Wrinkler's Well
It had been a long day, after finishing work at the lumber yard you headed over to The Squeaky Door Inn for a drink and a bite to eat before planning to return to the dormitories for a hard earned rest. After finishing your steak and kidney pie you take a moment to rest your tired muscles on the couches by the fire. Cradling your apple cider you are just starting to doze off when with a squeak and a bang the little blue door of The Squeaky Door Inn swings open letting a chilly spring breeze in which raises the hairs on your neck. There standing in the doorway a rather short round hedgehog wearing an apron and carrying a rather large soup ladle.
Daisy: "Come quick I think something terrible has happened to old mole Wrinkler!"
stix: "OK I'm coming."
Kayla "You need me?"
Stix "she'll need us both sorry I don't know your name I'm stix"
Kayla "Ah. I. Kayla. I'll help."
Daisy the Hedgehog "I went to take him some soup but when I arrived, he wasn't there. all I could find was his shoe and his walking stick by his well."
Kayla "Think he fell? Or go for walk?"
gromon last of the frostwolfclan "maybe i dont know."
gromon last of the frostwolfclan "if he fell in the well than i think he is dead."
stix he could of gone for ethier I think we should prepare in case of both.
Daisy the Hedgehog "I'll show you to his house."
stix OK mam kayla are you coming with me?
Kayla Yes, will follow little man
stix I'm not that small your just tall
gromon last of the frostwolfclan no u are small
Kayla Where go? Want carry?
stix sure fine kayla only because you seem cool
Kayla *grabs him by the back of the shirt and sets him on her shoulder in one quick yoink*
gromon last of the frostwolfclan il also go with you 2
You follow Daisy out of The Squeaky Door Inn, the little blue door bangs and squeaks each time one of you passes through, most of you need to bend down to exit as the door only stands four feet high.
Cydril About to walk into the inn, I turn to follow the group clearly headed somewhere in a hurry.
the Spring night air is chilly and a light breeze bats the paper lanterns hanging from the trees which line the cobblestone roads as you make haste through the village on your way to old mole Wrinkler's home at the edge of town.
When you arrive at the small home dug into a hillside you find the house in disarray, tables broken, shelves upended, the contents of cupboards and dressers pulled out on the floor.
the well is located within the home, as Daisy said, there by the well you see one small shoe, and a walking stick, laying on the ground.
Kayla Mess.. mole no clean?
stix huh I have no clue either kay
Daisy the Hedgehog "see all that's left of him is his little shoe, and his walking stick...... although I may have forgotten to mention the place was in a state and turned upside down. What should we do!"
Kayla Mmm follow tracks? @Daisy the Hedgehog looks down the well
Kayla What down there? *lean over looking down not thinking of Styx on her shoulder*
Daisy the Hedgehog "it's very dark down there, I can't see the bottom, it must be over 100 feet deep!"
Kayla *stares down the well* really... so no jump?
stix kayla*tries not to fall*
Daisy the Hedgehog *looks at @Kayla in disbelief* "No probably not a good idea"
Kayla Oh! Little friend! *stands up quickly almost tossing him off in process* pulls out a rope and javelin and ties the rope around it and drops the rope down the well leting the javelin rest across the top*. Now climb?
stix OK climb
Cydril I lean over the well and yell "You okay down there?"
Kayla Looks down as well miss? Little buddy?
Daisy the Hedgehog * Daisy calls back from down below* "we ran out of rope!"
Daisy the Hedgehog "but I can see the bottom now! maybe another 50 feet..... maybe"
Kayla Uh any one else got more rope? Should I pull you both up and tie on more rope?
Daisy the Hedgehog "please! it's quite difficult holding on at the end of the rope here!"
@Kayla easily pulls up @stix the gnome and @Daisy the Hedgehog.
Cydril "I have another 50 ft of rope if you need."
Kayla Good tie on
Cydril I tie my rope to the end of the other rope
Kayla Ok back down ya go
With the rope now long enough to reach the bottom everyone is able to descend to the bottom of Wrinkler's Well.
reaching the bottom of Wrinkler's Well the first thing you realize is that it's pitch black, the second thing is that there is no water at the bottom.
@Daisy the Hedgehog @Quinton Polls @gromon last of the frostwolfclan and @stix with their dark vision also notice that there is no Wrinkler at the bottom of the well, and that a hole is visible in the wall about 3 feet in diameter.
Everyone notices the unpleasant warm wet air smelling of acidic swamp water which permeates from the hole.
Kayla Digs in her pack an pulls out a torch and flint an steel to light it
by the light of @Kaylas torch everyone can see at the bottom of the well, you notice a small shoe sticking out of a muddy puddle, it looks like the one you saw at the top of the well that belonged to old mole Wrinkler. you also notice muddy footfalls leading into the tunnel ahead.
Kayla Squats and makes her way through the hole in the wall her massive frame barely fitting
Cydril I follow Kayla through the hole.
Kayla It's small hole be careful... Kayla don't fit well...
Quinton Polls *Quinton being shy so he is just follow the party silently and follow right after @Cydril *
everyone squats down and shuffles along the tunnel following @Kayla with the torch all except @stix and @Daisy the Hedgehog who find the tunnel quite roomy. ahead you hear muffled voices, only for a split second before they abruptly stop as the torchlight glints around a bend in the tunnel.
Quinton Polls "what was that noise @Cydril? does anyone else hear it @Daisy the Hedgehog @Kayla @gromon last of the frostwolfclan @stix ?"
Cydril @Quinton Polls I whisper "It sounded like voices. People talking. But I couldn't hear what they were saying."
@Cydril recognized the voices as speaking draconic but it was too brief and muffled to understand.
Quinton Polls "well, i guess we just have to get going though. i hope there aren't any dragon down here"
Cydril @Quinton Polls "They were definitely speaking draconic, but I couldn't hear what they were saying."
Kayla *at hearing dragons she pulls her maul from her back and pushes forward watching the ground for drops or hazzards*
Cydril I ask the group, "What is going on here? Should I try to call out to them?"
Kayla "If scaly man want Kayla smash if nasty."
stix it's up to you kayla
Cydril I say something loudly in draconic I say in draconic, "Who's there? This is Cydril, a warrior of the Flametongue clan. We are looking for Old Mole Winkler."
you hear some scuttling around the bend but no response to @Cydrils call.
Kayla May smash head? *points around the corner.*
Cydril "Let's go, I got your back."
Kayla Keeps moving forward crouched down and shuffling around the corner
you come to an open space, the ceiling is still only 3 feet high but the room is much wider. dirt and mud are piled in heaps around the outskirts of the room, the excavations seem recent. opposite your position you see another passageway leading away behind an iron gate, the muddy tracks lead off in that direction, the pungent smell of stagnant swamp water and vinegar is also wafting through from this direction.
Kayla Moves to the gate and try's to open it
Cydril I move to the gate and try to help Kayla
as you move into the room towards the gate from behind the dirt piles pops up 10 Kobolds who sling rocks at the group.
The surprise attack leaves the group badly injured. @Daisy the Hedgehog casts healing word on @Kayla
Kayla "Thanks miss. Feel better."
@Daisy the Hedgehog casts guidance on @Kayla @Cydril and @gromon last of the frostwolfclan
Daisy the Hedgehog "anytime, now let's send these creatures packing, they must have molenapped Wrinkler!"
@5 Kobold @2 Kobold @8 Kobold @4 Kobold close in to attack. stabbing out with their daggers they are unable to inflict any damage.
due to the low ceiling it's difficult for those over 3 feet tall to move about.
Narai *Narai cast sleeps in the center of kobold, kobold 9, kobold 3 who are far from the party.* "Good night!"
@Kobold @9 Kobold @3 Kobold and @5 Kobold fall asleep
Narai "Aww they look cute falling asleep" *Narai laughs.*
@6 Kobold and @7 Kobold close in with their daggers drawn. The Kobold gives @Kayla a nasty stab wound. The Kobold stabs @stix who drops to the muddy floor unconscious and bleeding from a nasty wound.
Narai "Omg guys, i think we need to run... im scared"
Daisy the Hedgehog "don't panic! thanks to you half are asleep."
Kayla tries to swings with her maul in the cramped conditions but misses.
Electricity crackles as @Cydril releases his breath weapon, the two kobolds are quick and nimble but the raw power of the lightning is too great and they are left electrified and twitching dead on the muddy ground.
@10 Kobold rushes forward and tries to stab @Quinton Polls.
a deep wound topples @Quinton Polls who falls unconscious.
@Daisy the Hedgehog casts healing word on @Quinton Polls , she then casts Spare the dying on @stix stabilizing him.
with @Daisy the Hedgehogs healing words @Quinton Polls is brought back to consciousness and ready to fight on.
Quinton Polls "thank you @Daisy the Hedgehog for the heal"
Quinton Polls "my dear patron, the great fiend grazzt, give me your strength" *proceed to cast Burning Hand at @10 Kobold*
the fire from @Quinton Polls outstretched hands engulf the kobold its quick reflexes no match for the overwhelming power of the flames, its chared body collapsing in the mud.
@gromon last of the frostwolfclan crawls around and uses his javalin to stab at @6 Kobold. the Kobold is impaled and falls lifeless in the mud.
@2 Kobold attacks @Kayla with its dagger .
@4 Kobold stabs at @Cydril
@Kayla slumps unconscious and bleeding, while @Cydril receives a nasty stab wound.
Narai "Stix!" *Cure wounds for stix*
@stix is revived by @Narai
stix I cast sleep on 7 kolbold
stix After waking up I say"kayla noooo"
as @stix casts his spell the last of the kobolds fall asleep. all the kobolds are now sleeping, the sound of their snoring filling the tunnel.
@Daisy the Hedgehog casts spare the dying on @Kayla
@Quinton Polls *i decide to switch target and protecting @Kayla. i aim at @2 Kobold to cast magic* "Eldritch Blast"
@Quinton Polls eldritch blast obliterates the sleeping kobold.
@gromon last of the frostwolfclan moves towards @Kobold and stabs it with his javalin the javalin impales the sleeping kobold killing it instantly.
Cydril *I want to use second wind and then try to restrain kobold 7.* "If we keep one alive I may be able to get some information out of him."
@Cydrils second wind refreshes the dragonborn invigorating him for further battle. @Cydril easily uses his manacles to restrain the sleeping kobold (@7 Kobold ) and gags it using a torn strip from his clothes.
this wakes the kobold from its sleep but it is now gagged and shackled and otherwise incapable of doing anything else but lay in the mud at its captors mercy.
@Cydril *I make sure kobold 7 is watching me and I stab kobold 4 in front of him*
@4 Kobold is killed while sleeping by @Cydril @gromon last of the frostwolfclan continues his rampage crawling forward and stabbing @9 Kobold with his javalin The defenseless sleeping Kobold is quickly killed by @gromon last of the frostwolfclan as the half orc continues his murderous rampage against the sleeping kobolds.
Quinton Polls *i aim at @2 Kobold * "Eldritch blast"
Quinton Polls "don't worry @Kayla, i will aid you"
stix "kayla don't worry I've got this"
stix casts fire bolt a combined attack from @Quinton Polls eldritch blast and @stixs firebolt eviscerates the sleeping kobold.
@Narai casts cure wounds on @Kayla
@Kayla is revived.
Kayla "Ugh... Pain little lizard will pay."
gromon last of the frostwolfclan *i use my javelin to stab the kobolt*
@gromon last of the frostwolfclan slays the sleeping kobold
@stix *I cast Ray of frost*
The kobold is frozen solid.
stix "kayla we did it"
Kayla She growls and nods "these little tunnels not nice"
stix "I know let's get outta here then can I have uppies"
Kayla *a giggle as she nods*
Quinton Polls "glad you are okay @Kayla, you have been passed out for a long time. i have been trying to fend you off the kobold"
Quinton Polls "im also glad the party is okay, should we proceed onward to find missing person or a short rest before we give going?"
Kayla Nods slowly as she looks back to Quinton "good for now"
the group moves forward through the iron gate into the next chamber. by the light of the torch you can see that this was the source of the wells water, a natural aquifer flows from the rock here but a dam has been constructed rerouting the water to a waterwheel. the water from the waterwheel flows down a passageway leading into darkness, connected to the waterwheel is a simple rope pulley system with hooks, and small boats with rope loops sit at the waters edge. by the boats you can see a torn piece of clothing.
Daisy the Hedgehog "that torn piece of cloth looks like it comes from Wrinkler's jacket."
stix oh yeah kayla *puts my hands up in the air* uppies please
the ceiling in this room is much higher about 6 ft and looks to be a natural cavern carved by the waters which used to flow here, and feed the well, the tunnel leading away where the water has been rerouted looks to have been dug recently from the water level to the ceiling in this tunnel it is about 4ft, sitting in the boat there would be ample head room for a kobold.
Kayla *Kayla can't stand yet she is still stuck crawling in the low tunnels, she looks at the gnome apologetically*
stix oh good point maybe
stix * stix just holds on to her*
Cydril "I don't know about you guys, but I think we should rest before continuing after that battle."
Kayla "Yes tired and sore.... Need sleep... not want to crawl around more tunnels..."
The party rests for an hour by the side of the flowing water, Daisy is noticeably distracted, wanting to find Wrinkler as soon as possible, but the rest does everyone a world of good, giving them time to eat and drink
@Daisy the Hedgehog eager to continue the search for Wrinkler prepares the boats at the waters edge ready to depart down the tunnel.
Quinton Polls "boats in place like this hmmm......"
Cydril *I help Daisy get the boats ready*
stix I just stay near kayla panicked about both of us almost dying and just hold on to her and say
"do you promise that if I'm down again you'll just leave me because that was scary"
Kayla "Don't leave friends will carry you looks around and takes one of the small boat and holds it like a shield*. Keep safe."
stix "I will kayla its just if that happens again .I don't want anyone else to be hurt. But coming back was scary I don't want that. Please promise that if I'm down you won't save me.I care about you kayla your my only friend but I can't experience that again."
Kayla Kayla just looks at him. "Protect friend"
stix "I appreciate that kayla. (I rest my head on her)I'll try my best to protect you."
Cydril *I pat Stix on the shoulder as I walk by, saying "Dying in battle is a glorious death little one." I then move to get in one of the boats*
Kayla *Puts the one she's holding in the water and sits taking up most of the space in it as she almost has to lay down in it to not hit her head*
with the boats now in the water the group attaches the hooks on the rope to the loops on the boats and with that the simple pulley system worked by the waterwheel begins to pull the boats down the tunnel in the direction the water is flowing.
as you travel you notice that the swamp and acidic smell is growing stronger the further you head down the tunnel on the little boats.
Kayla "Smell bad..."
stix "yes it does"
the boats slowly move along the rope pulley, some time passes allowing @Daisy the Hedgehog the time to pray to Chauntea replenishing her spells. @stix , @Narai, and @Quinton Polls are also able to use the time to replenish their spells and energy.
eventually up a head you hear the rushing of water and a pale golden green light marks the end of the tunnel the light flickers and glints off the water, its reflection dancing along the tunnels walls and ceiling.
the little boats arrive at a small lake at the edge of the waterfall, the rope pulley bringing the little boats close to the shore allowing the party to release the hooks and drift to the bank. the ceiling here is much higher and does not seem to be recently made unlike the tunnel they just traveled through.
looking around by the golden green glow you realize that the lake which feeds the waterfall is in fact a ledge within a massive cave. looking over the edge you can see the source of the fowl smell the waterfall flows into a large swamp below at the center of which is a green bubbling pool, at the bottom of the bubbling pool you can see shining piles of gold. in the center of the pool sits a large blackish egg. you also see hanging from a tree at the edge of the pool a cage, inside which sits a mole. you also see five kobolds sitting around the cage. around the cave walls you notice numerous tunnels similar to the ones you have been traveling through and were probably made by the kobolds.
Daisy the Hedgehog "Look it's Wrinkler"
Kayla Ooooh.... Big place.... shiny things under there..*points down as she picks up the small boat as a shield again*. Oh! Oh big egg make big breakfast!!!
Cydril "Yes it would." I look at the egg to see if I know what kind of egg it might be.
stix that's not good *hides behind kayla*
stix "kayla careful"
kayla Careful what? *looks confused*
Stix
that egg is suspicious
gromon last of the frostwolfclan
"i like eggs"
@Cydril recognizes the blackish egg, it is the egg of a black dragon.
Cydril
"The swamp, the acidic smell. It all makes sense now. That is the egg of a black dragon. Whatever we do, we should do it carefully.... and quick."
you see that there is a pathway leading down to the swamp below.
Kayla
Little lizards worship the big one right?
Cydril
"Yes, but the egg is not what worries me. What worries me is that where there is an egg, there is usually a mother not too far away."
Kayla
No. No no fight big lizard *starts watching the ceiling and walls*
With the assistance of Daisy and guidance @Cydril looks around and notices the lack of a mother, and other eggs, he also notices, complex wooden walkways and a rope pulley system, this egg was definitely moved through the tunnels by the kobolds and placed here on purpose from a different location.
Kayla
Kayla holds the boat up like a shield as she readies her spear
Cydril
"There may not be a mother. Is strange that there is only one egg and it looks like the kobolds took it and brought it here. Still I think we should be careful and quick."
Kayla
*a odd look crosses her face* no mom.......
Cydril
"No Kayla, there's probably no big mom lizard."
Kayla
*looks down* no mom
stix
I look at her and hold her hand and saying will be fine I have no mom and I turned out great.well to be fair I have two dads but still.
Kayla
*puts away her spear starts down towards the egg. a firm set to her jaw*.
Take care of.
stix
we could I guess I've never been a dad before
Kayla
Should have a mom... a dad... not good no family.... Hard....
Cydril
I shake my head. "I think we should freaking with those kobolds first, then worry about the egg."
Kayla
Tiny lizard? Make sleep.
Cydril
I nod. "Permanent sleep."
the group heads down the path and soon finds themselves on a wooden walkway which leads across the swamp towards the kobolds camp and Wrinkler.
Kayla
*Adjusts the small boat shield and readies her spear.*
Cydril
"Maybe we can use the trees to get closer and surprise them."
the group sneaks up through the swamp hidden by the tree cover until they are very close to the kobolds camp.
Kayla
"Make little lizards sleep yes? Kayla stab till sleep?" *she whispers to the group*
Cydril
"Yes. Everyone ready?" I whisper back
Quinton Polls
*poor @Old Mole Wrinkler got captured*
The group launch their surprise attack on the unsuspecting kobolds.
@Cydril moving out from cover unleashes his breath weapon at the kobolds.
caught off guard the lightning from the bronze dragonborn hits its target their corpses left twitching on the wooden walkway.
from the cover of the trees @Kayla launches her javalin impaling @13 Kobold its body toppling off the wooden walkway into the swamp.
@stix flings magic missiles at @14 Kobold, the bolts of energy homing in on their target slamming into the kobold and in a flash of purple light the kobold played dead on the wooden walkway.
@Quinton Polls casts eldritch blast a beam of energy sending the kobolds corps flying into the swamp.
and with that the last of the kobolds are slain.
@Daisy the Hedgehog rushes up and lowers the cage with @Old Mole Wrinkler inside and helps him out.
Kayla goes towards the egg
She reaches the edge of the bubbling pool at the center of which is the large blackish egg.
around the egg you can see shining piles of gold beneath the surface of the bubbling pool.
Kayla Uses the javelin she impaled the kolbold with to check the water lowering the dead kolbod in
as the kobolds body enters the pool the waters react bubbling violently revealing it to be acid as it blisters and eats away at the kobold corp's flesh.
Kayla
"Um water bad it hungry.... How get to egg?"
as she removes the javalin she sees that the metal has stained and salts have crystallized on the metal, it's hard to tell how long it would take to completely corrode however.
Cydril
I go to the tent in the camp and check to see if there's anything inside
inside the tent Cydril sees animal skins which cover the floor, probably for sleeping on, and a wooden crate.
inside the crate are three bottles of liquid one red, one blue, and one black, as well as a sack of gold coins, two golden cups a golden statue and one golden tray.
these items were probably here to be added to the horde of treasure already in the pool.
Cydril
I take the items and put them in my backpack
Kayla looks around for any metal frames or structures?
looking around she finds that everything is wood.
as you search around you hear a scratching..... then a tapping...... then a cracking sound.
Kayla
Looks to the egg
stix
I look at the egg at point at it
looking towards the egg you see that it has broken open and is empty!
Kayla
Attempts to use herAnimal handling skills offering it ration and part of one of the kobolds. "Here little guy!"
Quinton Polls
"we should check those suspicious potion, i assume the red one is healing, but not sure blue and black is"
looking around the party fails to notice the sinister shadow swooping in from above, except @Kayla who quickly tosses a dead kobold into the air offering the tasty treat to the hatchling.
the @Black Dragon Wyrmling lands in the center of the group devouring the kobolds corps quickly before turning its eyes to the group.
Kayla
Little one behave! Come here. *she calls to the hatchling*
Quinton Polls
"quick everyone scattered, also try to search for useful items, we are literally in a place full of gold and possibly stolen stuffs. there might be something to use against such creatures"
Quinton panicked as he rushes everyone to move away
Cydril
I run to just south of Old Mole Wrinkler and swing at the dragon with my sword.
Cydril
After striking the dragon I yell in draconic, "YIELD WYRM!"
@Cydril slashes with his sword cutting off one of the wyrmlings wings. it shrieks in pain hatred flaring in its eyes.
glowing missiles fly from @stixs outstretched hands striking the wyrmling hard, its breath becoming ragged as it clearly shows the signs that it is badly beaten.
@Narai strums her lute and begins to sing the ballad 'tears of the last dragon's' giving @gromon last of the frostwolfclan bardic inspiration.
@gromon last of the frostwolfclan swings his greatsword at the @Black Dragon Wyrmling
but misses.
the dragon rears back in a final attempt to turn the tide of battle breathing acid spray towards @Cydril @gromon last of the frostwolfclan and @stix
acid bursts forth killing @Cydril takes the full force of the blast his Dragonborn scales burnt from his body his skin melting away to bone. @stix while able to dodge the main blast still receives massive damage rendering him unconscious on the floor the acid clinging to his flesh. @gromon last of the frostwolfclan manages to dodge the main blast but the acid splash burns the half orcs face his hereditary endurance kicks in forcing his body to push on despite the fatal damage received.
@Daisy the Hedgehog runs up and casts spare the dying on @stix stabilising the gnome.
@gromon last of the frostwolfclan swings his greatsword again, this time his aim is true cutting off the @Black Dragon Wyrmlings head it's lifeless body slumping to the ground a nocsuius combination of black blood and acid oozing forth dissolving the wooden walkway around the corps until it falls into the swamp below sinking out of sight.gromon last of the frostwolfclan
@Narai casts cure wounds on @stix reviving him.
@stix
"now what the hell was that as i fall back olmost dead"
stix
"It happened again .I didn't want this again. Why didn't you leave me?"
*cries and runs off*
gromon last of the frostwolfclan
"little man stay here"
Kayla
Stix! *chases him*
Old Mole Wrinkler
"we should leave this place as quickly as possible"
gromon last of the frostwolfclan
"gods be damned lets go mole and follow them
collecting @Cydrils body and the items he had taken from the kobolds tent the group make their way back out of the tunnels returning to @Old Mole Wrinklers home.
once out of the well together you seal it to ensure the kobolds cannot use it again to reach the surface.
the three bottles of liquid one red, one blue, and one black, as well as a sack of gold coins, two golden cups a golden statue and one golden tray, which @Cydril had collected before his death fetch a good price in the market which helps pay for his funeral with some leftover.
the group once more goes their separate ways but they always remember their adventure and when they occasionally see each other at the Squeaky Door Inn they recount the tale and raise a glass to their fallen companion and the adventure down Wrinklers Well.
