The Green Woman of the Erin

Longman's hex-based exploration PBP campaign

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Longman
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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Longman »

Heh. Well, these limbs sure aren't moving in the wind.

Looks like one of them was taking a swipe at a curious hare, and no, it didn't catch it. The animal is gone.

First time you have actually seen one in action, though. Do you hang around and check it out more, or keep moving?
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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Woe »

"You think we should watch what happens?" whispers one of the junior rangers.

"Wot? Ye daft? Why don ye go ask it fer a walkin' cane?" whispers back Kilian. A bit surprised, the ranger bites back a retort.

"I agree. No point stirring up trouble if there's nothing more to gain from it than switches and scars." concurs Talin. "Let's move out while it's unaware we're here." He takes one more look at the fleeing hare, then signals the patrol to get moving. Anna? Why don't you lead the way for a bit. Maybe we can catch that trail once this opens up." He doesn't add that he thinks there is zero chance of 'this' opening up.
Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Longman »

You get into J03 with the sky darkening and the rain increasing and the wild trees growing ever more numerous.

The lie of the land becomes apparent. The river will become a stream and rapids in this hex. You are headed straight for the hills.

After 2EP you come across an amazing sight, as you follow the stream up into the hills.

Image

You are standing right about where the camera is.

This is the first sight of any ancient remains you have seen - it's possible you may have missed overgrown roads, but you certainly would have noticed other buildings, had you come across them. Seems like this castle was a pretty solitary outpost, back in the day.

Now what?
Woe
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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Woe »

"Ah, finally. Stonework." grunts Kilian.

Talin nods. "If it's safe, should be good as a base camp while we try to find this hag. Let's investigate."

Kilian will bring up the rear, to not disturb the stealthier rangers (and Anna!) from sneaking up on the tower.

weapons out, arrows nocked, etc

The left side looks like a better approach, but that's a lot to base from a single picture. At least there's nobody waving in this one. :)

Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Longman »

Th actual layout of the ruined tower is not that important here. It's really just a picturesque dungeon entrance.

Yep, in the central courtyard (off to the right hand side of the picture behind the walls), there is a narrow ( 4' wide) stair, carved from the natural rock, going down below.

Runes have been carved in the rock around the stair, in an unbroken ring. No one is in any doubt that they are magical, just from seeing them. Talin is pretty sure they are NOT Salenish / Saderish in style, but of a script and culture you are not familiar with at all.

Image

By the way, this place is quite surrounded in wild trees - almost every second tree is distorted in some way. There are none growing right near the tower itself but they start in a fairly even ring about 40 yards from the castle walls.

Inside the ring of trees is the remains of a garden - there are a few fruit trees and herbs gone wild, etc.

There is nothing in the above ground parts of the structure, any note. No upper levels survive.
Woe
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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Woe »

"Unoccupied, and no signs of goblins. Good." observes Talin. He instructs the patrol to set up a camp here, and find the best locations for lookouts.

"Look, deh trees are stayin' away from deh tower. I wander if dat be natural." says Kilian, though the disbelief coming through his accent. "Anna, let's check out deese stairs while da rangers unpack."

Anna and Kilian, doing nothing more than walking down to the first doorway while checking for traps. They'll go no more than 30'. Kilian has his axe and a torch out; Anna with her bow.
Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Longman »

well, alrighty.

The stairs drop down about 20 feet and then turn into a tunnel, which looks like it is widening out into a rock chamber. You can hear the sound of the rapids very loudly coming from the chamber and there is a damp smell about the place. Kilian suspects that part of the chamber ahead will open onto the rapids.

Another set of runes is carved at the bottom of the stair. They go all about the stair. They appear identical to the ones at the top.

Do you keep going?
Woe
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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Woe »

Nope. Not without others. It appears safe, it appears somewhat defensible, and most importantly, it appears unoccupied.

Set camp and then Talin will take a bigger party. Two rangers and the dog can stay up top, everyone else down here for a quick expedition. I think 2 EP here before calling it a night.
Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Longman »

You have two dogs. Do you take either down with you?

As Anna emerges into the dim daylight, she realizes that something was very strange in the stair.

She felt as though some part of her, a sense that she normally has, was somehow not working in there. It's not any sense she can identify, like hearing or smell, but it felt almost as though one of her senses had been removed - one she did not even know she had. The feeling passes as soon as she steps outside, and gets back past the first set of runes.
Woe
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Re: The Green Woman of the Erin

Post by Woe »

Interesting! It's an anti-magic shell, and Anna is going to be our next witch! :)

Also, Fido is coming down.


Assuming she explains it to Talin, he'll have no idea what she's talking about. Kilian does have an idea, but doesn't explain it. "I needs more ta go on den 'I lost mah sixth sense.' Rubbish, ye humans are sumtimes." Not much later though, he'll see if the blue lights work while past the runes.

I think that's the only magic items they're carrying. It might not disprove anything, but could prove a few things.
Freya HP 24/24 AC 16 (17 two weapons)
Kilian HP 20/20 AC 19 (18 no shield)
Talin HP 29 AC 16
Tiana HP 11 AC 12 SP 8/8
Fido HP 9/9 AC 16
Anna HP 12/12 AC 15 (19 defensively)
Bruce HP 20/20 AC 16 (15 no shield)

Red Oak map
Red Oak loot
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