GM Choon |
The ooze is severely damaged, but still manages to squish it's way over to Melkar, dragging poor Zadira asking with it!
1d20 ⇒ 14
2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7
1d6 ⇒ 1
An appendage forms and strikes out! Melkar takes the hit well, but feels the same locking up in the joints that effected Zadira!
Melkar: take 1 physical and 6 acid damage. Also, make a DC 20 fort or be paralyzed for minutes: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5) = 11
Zadira: you take 1 acid damage
Party up! Sorry that took so long.
Grelthe |
Grelthe will swing at the cube for all she's worth.
flail 2-handed attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
flail damage 2-H: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13
Melkar |
fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Melkar's joints freeze in place and he is paralyzed before he can even scream!
Hopefully Grelthe's swing just finished it off!
Zadira |
Was there any treasure inside Mr. Jello?
Anyone have actions in the 11-13 minutes before Melkar and I come out of paralysis?
Grelthe |
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Grelthe drops her flail, breathing heavily from exertion, and rushes to check out Zadira's status. Content that she is alive, she pauses a moment (Is the servant of Apollyon worth healing? Regardless of who he follows, he has been helping us), and then inspects Melkar as well. Since they are both damaged significantly, she channels positive energy twice while kneeling between them.
channel healing: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7
channel healing: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8
Zadira & Melkar please gain 15 hp.
She detects evil on Melkar, and takes all his weapons & mutagen (but decided not to tie him up). (If anyone complains about her taking Melkar's weapons, she will explain she wants to interrog... uh, question him, and glare them a challenge to try and stop her.)
She then spends the next solid 5 minutes berating the paralyzed Zadira for her hasty and unthinking action of charging the deathly cube. It was obvious what she was trying to do, and it only temporarily delayed the situation, and nearly killed her.... AGAIN.
Then she confers with Catarya & Kayla, about whether they want to continue to have Zadira lead the front of the party, or if we should switch around the marching order.
How evil IS Melkar? Just a wee tiny bit, or a moderate amount, or what?
(Also, I realize that is a lot to declare at once, but we do have quite awhile while the other 2 are paralyzed, so taking advantage of it. Other players feel free to react to or interrupt my declarations.)
Zadira |
Ha ha. I took the HP, thank you, and I think it is hilarious that you are yelling at me while I am paralyzed. :)
Zadira doesn't look properly repentant, because she can't move, or avoid the lecture.
She thinks But I *haven't* been in the lead... really. I mean, I just go places because everyone else is waiting around and discussing, and I get bored... and I've been better lately. But then this whole Melkar thing... oh, whatever.
She tries not to listen to Grelthe and focus on her happy place (amidst heaps of glittering gems) but it is hard, since she is paralyzed.
In 8 more minutes, she might have something to say. :)
Kayla - Black scorpion |
With some paralyzed and Grelthe busy with the evil stuff, Kayla does not even seem to acknowledge the disarming. she has her own issues and prefers not to bring them up.
instead Kayla checks out the stuff that the Jello dropped, her eyes catching sight of the gem.
Kayla quickly snatches that first and pockets it.
moving over to Zadira, laying there unmoving. sitting beside her as she is getting lectured, Kayla gently pokes her a few times you gonna be ok? can you hear me?
Zadira |
Strangely, the paralyzed woman just lies there, not responding to being poked, unable to move.
You guys are hilarious. I should get paralyzed more often (oh, wait, no... Grelthe would kill me)
Grelthe |
Grelthe talks a big bluster, but she is really just overly concerned - it comes from a place of love. Besides, yelling at you while you're paralyzed is the only time you can't talk back ;p
Zadira |
Exactly why it is funny. :) So... thoughts about where to go next? (we should be waking up here soon... I assume you and Melkar will have words, but after that)... back south?
Grelthe |
Assuming Catarya has no declarations to make... eventually both paralyzed folks' effects wear off.
Once Melkar is able to communicate again, Grelthe will ask him why he serves Apollyon: You don't seem evil to me, especially since you have been helping us. In fact I rather like you Melkar, but I don't understand why would you follow the Archdaemon of Pestilence? Has he given you some special directive for Rappan Athuk? If so, what is this goal? Would you sacrifice the safety or health of anyone in our party to achieve it?
Diplomacy?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Sense Motive his response for truthfulness: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Zadira |
When Zadira can move again, she wipes the drool off of her cheek and says I'm okay Kayla. Stop poking me. She grins.
She stands up.
Thanks for the healing, Grelthe. You're a good friend. I will try to be more careful.
(She has the appropriately repentant face now that she can move her face muscles.)
She uses some water from her canteen to wash any jello residue off herself and combs out her hair the best she can while she is waiting for Grelthe to finish chastising Melkar. Since Grelthe healed him, Zadira is pretty sure Grelthe isn't planning to go all bandit-leader on him, and so doesn't bother pleading for his life or anything.
She then pulls detect magic back up, sees that there is a magic arrow, and appropriates the 5 arrows. She gathers the gold, splits it 5 ways, and gives everyone 8 gold. (She waits until Grelthe and Melkar are done talking before giving them theirs.)
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 <--To notice Kayla taking the gem while I was paralyzed
(probably needs some minuses... not even sure I was paralyzed facing that direction... GM call)
Zadira doesn't mention the gem-taking, even if she saw it while paralyzed. No more party arguments... yet.
Kayla - Black scorpion |
Kayla did not try and hide taking the gem. she just liked it. she has it but will not deny taking it.
Kala smiles when everyone is no longer so stiff. glad your ok. you want some chocolate, I got one more piece left. she offers her last piece to Zadira.
Melkar |
OMG you guys are killing me! LOL @ lecturing the paralyzed.
Melkar heaves a sigh of relief as Grelthe finishes off the jelly. Or he would, if he were capable of heaving. Instead he lies there motionless as she berates the similarly helpless Zadira.
Eventually, the feeling returns to his muscles as the cube's toxic touch begins to wear off. "AHH! Pins and needles!" He hops around awkwardly for a few moments. When his nervous system has finallly returned to normal he addresses Grelthe:
"It is not by choice that I follow the Prince of Plagues, I assure you. He spared me from an epidemic which decimated my people and in so doing he called me to his service personally. It was horrible! And attending him is no picnic, either." He looks wistfully off into the distance. "I have seen and done some terrible things. How I envy the others whose suffering ended with the disease!"
He focuses again on Grelthe's eyes. "My lord has commanded me to find the opening to Hell which is rumored to exist here in Rappan Athuk. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do if I find it. I don't think he expects me to last that long.
"You see, this command is punishment. I have grown too soft, too caring for those I associate with. The Horseman is furious and he will trample my soul with eternal torture for daring to show empathy. I would prefer to survive as long as possible in this realm to avoid that."
He looks around at the others. "Why are you all here, in this accursed well of death?"
Zadira |
Thanks Kayla. That would be wonderful.
She eats the delicious chocolate, which is so good it distracts her from being paralyzed and swallowed by Jello.
She is also relieved to hear that Melkar is not as evil as... well, at least that he seems redeemable. Although she doesn't know how in the world they are going to get him out of his predicament. There has to be a way though...
Why? I've always been drawn to underground places. I think ... I found out a few years ago that the man who raised me wasn't my father, and my mom had been paying someone off to not tell me about it. I suspect it was some evil underground dweller, which is why I almost feel drawn to places like this.
... The whole father thing sounds (and is) horrible, but my parents were smugglers and I guess, for them, it was just business. They made a deal with people who could get them gems, and that was part of it...
Truthfully though, I'm just here because I want to be here. I don't have a home anymore, and I'm sort of running from whoever had my parents killed. ... I used to be a smuggler too. <She holds her hands up to Grelthe to stop her from saying anything> Before you say anything though, I don't do that anymore. I promise I'm not evil. ... but I still like gems, and underground spaces. I usually feel more comfortable down here than up there. Not enough to set up shop like those bandits were pretending to do, but... enough to enjoy it, and want the challenge of mapping it and making it safer for people to come down here.
I mean, we look around us and we see traps and monsters, but... it's also beautiful, isn't it? The intricate stonework, imagining the sheer effort that it took for people to build this place. People should be able to see all this art and history and beauty without risking their lives.
...Except those tapestries we found. Those weren't art. Kindling more like. I didn't think of using those in the slime room, but we should have.
Zadira trails off, realizing that she has been talking way too much.
Grelthe |
When he says he envies those who died, Grelthe's expression & tone softens in compassion.
"We would also like you to survive. I am sorry for your situation, it does not sound pleasant, but I must make sure our mission and our group is not at additional risk. How does your Lord contact you? Do you always follow his commands? Has he ever punished you for disobedience before? What would you do if he ordered you to kill one of us?"
In response to his question: "Why are we here? Well, I am more and more sure my God drew me here to keep Zadira alive..." She leans over to Melkar and whispers ("She is very useful but also rather foolish").
Leaning back, she continues "However, my original purpose was to cleanse Rappan Athuk of evil... if there is a portal to Hell here, that might explain the source. In truth I am not sure of the other's motivations, they will have to speak for themselves. I assume Catarya is here to put the undead to eternal rest?"
Her focus and attention have completely been on the two (formerly) paralyzed folks, so she is too oblivious to notice the gem snatch.
In response to Zadira:
She looked affronted for a moment when Zadira says she used to be a smuggler, but quickly calms down at her assurances. Aye, burning those tapestries might not be a bad idea.
Zadira |
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
("She is very useful but also rather foolish")
I heard that. She smiles though. It's something they already know about each other. Zadira will get into trouble, and Grelthe will save her. But I *will* try to be better she thinks.
Kayla - Black scorpion |
smiling at everyone's recovery, Kayla evades the question again by really allowing others to answer.
There's some stuff that the Jello pooped out when it died, or whatever it does when it gets beaten enough.
Zadira |
Yep, did you get your 8 gold that I handed you?
And it's okay, Kayla, you don't have to talk about the past if you don't want to.
Grelthe |
Assuming Melkar guarantees our safety I would of course return his weapons.
Grelthe gives Zadira a big bear hug to let her know all is well.
Kayla, I don't think you did ever tell us why you were so interested in Rappan Athuk? Considering what just happened I would like to avoid such... surprises in the future, by knowing my partners motivations.
Zadira |
Zadira hugs her back.
Kayla just gave me chocolate. I think that means she's nice.
Kayla - Black scorpion |
Kayla steps back a few steps, her body language indicates she really does not want to answer the question.
my reasons really are not important, at least not right now. I give my word that I have no intentions against anyone here.
Glancing off down the nearby hallway, hey, wasn't there a door over that way? she says changing the subject as best she can.
Grelthe |
At Kayla's refusal to give her motivations, Grelthe's body tenses up. She relaxes only slightly when Kayla says she "has no intentions." She looks wary and her eyes dart between Melkar and Kayla, now, but she says nothing.
She thinks to herself: Grelthe, Grelthe, Grelthe, you have to start prescreening your companions more carefully. Not being able to trust half of your companions is going to get tiring, fast. At least I know the lady following Pharasma can be counted on. Zadira seems alright as well, since earlier she said she also wanted to clear the dungeon of its evil.
Melkar |
"You have nothing to fear from me. I respect you all as fighters and as strong, capable women. More importantly, I have literally nothing left to gain by betraying you. We may emerge from this place from time to time, but I shall never actually leave here alive. That rather puts things in perspective, don't you think?"
Listening to Zadira, Melkar is moved by her passion. "I had honestly never had a single thought about the stonework in here." He strolls around the walls for a few moments, having a good long look at the craftsmanship.
"I don't see it. Sorry, but I don't have much of an eye for art in general. Unless it's directing blood spatters into a geometrical pattern," he chuckles bitterly.
After Grelthe shares a little more, Melkar smiles wanly. "I hope that cleansing this place of evil doesn't include me. I admit I fear that our destined paths may someday intersect violently. But I trust that will not happen unless all the other evil has first been eradicated. I will gladly work with you to carve our way through them all as we descend towards Hell. If you can trust me, that is." He offers her his hand in fellowship.
Sorry, I'm trying to not make him too brooding. As long as he's busting skulls and not talking about his own situation, he should be able to keep it under control. heh
As to his relationship with Apollyon, I have left that vague on purpose. I don't know much at all about how it's supposed to work and I'm happy to have our illustrious GM run that however they see fit.
Catarya Utanbe |
"I assume Catarya is here to put the undead to eternal rest?"
"Yah, tat is it. Tis place is used by te cult of Orcus, who is a patron of te undead. When I herd of it I chust knew tat was why I couldn't get passage off te island. I kept being drifen back because the Lady of Grafes had a task for me."
When Zadira hands Catarya the coins, Catarya looks at them in her hand.
"I don't mind difiding up te coin now, but it seems too be, how you say... premachure. We can't spent it in here. And we haf to difide te other stuff tat we can sell too. Doesn't it make more sense to difide eferyting when we get back to Zelkor's ferry? Tat way we can account for te oter stuff."
"And ya, happy to burn te tapestries."
Zadira |
We haven't really gotten much treasure so far, and Grelthe is carrying all the extra stuff. I've just been dividing up the coins as we go along, because I .... like having money. Might be a greed thing. Helps me to give it away as we go so I don't grow attached and want to keep it, you know?
Zadira lays a hand on Grelthe's shoulder:
They're okay. If they wanted to stab us in the back, there have been plenty of opportunities. They are on our side. We're all in this together. Okay? Don't obsess over this. We all need you focused on the real bad guys. Now, come on. If you want to walk in front of me, then walk. Let's go south.
Zadira starts walking south very slowly moved in that direction on the map, but not very far so that we can get into marching order. If Grelthe moves, then Zadira will stick behind her.
I think that changes the marching order to this, but correct me if I am wrong, guys, or say if you want to be somewhere else:
First row: Grelthe, Catarya
Second row: Zadira, Kayla
Third row/rear guard: Melkar
Is that right?
For single file, if we need that (I don't think we have so far), I still need to be near the front (for the automatic trapfinding), so I think this: Grelthe, Zadira, Catarya, Kayla, Melkar
Grelthe |
Grelthe listens attentively to Melkar, and when he is done takes his proffered hand and shakes it strongly, once. Between that and Zadira's calming words, she seems to be content for now to leave the status quo as it is.
(But still side-eyes Kayla from time to time when she thinks no one is looking. lol)
Grelthe is willing to move on, but reminds you all that that last batch of healing took up most of her spells for the day, so we should probably be a bit more careful. Not sure how long we've been down here either.
2/6 Lay on hands left
Fine with that marching order, Grelthe likes being in the front since she's slow. Can't find Catarya's speed, but Melkar is slow too, might benefit switching them around, unless Melkar is happy to bring up the rear?
GM has the rest of this all been one day? I assume so, as we haven't mentioned leaving.
Zadira |
Yeah, yeah, we'll be careful Zadira says as she pushes Grelthe to go a little faster.
They walk up to the hallway to the south. (moved on map)
GM Choon |
The walls of this room are made of mortared stones, but fossilized human skeletons poke out from it to varying degrees. In one place, a skeletal stone hand pokes out from the wall, in another place the skull and ribcage of a stone skeleton protrudes from the wall along with one arm holding a sword in its hand, and in a third place the entire left side of the fossilized skeleton is visible, with the right side embedded in the wall.
There is nothing magical about the skeletons; whatever bizarre event happened here, it happened a long time ago. The sword is not magical, and cannot be removed from the skeleton’s stone hand without breaking the stone with a hammer or some other sturdy implement.
The next room south is relatively featureless, but it is an important discovery.
In the southern part of the room, there is a stairway leading down into the darkness, flanked on either side by iron statues of cobras. Both cobra statues are coiled, but with the head raised and the hood out, as if ready to bite. Each of the statues sits upon a short stone pedestal six inches in height.
As you enter, one of the iron cobras turns to face you and hisses in a horrible metallic screeching!
init snake: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
init Grelthe: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
init Zadira: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
init Catarya: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
init Kayla: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
init Melkar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Whole Party is up. Map updated!
Zadira |
Zadira steps to the side to get a clear shot at the cobra.
Attack Cobra: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Grelthe |
Grelthe steps forward and around towards the back of the snake. Seeing how little damage Zadira's attack did, she drops her shield to attack two-handed.
Flail attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Flail damage 2-handed: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9
Zadira |
Well, I guess a scratch is better than nothing.
Kayla - Black scorpion |
earlier...
Kayla feels a little more uneasy as they go, worried she is doing something wrong. She sticks by Zadira's side as they move, almost like she is Kayla's only friend.
combat time...
Kayla tries to hide in the shadows along the wall of the room. her weapons are most likely useless against these metal things.
stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29
Catarya Utanbe |
Catarya looks at the cobra nervously. Is it a creature? Or a machine?
She ducks to one side and stands at the side opposite Grelthe. She reaches out to touch the cobra with her hand.
"Let's see what yu are..."
Touch, +2 flank, -4 fighting defensively: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 2 - 4 = 20
If that is a hit I will use my knowledge blessing, so I gain knowledge as if I had rolled a 23 on the relevant knowledge (which I'm guessing is arcane).
Melkar |
Melkar is relieved when Grelthe accepts his explanation. He is happy to take the rear for now, if it will help the women trust him.
When they spot the cobra, he immediately goes into smashing mode! He rushes the stone snake, whipping out his earthbreaker on the way.
attack+charge+mutagen+rage: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 31
damage+mutagen+rage: 2d6 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2, 5) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 23
Zadira |
Wow, Melkar. You just really don't like snakes, do you? She grins.
Grelthe |
Grelthe nods in approval at Melkar's tactics and picks up her shield. "What an odd type of creature to find down here. I wonder if the skeletons in the last room were what is left of that large party that disappeared ages ago."
"These stairs appear to head downwards, perhaps we should finish clearing out this level before we continue on?"
Zadira |
Agreed.
Kayla, did you want to try to get some poison from that thing?
Zadira maps the room, and then shows everyone where there was a cross corridor that they should investigate. She waits for the party (of course), and for Kayla to try to get some poison from the metal snake, and then they go back to the last intersection they passed.
Moved Party.
GM Choon |
The hall leads to a door, the one marked with a wolf from your entry point. You proceed north to the next door, but stop when you find a pair of boots and a metal gauntlet lying in front of the door to this room. Zadira notices a sheen on the door and the floor in front of it and warns everyone to not touch it.
Looking into the room you spot a treasure chest on the northern wall across from the door, and a skeleton’s hand lying on the floor just next to the door, cut off at the wrist.
Kayla - Black scorpion |
Kayla moves to examine the metal snake remains. looking over what poison the thing may contain, going off the information provided by the others, Kayla tries to figure out a way to extract the poison for her own use.
craft alchemy for the poison: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 = 17
Once at the other door, alchemy again: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
gee the dice are starting to hate me again
That stuff on the floor is some nasty stuff, we used to use it back home as a practical joke. its a type of a glue. very strong glue. I never fell for that trick though, and I don't plan on starting to now.
Grelthe |
"Hmm, do we have anything we could use to push on the door, maybe it opens inwards? I have javelins, but I'd rather not ruin one if possible. Anyone have a better idea?"
Catarya Utanbe |
Catarya looks at the boots and the gauntlet.
"Why would you leafe your boots here? And glof? Do you tink tat te gauntlet is the one tat would be on tat hand ofer tere?"
Catarya looks closer.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Zadira |
I have Open/Close, which I've been using on all the doors, but this one is already open or we wouldn't be able to see the chest inside.
Detect magic on boots and gauntlet = worth trying to unstick?
We don't have any solvent, so let's try a few things. Grelthe, do you want to try Spark and see if it burns? I'll try acid. And if we can't think of anything else, then we use the bed bridge. Or I guess we could go get those ugly tapestries to lay across if the patch is too big to bridge. Other ideas? Grelthe? You look like you are thinking of something.
Acid Splash (ranged touch): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Acid damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3
If it seems to work, she keeps doing it. If not, she waits for Grelthe to try and listens for other ideas.