Ashardaldon Series - Unoptimized KK
Game Master Freddy Honeycutt

Xane shrugs....flexing her shoulders even as she shows she's unconcerned either way. She slows and looks around for a nice place to rest in the shade of one of the tree.

"Okay, if we're going to follow them...I have an idea." She winks conspiratorially, even as she settles down to wait for a bit.

Xane has a plan (^_~)

Thedrin initially makes off to follow the orcs, though is driven to pause by Xane's mention of a plan. He turns a quizzical and questioning eye upon her...

Xane rests against her chosen tree...and waits a short while....(^_^)

"What is tha plan?"

After a short rest...and the Orcs are no longer hear-able nor see-able...Xane stands up and sorts the group into a rough line with herself and Soot at the front and Gurukk at the rear.

Then she goes to where the party saw the Orcs and

Animal Handling: 'Take Ten' =15

Gets Soot to begin tracking the Orcs.

Perception Soot:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 (Tracking)

And after a few false starts (She eventually uses a small scrap of Gurukk's clothing to help Soot along.

Perception Soot: 'Take Ten' =15

The group trails along after the Orc mob.

(^_^)

Soot takes up the trail and at times gets a bit excited.

You are certain that a dark spot low on a tree means you are headed the right way.

Soot licks the wet spot a couple of times as you watch!

Thedrin follows in step as directed, happy to accede to their new Ranger companion... though he doesn't lick the wet tree...

"Orc piss I bet, Zane yah better not let Soot lick yer face!"

As you observe the four orcs ahead of you they take a path that climbs up one last steep switchback toward a bare shoulder of rock. The hillside climbs steeply on your right and drops away precipitously on your left. Debris and rubbish lies scattered over the last hundred yards or so of the path—discarded waterskins, bits of charred bone, and splintered casks or kegs discarded carelessly from the path. Up ahead, the path opens onto a wide ledge and then doubles back sharply into the mountainside.

This once hidden carved pathway is one option though the smoke that rises seems to indicate a different direction.

"Sooo - through the path or toward the smoke?"

"Where there is smoke there is fire, its a sign from the Fire God. So towards the smoke!"

Xane shrugs, even as she gives Soot a good scratching and playful tussling for doing such a good job of leading every one to the place.

You trace the smokyness to a saddle between the stone tooth and another smaller hillside, dense thickets and boulders are strewn in the area and a deep enbankment has to be climbed.

Picture

Perception DC 16

Perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Xane looks at the hole in the ground...."Hmmm...I didn't think about that..." She seems to say to herself..

"Whaddya findin?"

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"What didn't you think about?"

"Respen, should we go down this hole?"

"Either that or charging through the front entrance, hehe." As he says that he takes a marble out of his pouch and tosses it down the hole and listens to any reactions or noises from it.

perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Thedrin sits back a moment, seeing his companions have it well at hand and awaiting their thoughts.

The marble falls.....
....and hits a solid surface

knowledge nature/"physics"
DC 13

"Lower a rope and let Gurukk go in first. Gurukk can see in the dark and if any orcs are down there they may accept Gurukk as one of theirs long enough to get the drop on them."

Xane kneels down and absently scratches behind Soot's ears.

"Aye, let's figure out how deep and vertical this hole is..." Xane suggests.

And, for those who haven't figured it out....Dogs can't 'climb'...:P

"Soot belongs inna chimney, by Jimminy!"

At Erky's comment, Xane just raises an eyebrow, and continues to scratch Soot's ear while pondering the issue at hand.

"So Gurukk yer goin down fer a look an you'll tug tha rope three times tah comes down an four times tha yer comin back up?"

"Sounds good. Gurukk will tug only one time if it isn't safe, or zero times if Gurukk is dead."

head first?
feet first?

with a rope?

Please make 3 climb checks and 2 reflex saves.....

Thedrin continues to watch... clearly Gurukk was in his element here and he was not sufficiently qualified to intervene...

Gurukk will climb down a rope if there is a place to tie one down up here, other wise will climb down without one

Climb 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Climb 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Climb 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Gurukk will take the quick path

Xane sighs as Gurukk clambers down the rope.

"Really...he isn't that heavy. I could have lowered him, y'know..." She crosses her arms and huffs a little. Seeming disappointed in people's lack of faith in her abilities.

:P

Thedrin puts a hand to an ear and awaits the inevitable squishy thump...

THe barrow chimney opens up in 30 feet to a domed ceiling over a fire pit, that is used for cooking a small fire is going there. The chamber if about 20 feet high, you will have to use a rope to continue down to the floor.

Make a perception check!

Meanwhile, outside...

Xane looks at Soot, looks at how much rope the party has.

"So...does any one think we can make, maybe, a sling type affair..?" She asks of those remaining opinions...

"Like I said, after I realized Gurukk went down, I can easily just lower ever one on a rope. No need for climbing or hanging around at all..." She frowns, even as she again bends down to rub and scratch Soot. "You're a distraction, yes you are, yes you are..."

Well then Gurukk will need to be lowered down by Xane if she is willing

No worries then. :)

Who's got the skill with tying up ropes?

Gurruk describes a room below....

The chimney

A large, smoky fire crackles in the center of this room. Battered pots and kettles are stacked all over; clearly, this serves as a crude kitchen. You notice a distinct draft drawing the smoke up through a rough hole in the ceiling of the chamber.

Erky steps up and securely ties Gurukk and then begins to craft a harness for Soot.

OKay...Xane will lower folks down the hole. The second last 'person' down will be Soot...That way there are lots of folks down there to catch her if something maybe goes wrong and also release her from the harness.

After that? It's Xane's own fault if she falls and lands on her @rse. (^_^)

Xane's Spelunking:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

EDIT: Does the DM want any type of 'Strength check' for Xane's efforts getting folks down the hole?

Thedrin submits himself to the lowering, thankful when he reaches the base that a fire affords some degree of light for his eyes.

It doesn't really take that much time to get everyone lowered into the caverns below....

What is the plan for the rope?

What is the plan for the rope?

Not sure I understand you. Xane climbs down with out using the rope and brings it with her. She was acting as the 'anchor' and 'lowering mechanism'. :)

That works fine!

Xane comes down last and is ready to go.

seems to be only one direction to go at this point!

Marching order and stealth if needed....

happy to bring up the rear with Soot. (^_^)

Stealth Xane:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Stealth Soot:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Thedrin in the middle with Erky and Respen / Gurukk at the lead?

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

I will be posting a full map under the campaign tab...

"Gurukk will go in front in case dumb orcs see Gurukk. In orc tribe, Gurukk is quite the smooth talker."

"Gurukk do you wish for us to stay back so you can do your talking with them seeing us or do you want us close behind just in case." He'll be the second one going through the tunnels.

Stealth:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Map is up and you are in area 5.....

"Yes stay back from Gurukk, but not too far back. Feel free to ambush them while Gurukk keeps them busy."

Purdy map - I think we follows Gurukk into area 4a for a looksee first

While she's awaiting every one moving out, Xane takes a peek into anything about the place that might be...edible...

perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20