. They preferred closed, defensible caves, if his stories held any truth. The opposite of this.
Alder hummed, mirroring Roweena's caution, and lit his own lantern, which he then hung from the top of his walking stick. It served to illuminate a bit further down the passage, but not by much, and it was unclear whether this entrance was a low or high point in the cave. "Watch your step," he warned, stepping inside and offering a hand to help people steady themselves on the muddy ground.
When it came Elena's turn, she refused the assistance, the gesture belying her fear. Description of the cave was one thing, but being in it something entirely other. Cold and damp were also terrible conditions to start any journey.
As they started to explore the cave entrance and the immediate interior, they would notice that the floor slopes just slightly, so that to the right (downhill) the water is slightly deeper. To the left (uphill), it's still wet, but keeping one's boots dry might be an option. The ceiling is about 6 feet tall, so roomy enough for most of the party to stand up straight without hitting their head.
"Think we should go this way, Alder?" Rowena asked as she accepted his hand to help her step down over the rocks and pointed to the left where the path was just slightly wet. "I'd rather keep my boots dry for at least a little while."
Wystan, who had ensured the boat was well secured, brought up the rear and used the shovel like a walking stick to navigate over the rubble. "I'm thinkin' of headin' that way instead," he said, gesturing to the wetter tunnel. "Figurin' that the water mighta washed any more of them coins down that way."
They both looked toward Alder and Elena to break the tie.
"Think we should go this way, Alder?" Rowena asked as she accepted his hand to help her step down over the rocks and pointed to the left where the path was just slightly wet. "I'd rather keep my boots dry for at least a little while."
Wystan, who had ensured the boat was well secured, brought up the rear and used the shovel like a walking stick to navigate over the rubble. "I'm thinkin' of headin' that way instead," he said, gesturing to the wetter tunnel. "Figurin' that the water mighta washed any more of them coins down that way."
They both looked toward Alder and Elena to break the tie.
"Dry ground," said Elena as Alder said "It can't hurt to check for more coins."
She shot him a pointed look, but he merely shrugged apologetically and started forward with his staff to test the depth. It was slow going, but he found no cause for concern.
Elena, meanwhile, grumbled and stubbornly waited near the dryer ground for Alder to indicate he'd fully committed. It wasn't abnormal for him to change his mind partway down a route. At some point, they'd hear from her "Coins had to wash from somewhere, right? So why we wastin' time chasing what's probably buried in underwater murk when we could just as easily put some time to findin' their source?"
In that time, Alder had got a bit further down where the water went up to his shins. His cautious testing had detected a few holes about an extra foot deeper than that, but they were small and there was plenty of room to avoid them. Little more than ankle-bait. Still, it was slow, slow going and his poking around was muddying the water, which would only make it harder to notice any glimmering pretties.
A stronger gust of cool air came from a separate direction, so he froze, but it was short-lived and seemed to have been a breeze from outside. Alder gave a nervous laugh, embarrassed for having been so easily spooked.
"C'mon, Elena, at worst we get a little wet looking for the coins. Nothing wrong with that. We'll be sure to make a fire to get dry when we're done and chase away this chill."
As he pressed on, it was much the same until his stick found stone instead of mud. Pleased, Alder stepped for it and sank about an inch anyway. To his dismay, a distant clunk could be heard and then a gurgling. The water level fell, swirling into those earlier small holes until there was little more than a slick layer of silt on the cave floor and murky puddles in the holes. Ahead, the hall seemed to continue on as it was here, silt on the ground and puddle-holes off beyond where the lantern's light could reach.
"What's happened? Where'd the water go?" Elena called from well behind. And Alder couldn't do much more than shrug and turn to Wystan. He probably knew the most about water of anyone here, even if it was only pertaining to the river outside.
She shot him a pointed look, but he merely shrugged apologetically and started forward with his staff to test the depth. It was slow going, but he found no cause for concern.
Elena, meanwhile, grumbled and stubbornly waited near the dryer ground for Alder to indicate he'd fully committed. It wasn't abnormal for him to change his mind partway down a route. At some point, they'd hear from her "Coins had to wash from somewhere, right? So why we wastin' time chasing what's probably buried in underwater murk when we could just as easily put some time to findin' their source?"
In that time, Alder had got a bit further down where the water went up to his shins. His cautious testing had detected a few holes about an extra foot deeper than that, but they were small and there was plenty of room to avoid them. Little more than ankle-bait. Still, it was slow, slow going and his poking around was muddying the water, which would only make it harder to notice any glimmering pretties.
A stronger gust of cool air came from a separate direction, so he froze, but it was short-lived and seemed to have been a breeze from outside. Alder gave a nervous laugh, embarrassed for having been so easily spooked.
"C'mon, Elena, at worst we get a little wet looking for the coins. Nothing wrong with that. We'll be sure to make a fire to get dry when we're done and chase away this chill."
As he pressed on, it was much the same until his stick found stone instead of mud. Pleased, Alder stepped for it and sank about an inch anyway. To his dismay, a distant clunk could be heard and then a gurgling. The water level fell, swirling into those earlier small holes until there was little more than a slick layer of silt on the cave floor and murky puddles in the holes. Ahead, the hall seemed to continue on as it was here, silt on the ground and puddle-holes off beyond where the lantern's light could reach.
"What's happened? Where'd the water go?" Elena called from well behind. And Alder couldn't do much more than shrug and turn to Wystan. He probably knew the most about water of anyone here, even if it was only pertaining to the river outside.
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