Chronicles of Arcania: B/X Homebrew game.

Game Master Peet

How do readied actions work?
"Ferrous, what do you see? Is it a demon or a beast?"
Brathas draws back his bow and prepares to shoot the creature if it charges us.

Big Ugly Four-legged winged thing. the dwarf stammered out as the light from the beetles stole his infra-vision sight away from him again.

How do readied actions work?

Brathas draws back his bow and prepares to shoot the creature if it charges us.

I run readied actions more or less like Pathfinder. If you want to ready a shot with the bow when you can see the target that's fine.

The only real exception to how I run readied actions is that if an enemy is charging you, you can only pre-empt their attack with an attack that either has reach, range, or is designed to be set against a charge. If swordsman A has a readied attack and is charged by swordsman B, then both attacks will resolve simultaneously.

What about Fistep, Wallia, and Zynazyr? What do you guys want to do?

Not being able to see the creature or what is in the room, Zynazyr looks at Ferrous. "Should we enter and fight, or move on? Did you see anything worth investigating?" he says nervously.

Walia uses the doorway as cover readying an attack in the case the beast comes through and others do not choose to close the door.

The party waits for a signal, apparently frozen with indecision.

Fistep: It looks like it is up to you to decide. Enter? Or close the door?

This is tricky because Ferrous is the one who saw everything but his action comes up after the beast.

This is tricky because Ferrous is the one who saw everything but his action comes up after the beast.

I have no problem with you telling people what you saw without it being your turn yet... which you did.

Bah, close the door and lets move on...

11:20 AM, Day 4

Fistep pulls the door shut. A moment lather, there is a heavy *THUD* as something large strikes the door from the other side. After that there are scratching and sniffing sounds from the other side for a few moments, after which there is silence.

So: what now?

* Open the door again?
* Return to the turntable and try a different exit?
* Do something with the basket?
* Do something with the pressure plate in the damp room?
* Try to burn out the fungus in the fungus room?
* Something else?

"If we aren't going to kill the beast, then I recommend that we try another direction."

"I would like to search that room. Ferrous, can you describe the creature and perhaps Zynazyr or Ana will know what it is and how we should deal with it?"

"I would like to search that room. Ferrous, can you describe the creature and perhaps Zynazyr or Ana will know what it is and how we should deal with it?"

Because you can't always count on someone to be online at the right time, when dealing with a combat encounter I tend to assume that characters will share relevant information, and I don't spoiler the details of what a creature is like, unless there is some valid roleplaying reason not to, or if the information is not very important (like "elves like to eat these creatures with a wine sauce"). That way, if Ferrous did not post anything in the thread that day you would still be able to decide what to do.

So you can find the description HERE. You can assume you have this information.

Based on that visual description, do any of our characters know what this thing actually is?

The details available with infravision are not as good as seeing something with visible light. Ferrous could not tell you what color it is, for example.

But it sounds like some kind of reptilian creature. The fact that it seems cold-blooded (by the temprature) would indicate that. Whether it is simply an animal or some kind of magical creature you cannot yet say.

Grumps sounds more like a dwarf daily probably because of the beard due to lack of shaving. We kept going from battle to battle... and as much as I'd like to test my mettle against an enemy, must we fight everything when we need water? Shakes his head I saw press on, if its not obvious that we can obtain water here... we know what waits, so if we need to come back we can

"Back to the rotating passage, then?"

"For once, Fistep and I are in agreement," Ana adds. "Besides which I don't fancy dining on roasted lizard."

"For once, Fistep and I are in agreement," Ana adds. "Besides which I don't fancy dining on roasted lizard."

It is worth noting that if you are considering returning the Magi's supplies to them then you will need other sources of food.

Anyway, if you are returning to the turntable, which way do you want to go form there?

Walia says "We should go back to the turning room."

I would like to explore what is #8 on the map.

Ferrous looks at Ana with a sneer when she comments about roasted lizard. Protein is protein. Wait until our bellies are rumbling louder than that turntable you'll be wishing to have a belly full of the stuff then I bet.
He then looks at everyone else in the group. So back to the contraption then?

Shakes his head I saw press on, if its not obvious that we can obtain water here...

BTW, to be fair, the only places you have actually found water so far haven't necessarily looked like there was water there. And you turned away from the area that looked like there might be water (the damp chamber).

Anyway... It sounds like you guys are returning to the turntable, but so far only Wallia has suggested a direction (#8). Are the rest of you in agreement or would you prefer a different direction?

True, there could be a secret compartment with water underneath the snake basket for all we know... Or through the yellow mold room... Or in the winged lizard room, or the evil pit. #8 is fine with me for now.

Number 8 works.

number 8 it is. I'll be able to post tomorrow.

11:30 AM, Day 4

TIER 3 MAP updated.

The party returns to the turntable and activates the eighth button. The turntable slowly turns around.

When it stops the door opens on to a narrow passage which opens out into a 20' x 10' chamber. The southern 10' section of the east wall is a portcullis beyond which is a 10' wide passage that after 20' narrows to another narrow passage. No mechanisms to operate the portcullis are visible.

At the north end of the narrow passage is a narrow vertical slot in the wall. It is too small for an adult human to fit through, but Ana or Ferrous might be able to squeeze through.

"WHO GOES THERE?!" calls out a voice from the other side of the slot. You can vaguely see the glint off a bronze mask, though the slot is a little too narrow to make out details.

"IDENTIFY YOURSELVES! WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?" calls out the distinctly female voice.

You can also see a hand holding a bow, with the tip of an arrow protruding forward. Clearly the slot is some kind of arrowslit.

Dialogue or combat could ensue here, depending on what you do (and say).

Er, we are on a mission from the magi... looking for their missing provisions.

Ana almost elbows Fistep in the gut when he starts speaking, but decides to let it play out.

Walia says, "We mean you no harm, we have inadvertently ended up here and were exploring this location and the strange technology and here were are at your doorstep. Maybe we can trade or exchange information."

Ana almost elbows Fistep in the gut when he starts speaking, but decides to let it play out.

Ana's instincts were probably right, but the cat is already out of the bag...

Er, we are on a mission from the magi...

"We mean you no harm..."

So let's see what happens here. You've said you are from the Magi but also that you mean no harm...

2d6 - 3 ⇒ (6, 5) - 3 = 8

The woman behind the arrowslit begins shouting again. "MAGI! Alarm! The Magi are here!"

Another voice, not as lout comes from somewhere behind her. "Those aren't Magi! They're goblins! Look at their faces!"

There is a pause.

"What do you want, Magi? Or whoever you are. You know we do not 'trade' with the Magi. And no tricks!"

Walia thinking quickly says, "We're neither. I am Walia of Winterbourne Stoke from a land far from here and these are my companions. We have stumbled upon your location looking to meet with you and to trade. Supposedly, someone stole provisions from the Magi, between you and I, the Magi are a very strange group of people. May we have the pleasure of making your acquaintance?"

Loudly enough to be overheard...
"Walia, the women are speaking. It is not our place to talk. Our leader should speak for us."

Raises his hands in a show of peace even if his shield is still strapped to one arm, No tricks... we just wish to talk. said with a smile. He nods towards Walia, gives a shrug to Ana, I can assure you we are not goblins.

Too subtle, I guess.
"Not you, Fistep. Our leader, Anastoria."

"We come in peace. I wish to speak with your leader," Ana says, matter of factly.

Ferrous in the front bows his head briefly in respect and turns when Ana speaks and looks at her with awe.

A group of women emerge from the narrow corridor and take up positions behind the portcullis.

They all have bronze masks that resemble that of the female statue on top of the pyramid. They also wear what looks like bronze chain mail over green tunics. They are armed with spears, swords, and bows. The women of the rear ranks all have their bows out and arrows nocked.

See the TACTICAL MAP if you want to get an idea of their positions.

"So, you are from the Magi," the one in front speaks. "Do not attempt any sorcery. If you do, my warriors will shoot you where you stand."

"Hmmm... you're a strange looking lot. What sort of creatures are you then? Some kind of conjuration of theirs?"

BTW, ignore the pointy ears of the avatar. There aren't many avatar images with masks.

One of the other women pipes in. "They look like goblins!"

The woman behind the arrowslit says, "They said they were looking for stolen supplies."

"Ha! Stolen supplies!" the leader laughs. "The Magi have a lot of nerve to accuse us of stealing their supplies!"

"Is that what you wanted to discuss? We do not have your supplies, nor do we know their whereabouts."

Walia speaks up and says, "I know it is considered customary for our leader to speak, however, she is our physical leader, I am responsible for the spirituality of our clan. We are not goblins and we don't work for the maji. I know the goddess is very wise and she must be respected in all things."

The woman scowls.

"What in Hades are you on about? First you work for the Magi, then you don't. Speak plain, and don't waste my time!"

"Let me be clear. What do you want? And if you are not goblins, what the hell are you?"

Sorry, been swamped at work.

Looking the most like a magi, Zynazyr stays quiet, trying his best to not draw attention to himself. He looks at Wallia and then the ceiling while shaking his head in disbelief as the cleric continues to speak. "What is he doing? For supposedly being the wise one, he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut." He looks at Ana, hoping she can step in and defuse the situation.

Ana clears her throat. "We are not goblins, but rather outsiders from the lands beyond the desert. We are not allied with anyone, though we have met the magi in our exploration of this place. We met them on friendly terms, and hope to do the same with you." She fixes her hair, acutely aware that the points of her ears may be showing. "We come in peace seeking only food and water for ourselves and our fellows above."

Nudges the priest with the bottom of his shield, whispering hush

Ooo... irony, both the dwarf and fighter are the most charismatic of the group

"We are not goblins, but rather outsiders from the lands beyond the desert."

She laughs. "Hah! A likely story. Did the Magi tell you to say that, or did you make that one up on your own?"

Considering that nobody you have met has ever believed this I am surprised you are still telling people this story.

"... we have met the magi in our exploration of this place. We met them on friendly terms..."

"If you made friends with the Magi then you are fools. Their mouths are full of lies. They worship a god of treachery and deceit and black magic."

"We come in peace seeking only food and water for ourselves and our fellows above."

The woman frowns. "Did the Magi not tell you where such things could be found? Such things are hardly secrets. Perhaps your 'friends' will share their provisions with you? I see no reason we should haul supplies up here just to hand them over to friends of the Magi."

She pauses for a moment, and sighs.

"Why should I trust you? I have already caught you in one lie, and nothing else you say makes any sense. I would suspect this is some ploy by the Magi, but I don't see how they could gain by it."

Brathas turns to Ana.
"My lady, let us leave these good people in peace. Surely we can better use our time opposing the Priests of Zargon and the goblins."

Right you are... Not worth the waste of tongue or blade!

When he gets nudged by Fistep, he shoots him a vapid look as if to say you done got us in this mess with your mention of the Maji

And then says in a whisper to Fistep 'Can't you avoid saying offensive things? Asinine, provoking them makes little sense.'

Does everyone want to move on? If so, I assume you fall back to the turntable... which way next?

I'll give it a little longer in case anyone else wants to say something, and then move on.