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Post by red_kangaroo on Nov 20, 2021 10:50:08 GMT
I will head north and east, through the inactivated gas trap room to the stairs into the river, where there should still be a raft we once built from emptied fungus barrels. If it really is still there, I will board it and push myself downstream.
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Post by Spwack on Nov 21, 2021 13:28:50 GMT
Alright! You do indeed have a raft there, bobbing in the smooth flow of the river. You push off, and are quickly swept along. You've very little risk of capsizing even in the improvised vessel, the waterway is extremely flat considering how fast it is. You pass a long gravelly beach, where are you trying to get to? How far downriver would you like to travel?
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Post by red_kangaroo on Nov 25, 2021 14:27:28 GMT
I think there should be a lake with an island city somewhere downstream. I would like to visit.
I will experiment with gently pushing the raft with my telekinesis, to see if I can steer it this way.
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Post by Spwack on Nov 26, 2021 6:50:25 GMT
Sure! You drift sedately down the river, passing stone walls and broken bridges on the way down.
That's an interesting thought. When you use your telekinesis, does it push against you as well? Whatever the case, you can definitely nudge the raft gently to steer it, though maybe not enough to propel it with solely the power of your mind.
You just manage to slip between a scattered set of stepping stones, travel around an island in the middle of the river, pass under a bridge and slosh out into a tremendous ocean! The smooth walls on either side of you roughen and stretch out beyond the range of your torch, which you've managed to keep dry and lit so far. The current, so smooth before, is replaced by tiny wavelets lapping against your raft. All is darkness, above, below, and around, barring a single point of glowing light to the north-west, a glimmer in the underground night.
Where do you want to go? The river back into the rest of the dungeon is to the south-east, with walls stretching roughly west and north.
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Post by red_kangaroo on Nov 27, 2021 17:56:03 GMT
I would like to continue towards the light, to the north-west.
That's an interesting thought. When you use your telekinesis, does it push against you as well? Whatever the case, you can definitely nudge the raft gently to steer it, though maybe not enough to propel it with solely the power of your mind. We've established in the beholder fight that I cannot directly lift myself. However, if my TK doesn't follow Newton's 3rd law, I might steer the raft under my feet, and if it does, I can still push the water behind the raft and have myself and the raft be propelled by the opposite force.
Actually, if my TK follows Newton's 3rd law, I might be able to boost my jumps by TK-pushing at the ground under my feet just as I'm jumping.
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Post by Spwack on Nov 28, 2021 6:05:09 GMT
Probably! You might need to find someone to teach you a bit more before you can do something that physical. That said, eventually you figure out how to gently push the raft along. Since evidently your TK doesn't obey the 3rd law, you can do the opposite: pull the water towards you, pushing the raft along.
It takes some time to make much progress, this is certainly the longest you've used your power in a row, and you feel- not exhausted, not yet, but a feeling of your brain limbering up a bit. The gleaming star in the night sky still guides you, but you can see dimmer light below it as well, what looks like torches and bonfires lit up across some sort of island. Perhaps this is the city you heard of?
You can also see a tiny wavelet moving directly towards you at a fair clip. Something under the water, and moving quite quickly.
Say, after Jax's experience in the oily lake, how does he feel about this ocean he is currently sitting on?
((Yes, I will give you a whole lot of XP if you want to give your character thalassophobia, but you don't have to))
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Post by red_kangaroo on Nov 29, 2021 19:47:48 GMT
Well, I definitely don't feel like plunging into dark waters with who knows what swimming circles around me **again**. I scramble to put on my single seven league boot, but I will stay put and try to see what's coming to me until a collision seems inevitable. If it comes to that, I will try to make a one-leg hop towards the island, using the boot.
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Post by Spwack on Nov 30, 2021 11:34:36 GMT
You put the Boot on, and feel the pulse of magic go up your leg. Don't trip!
The bow-wave of the creature continues to move towards you, and you are about to press the Boot down before you realise the creature has stopped, and this wavelet is just the slosh still moving. A pair of black orbs on stalks pop out of the water, you can tell they are eyes when they look at you. There's a sound of blurbling and blubbing. You think this creature might be trying to speak?
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Post by red_kangaroo on Nov 30, 2021 14:20:53 GMT
"Hello?" I say. "My name is Jaxudyzad. I'm coming in search of room and board."
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Post by Spwack on Dec 1, 2021 7:40:26 GMT
The eyes wave back and forth. There's more blubbing sounds, it moves closer and rises out of the water a bit. You can see the head of a tremendous crab, and a huge claw slowly closes around the edge of your raft. What do you do?
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Post by red_kangaroo on Dec 1, 2021 8:50:29 GMT
I'm still ready to jump, but still waiting. If it's closing its claw slowly, it probably isn't outright hostile.
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Post by Spwack on Dec 3, 2021 1:01:18 GMT
The crab closes one claw around the edge of your raft, then another claw, and then starts swimming backwards towards the island, towing you smoothly along for the ride. It keeps bubbling at you as it goes, the ride is a lot faster and easier than pushing yourself with mind powers.
You can see the island-city come into view, a tremendous pile of limestone blocks, flocking with giant crabs. None of them wear clothes, but you can clearly see signs of civilisation: many of them wear belts carrying tools, and you can see several of them with etched and inlaid shells, some with gems and gold that glitter in the myriad torchlights. The centre of the city is a huge black obelisk-tower, stretching up towards the city with the glowing star shining far above.
Then, as your crab-tower brings you towards a small set of docks populated with sloops and skiffs, something truly horrifying: you can see the dissected corpse of the Beholder splayed out on rods of stone and wood and metal, hooked up to dozens of wires and chains of every colour and hue, set into an array of runes and gemstones. The main eye is pointing straight up, as are the various eye-tendrils. Gore and ichor leak out the back of it, sluicing towards the ocean below and causing all manner of strange algal blooms to stain the stone. No, it's not been dissected, you just saw it twitch. It's been vivisected, and is still alive.
A crabling, with a grey and somehow wrinkled shell, booms out "Welcome traveller, to the Gleaming Isle!" It is positively covered in gemstones set into it's weary hide, and what are clearly another runic array of similar complexity to that meshed with the Beholder. What do you do?
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Post by red_kangaroo on Dec 11, 2021 20:18:52 GMT
"Many thanks and good fortune to you! It is truly wonderful to see such a place of civilization in the middle of such inhospitable darkness that surrounds us," I say, trying to keep my eyes off the beholder. I know well enough that it is a creature of pure madness and hostility, but still, I am reminded of the laboratories of the porcelain king's doctors, where I was similarly kept immobilized and cut into for reasons I do not even wish to know. It is one thing to harm or even kill another creature for the need of safety, sustenance, even selfish greed, but to keep them in a half-living agony...
I suppress a shudder and force a smile to return to my face. "I am coming in search of respite, good company and knowledge about the intricacies of the mind. I hope I would not impose too much if I asked you about an inn where I might stay for a while?"
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Post by Spwack on Dec 12, 2021 8:50:35 GMT
You keep your eyes firmly off the Beholder, and catch a glimpse in the eyes of the old crabling, a knowing look.
"Good fortune to you as well. And you say such kind things. The ocean is deep, and the darkness is deeper, and we all do our best to stay afloat."
"My name is Chlcknckschiee, of the Fortieth Brood, and respite you shall have. And you shall stay with me! You're free to wander our city as you like, but please stay clear of the workers and warriors. They are large and shelled, and you are small and fleshy, it would be a true shame for a friend such as yourself to be hurt by an accident." The elder crab seems very earnest. "Knowledge of the intricacies of the mind? Such a deep and weighty topic for a young creature as yourself! What brings you to grey and wandersome tides?"
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Post by red_kangaroo on Dec 13, 2021 14:05:18 GMT
"Well met, Chl- ehm, Chick-necks-shee. My name is Jaxudyzad and you are most generous. I hope I will be able to repay your kindness.
That topic was, frankly, forced upon myself when my mind was expanded and empowered against my will."
I let go of my cane and tele-lift it into the air.
"This is what I can do and I'm seeking information on what I *could* do."
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Post by Spwack on Dec 14, 2021 13:02:21 GMT
The crabling gently chortles as you attempt to pronounce his name. "Close! A very palpable effort. Our names are tough. We would pronounce yours as 'Jxdyzdaua'. You may just call me Click if you would prefer."
"Oh my!" the crab clicks his claws together, it seems to be their equivalent of applause. "No ritual required, barely any somatic components, you have a rare talent there my new friend. Come with me, we will share stories, and sea-grape wine, and you must meet the young shells I have living with me, they are a delight."
Chlcknckschiee leads you through the city, it truly is a delightful if bizarre place. Giant crabs rush about everywhere, running sideways when the need arises, most of them stopping to wave their eyestalks respectfully at the elder crab. He politely recommends the hot and cold baths, where they have hard cakes of soap made out of kelp ash.
His residence is a mound of limestone and glowing runes, a comfortable dwelling built half into the waterways that move beneath the island city. He introduces you to Klki and Klka, two twin crablings that are learning the arcane arts. Each of them is much smaller than Chlcknckschiee, and only has a few sigils etched into their shells. "It is please meet of you!" says Klka, or maybe Klki. Klki nods as well (or maybe it's Klka), not as confident with the Imperial language, but still excited to meet an outsider.
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Post by red_kangaroo on Jan 10, 2022 7:28:26 GMT
"The pleasure is all mine!"
I would like to enjoy their company for a bit. I will even share my story about the fight with the beholder, if they're interested.
Then I would definitely like to seek out the baths.
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Post by Spwack on Jan 11, 2022 14:18:30 GMT
Click is absolutely astounded. "You mean to tell me... amazing! Simply amazing! We must, I, I can't believe it! I must believe it! Say, Jax, would you do an old crab a favour? I would have you tell this tale not just to me, but to my friends and family as well. I will translate for them, but this is truly a marvel like no other. It will take me some time to get everyone together, but it would be an earnest pleasure for me. What do you say?"
The baths are, wow, ouch. Incredibly painful. Searing hot water, soap cakes like rocks, actual rocks used to scrub grime off shells as well as polish your heels smooth as glass. You feel newly made, and very pink. The crabling bath attendant was very insistent on giving you a luxury treatment, and those claws were extremely precise. Thankfully. After splashing around in the oily scum within The Box for what seems like weeks, you feel a whiplash of cleanliness. Remove 1 Stress, any filth-based debilities, and take 1 damage ((which you heal immediately, but still, crab baths! Ow!))
1. While resting in the baths (recovering), you had a chat with one of the crabs in very broken Imperial. You're pretty sure they asked you over for drinks at some point, but you aren't quite sure ((you can safely ignore or pick up this invitation at any point, no harm or insult either way)).
2. Click also offered to show you some of the artworks of the crab people, if you were interested.
3. One thing you haven't approached yet is the centre of the reef-city: a tremendous black square-sided tower, rising right up into the "sky". You can just barely see the light gleaming from the top of it. Might be worth checking out?
4. There's plenty of space to wander and peruse. If you want to do this, what kind of thing would catch your eye? ((Just give me a single word))
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Post by red_kangaroo on Jan 13, 2022 12:53:07 GMT
take 1 damage ((which you heal immediately, but still, crab baths! Ow!))
Shaving with a giant crab claw sounds... interesting.
"Oh, I would be delighted, but I didn't tell the tale to brag. It was frankly more of a desperate struggle against a foe that was already debilitated. In any case, I would love to meet your family, if you so wish, and I hope to stay a few days, so I would be delighted to go see the art of your people, once an opportunity arises. Speaking of which, I would love to learn more about your people and their history. About this magnificent city you have built. But tell me please, may I, in any way, repay your kindness?"
I'm not sure what kind of money are used here, but I would like to give an appreciative tip to the bath attendant. I feel like a new man. Now only if I had some proper clothes, rather than these cut, torn and seared soon-to-be rags. I think I will go find a marketplace, also looking for any jewelers who might be interested in the gems I lifted from the beholder's hoard.
I gladly accept the invitation for drinks. Maybe later tonight, whatever passes for tonight in this sunless place?
((And I will keep the black tower in mind.))
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Post by Spwack on Jan 14, 2022 13:05:48 GMT
"We would be honoured to hear it spoken, all the same. You you have already done so much for us! You have, however inadvertently, given us a gift of safety and protection." he points one claw towards the far end of the city, where you can see the vivisected Beholder on the tower.
It takes a fair bit of convincing and miming to get the point across, but handing a gemstone to the bath attendant and telling them to keep the change helps smooth thing right along. Looking at the foul scraps of clothing, and feeling so clean and fresh, you can't bear the thought of putting them back on, so you wait and see what the attendant brings.
They don't use clothes here, shells being quite enough, but they come back with an incredibly striking toga-like costume made out of layers of extremely fine fishnets. It's a comfortable and slightly iridescent outfit. It's held together by silver clasps, and while it's a little drafty, you find you don't mind all that much. The ocean seems to have a slight warming effect on the otherwise chill dungeon air.
Clean and bedecked in your new clothes, what would you like to do first? History and culture with Chlcknckschiee, or drinking with your new friend Hxxhkvnao? ((Time is an illusion, lunchtime doubly so))
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Post by red_kangaroo on Jan 17, 2022 17:46:01 GMT
I will go drinking with Hxxhkvnao.
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Post by Spwack on Jan 18, 2022 7:39:17 GMT
Alright! You follow the rough directions you received, get lost twice, and finally find Hxxhkvnao at the local tavern. The crablings don't seem to be ones for subtlety, moderation, or cups. The "tavern" is a frame of metal, holding metal casks over funnels and taps. The guests stand under the casks, mouth open, drink their fill, and then weave unsteadily away to join the dancers in the middle of the frame. In the centre of the tavern is a stage, upon which two crablings bedecked in lurid neon banners, use long drumsticks to rap out a thumping rhythm on each others shell and letting out a ululating cries. With few torches around, the whole scene in one of glints off bejewelled shells and pounding primal tones.
Hxxhkvnao runs out to greet you in the crabling tongue, and invites you to sit on top of his shell for safety, for now at least.
What do you want to do and say?
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Post by red_kangaroo on Jan 19, 2022 17:49:04 GMT
I would gladly accept the seat atop his shell and try the casks, too, unless Hxxhkvnao gestures that it's not good for soft folk. I also have a little bit of alchemical wine left, so I will share that if he is into imported bewerages. Otherwise, I'd like to mingle, share stories if anyone wants to hear them, or perform some parlour tricks with telekinesis.
I will ask questions like: * How's the life like around these parts? Are the crablings fishing for food? I like fishing! How's the fish like around these parts? * Are there many soft folk like me coming and going? * Do you know of the gemfolk city? Or the drow? I haven't been to either settlement, but I would like to see them, too. * I have seen that tremendous, black, square-sided tower rising above your city. What's that about?
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Post by Spwack on Jan 21, 2022 6:20:15 GMT
Hxxhkvnao gladly manoeuvres you over to the pipes. The drink is incredibly salty, but quite invigorating. The alchemical wine is very well received, and you are paraded around to a bunch of Hxxhkvnao's friends as well, who great you with much delight. The language barrier is pretty severe, but you still have a great time.
You get a general vibe for most of your questions, and ask Chlcknckschiee for a few details later:
1. Life around these parts is pretty damn good. The dark is kept at bay, the magics of the elders keep the monsters away (or steal them for weapons). It's hard work getting enough food for everyone, but they manage. 2. The crablings are fishing for food, and everything else they have and use. Most of the crablings spend some of their life in a mutated shell-form that allows them to swim and catch the large blind fish down in the depths. 3. Dangerous, and best cooked with plenty of spices. 4. No. You're the first they've seen in a very long time. 5. Never heard of the gemfolk, and mentioning the Drow puts a slight dampener on the party for a while. Dangerous folk, it seems. 6. "Is Wish!" says Hxxhkvnao, with the help from his friends of specific words. "Is Magick! Climb! If live, much Powerful Wish, yes? No crab climb long time. Much danger. Much death. Just story. But true just story."
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Post by red_kangaroo on Feb 22, 2022 11:05:46 GMT
I will cavort with the people here for the rest of what passes for a night. Assuming I survive the carousing unscathed and with no new tattoos, I will find my way back to Chlcknckschiee's, get some sleep and then take Chlcknckschiee up on his offer of a history and art lesson.
And I will ask him about the tower, too. What dangers lie in there? Is it okay to go have a look at it, or would I be stomping all over some crabling taboos?
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Post by Spwack on Feb 24, 2022 2:43:28 GMT
The cavorting is actually rather harmless. If you're looking to see how much trouble you get in, you can roll a CHA check to go really wild. Other than that, you just get a bit dehydrated from the jellyfish wine. Hxxhkvnao and his bodies are super stoked to have you hanging out with them, word has spread and you're a bit of a celebrity at the moment.
The "morning", such as it is, brings a rather nasty hangover (it's important to stay hydrated!), but you recover easily enough. Chlcknckschiee greats you with a huge fried fish breakfast. It stares at you with disapproval.
"The tower is a strange thing. We haven't been able to plumb the depths, or heights, of it in all our history. Many a brave shell has tests their claws upon it, and come back scarred and broken, or not at all. It is a series of traps and trials, testing the might and wits of the entrants. To reach the top is to earn a Wish. The source of this knowledge has been lost to time, but just looking at that gleaming star up there whispers the truth. And no, climbing it is... ill-advised."
"Of course you may try it! But please, tell us your story before you attempt it. We would be sad, otherwise."
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Post by red_kangaroo on Mar 2, 2022 21:37:48 GMT
I nibble at the fish but mostly drink lots of water. Then I would like to arrange the storytelling meeting, whenever Chlcknckschiee thinks would be convenient, and in the meantime go have a quick look at the tower, maybe walk around it.
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Post by Spwack on Mar 4, 2022 6:06:31 GMT
The fish keeps glaring at you. Crablings have very strong jaws and so enjoy the crunch of fishbones, clearly.
"But of course! We can have it in here, or we can find you a stage to regale us, wherever you would like."
The tower is right in the centre of the town. It's a huge basalt structure, square-sided with corners you could shave on. There are a few splatters of what look like... blood, leaking out of it? Or some other dark fluid? The entrance is a snarling wolf-head. Chlcknckschiee tells you that the entrance head changes shape regularly, it's how they keep track of time down here. The light of the Wish at the top of the tower is occluded by the bulk of stone, it gleams like an eclipse, shimmers of radiance leaking around the topmost floor.
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