Fondo drags the small derro behind them, but does not actually throw it into the otyugh's den. He does, however, make sure the little wretch is relieved of his components. He asks Charlie to mend his last remaining wounds .
"Friends, let's see if we can end its man-eating ways. One doesn't suffer a dog that's eaten men to live. Same with otyugh."
Waiting for others to get in place, Fondo scoops up a handful of gravedust as he sneaks into the room .
"Briar, one guard already lays dead here, failing where we succeeded. The creature sealed its fate when it uttered those unnerving words 'warm food'. It's likely content with either dead or living humanoid flesh. Let's mull over this role we play on our way back to the Guard. But first to dispose of the disposal."
Barael moves to the corridor , ready to draw a bead on the otyugh with his arrow.
So, if we turned the robe over to the Guard, wonder what they'd do with it themselves. Burn it? Use it??
Not completely in agreement, but not caring strongly enough to dissent, Nikolay draws his sword and hangs toward the back with the noisier people (W13, W14, or whatever is back enough). He'll cast his second shield spell when the party is ready.
"Remember the reach of that thing."
She nods quietly, Better it is done quickly and quietly, eh Wraith?
Dandi pulls another vial swallowing the contents as the others get into position, then readies an acid flask to throw, should the opportunity present itself.
As you approach, you hear the Otyugh sniffing at the air. Long before you make it into the room, you hear him bellow, "You tricked me! You stole my food! You must give me YOUR food!"
You don't think he means the Derro you're carrying.
First up (regular round, with his scent the 'surprise' round was getting in position) everyone except Nikolay!
Barael
Briar
Charlie
Dandilion
Fondo
Nikolay
Majenko
Good Guys
Please note! The darker brown terrain on the map is a few feet of mud. Not only is it difficult terrain, but it will impose a -2 Dex penalty as you're slogging through it.
From the original description of the room:
The majority of this room contains a nasty looking stretch of mud - a partially collapsed sinkhole - kept damp by rivulets of water seeping from the walls. A patch of solid ground extends into the mud to form an island, on which is heaped a reeking pile of body parts.
Round 1, Init 23+
Briar, listening at the door, waits for the sounds of combat lest he jump early and meet the Otyugh alone.
Round 1, Init 16+ {>AA11}
Fondo moves into the muck of the room and throws mud (har har) in the creature's eyes (oddly placed though they are). The last of his Harrow luck surrounds him, making him harder to hit. "You'll have no more meat, but here's some muck to keep you happy. Come on in, boys and Jel'enedra."
-2 Dex
AC 21 (10 +2 dex +4 mithril shirt +1 buckler +1 ring +1 combat exp +2 Harrow)
HP = 26/26
CMB 4, 5 disarm & steal, 7 dirty trick
[b]CMD 17, 18 disarm & steal, 20 dirty trick
[b]Weapon equipped none
Shield equipped Buckler
Bardic performance used 4 of 6 rounds
Spells used 1st: 1 of 2
Round 1, Init 23-
Unable to see through the crowd of people in front of her, Dandi belated follows Briar, using her full round to get there.
Round 1, Init 16-
Barael moves into the room, and passing through the slop.
Firing the arrow, Barael drops the bow, readying his hand for his rapier.
Round 1, Init 16-- (come in after Barael)
"You ready, Maj? I think I hear singing. It may not be the Elven Choral, but I'm sure mewling rats and howling dogs would find it pleasing."
I do find myself moved by it. A bit.
"Let's get in there."
Briar will open the door and let loose at the Otyugh.
to hit;
damage.
Briar swings open the door with his foot and shoots the otyugh solidly. Dandilion decides she doesn't like her position and runs around the corner to change it. Majenko also delays until the door is open and flies in to put the otyugh to sleep. Fondo rolls in and blinds the otyugh with his own mud. Barael shoots first, and rolls into position later. Charlie has one last spell, and he uses it (I think) to bless the party (except Dandilion spelunking).
Looks like the otyugh hits Barael doing 4hp of damage, so far...
Round 2, Init 16+
Fondo draws his rapier, activating his scabbard's magics as he does so . He thrusts deep into the garbage disposal. He adds a bit of inspiration in, for good measure .
"O mountain of murder, most fetid. Sleep!"
*Bless
AC 21 (10 +2 dex +4 mithril shirt +1 buckler +1 ring +1 combat exp +2 Harrow)
HP = 26/26
Weapon equipped Rapier
Shield equipped Buckler
Bardic performance used 4 of 6 rounds
Spells used 1st: 2 of 2
Scabbard of vigor Active (1 of 3; +3)
Round 2, Init 16-
AC = 18, 19 with Combat Expertise
HP = 24/28
Weapon Equipped = Rapier
Condition = Blessed by St. Charlie
Barael fights down the early morning's breakfast to remain in flank with Fondo. Bow recently discarded, the rapier's light is revealed once more.
"Gough, brov, this is nightmare. We're like worms in the s*%+, fighting a dung beetle."
"Better a winning worm than a bleeding beetle!"
Round 1, Init 5 W13-->Z9
Speed 30
Init +2; Perception +2
AC 20 (shield spell), touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+4 armor, +2 Dex)
CMB +5; CMD 17
hp 27/27
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +3
Aracana 4/4
Concentration +8 (+12 for casting on defensive)
Spells for Day
1 (4/day) Burning Hands (used), Shocking Grasp, Shield #1 (used), Shield#2(used)
0 (4 known per day) Read Magic, Disrupt Undead, Light, Detect Magic
Wand of Acid Splash (28 charges remaining)
Wand of Magic missiles (23 charges remaining)
Pearl of Power - Not used today
Nikolay blinks and everyone has already rushed up on the Otyugh.
Get in there already!
Nikolay hurries up, but misses as he rushes.
Longsword
(BAB +2, STR +3, Black blade +1, Weapon Focus +1)
Round 2, Init 16--
Briar fires again.
to hit;
damage.
Round 2, Init 23-
Dandi continues on her way to "help" Briar, moving as fast as she can go.
Nikolay moves in trusting to blindness to avoid AoOs, but misses when he arrives. Briar, though attacking a blind creature, just misses due to Nikolay's cover. Dandilion finishes her end-around run behind Briar. Majenko swings one more time. Fondo strikes at the blind opponent, and strikes true for maximum damage! Barael swings and misses ever so slightly against the blind opponent. Charlie takes a 5' step back and readies to charge in and heal any who may fall to the mighty beast.
The otyugh wipes off it's eyestalk, shrugs off two poisonings, takes a 5' step back, and vomits forth a shower of bile and rotting flesh and bones. The cone hits Majenko, Barael, Nikolay and Fondo. What's left of a hand falls at Briars feet, but the cone can't quite reach him where he stands in the tunnel. Charlie is also just out of reach.
Fortitude DC 14 or be nauseated for rounds. Also, Fortitude DC 14 or succumb to disease.
Poor Majenko starts vomiting profusely into the mud and down Barael's back. Little dribbles from above.
Round 3, Init 16--
"That fathead got in the way of my arrow. Maybe one in the back will remind him..." Briar mutters under his breath.
Briar sighs and takes aim again.
to hit; (PBS, Bard, Bless, Fathead)
damage.
Round 3, Init 16+ {X12}
Fondo tosses his cookies, and then attempts to tumble out of harm's way.
Round 3, Init 16-
AC = 18, 19 with combat expertise
HP = 24/28
Weapon Equipped = Rapier
Condition = Blessed by Char
Barael musters all he can to remain in his place, shakes his head from the trickle of pseudodragon vomit passing his ear, and lashes out against the vileness.
"Brother worm!! Where ya going?! Worms don't mind a little mud and guts now and then." Barael stands in the knee deep mud, and wonders if this was really worth pursuing.
Round 2, Init 5 -->AA09
Yuck! We need to finish this thing quickly.
Nikolay casts shocking grasp into his sword and it quivers.
YES! I like it!
Nikolay then takes a 5' step foward and tries to slash the creature from top to bottom.
- FORT vs nauseated
- FORT vs disease
- Cast defensively
- longsword (-2 for spell combat)
- no confirm
- longsword damage
- shocking grasp damage
[
And Nikolay, in a flurry of electrical bladework finishes the otyugh! Well done in a pinch!
And he does it before I get an AoO on Fondo, so we're completely clear.
It is mid-morning. You have not searched the entire place, nor have you cast detect magic everywhere.
If you search the complex until mid afternoon you should pretty much give it a thorough going over. I'm not saying take-20 levels, but a good solid search. If there are areas you want to take-20 let me know.
So, thorough search? Or get the body out and leave?
Ouch. Complete robbery there.
Barael watches in awe as the longsword falls across the monstrosity. Not caring that both are covered in spew, Barael embraces Nikolay in a chest-level bear hug.
Barael is not interested in returning to this foul den again, so he'll content himself with a thorough search through the afternoon.
He'll also wave off any attempts at getting magically cleaned up.
Nikolay is up for a thorough search. The only spot he'd take 20 is with the collection of scrolls/books.
"Things might grow legs, or have them attached, and walk out if we wait to search."
If Nikolay spends time on the spot in the library, Barael takes 20 on the sinkhole. He occasionally skewers the otyugh's cooling body in spite.
Fondo wretches for a few moments onto the otyugh's smoking shambles of a corpse. He's careful not to dribble any on Nikolay.
"Friend eldritch knight, you've an impressive arm. Well done! You as well, little brov. And you, milord elf. The shadows shrink before us. Desna smiles upon us. Well done. *COUGH*"
Fondo sags a bit. Clearly something is not right with him. But he smiles easily enough.
While the others search, Fondo ties up the surviving derro. "Kroft may want to know of his ill deeds, before formally executing him." He periodically checks on the derro, clocking him if he should awaken. Lucky we didn't feed you to that beast.
Fondo does scan the various dead bodies for magic, though they've no doubt been picked clean by the magic-grubbing elf.
Briar smiles as Fath--, uhm, as Nikolay takes down the otyugh and lets loose with a placated "huzzah".
Walking into the room (but avoiding the sludge and Fondo-emissions), Briar looks for additional enemies and fires once into the otyugh "just in case".
damage.
"Let's search quick, I don't have any love for standing the muck."
Briar will cast Detect Magic and aid in the search from a safe, dry spot.
Perception
* * *
"Wait guys, I think I... oh. You killed it without me." Dandi stores her acid flask away and contents herself with looking around, heading back to the room with all the beakers and equipment in it see what can be seen.
"OK. I'm ready for combat. Hey, where is everybody? I thought these things were tough."
AC 13 (10 +3 MW studded leather)
CMD 10
HP = 21/21
If anyone is poisoned Charlie will attempt a heal check (6)
The spells/day listed will include the casting (if any) that I made this round
Orisons DC:4 (Create Water, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize, Mage Hand, Ghost Sound)
First Level: DC:15 (1/5 per day) (Bless, Ray of enfeeblement, Shield of Faith, Cure Light, Protection from Evil)
Oracle Revelation: Eldritch Bolt 5/7 times per day.
summon elemental: 4/4 rounds per day
Sociable Trait2/4 rounds per day
wand CLW 15/50
Weapon equipped = Biting wit
Shield equipped =OMG please don't hurt me
Nikolay cleans off his sword and wishes desperately again that he didn't have to trade out prestidigitation today.
"You look a bit worse for wear there Fondo. We will need to make sure Charlie checks on you."
"You're looking a bit bloody yourself, Niko. Luckily it's not your blood." Fondo happily cleans the filth and blood off of himself and his companions.
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Looks like we have three people searching more thoroughly in the muck, alchemy lab, and library while the rest of you do more casual searches of the remaining areas.
Items found in no particular order include...
Alchemy lab worth 300gp
an amber necklace worth 350gp
a silver letter opener worth 250gp
a spell book containing the following spells
Zero: all sorcerer/wizard except conjuration and illusion
First: cause fear, chill touch, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement, sleep, shield, feather fall, sleep
Second: blindness/deafness, scorching ray, spectral hand, false life, darkness, scare, command undead
Third: fly, vampiric touch, gentle repose, water breathing
It is roughly mid-afternoon as you exit the warren pushing a cart with a no longer twitching body in various parts. You do find a large bag at least to put all the parts into so it's not flopping around.
Fondo thanks Nikolay and Charlie for their concern, and happily accepts Charlie's ministrations.
"Briar, I wonder if you'd consider selling or donating the robe the the priests of Pharasma here. They'll thank you for it, I'm certain. In any case, I'd like to let them know what we found, as we leave."
Fondo goes to find the boneyards priest, letting him know of the necromancy they found. Unless Briar consents, he does not mention the robe of bones.
Barael tries to move the mud, but it keeps filling in the holes. Arm-deep, still nothing. Then, what's this? A thigh bone, no doubt, from its length. Barael slowly draws it from the suck, while doing so, he assesses Briar's position. As the bone makes its final popping noise from its immersion, Barael feigns an off-balance movement, and the bone is airborne, a carrion meteor, streaking through the glow of the mold. Barael watches as the bone bounces off the elf's chest, a new banner of mud across the robe. To the elf's unamused glare, Barael simply answers "oops".
Barael wipes the excess mud from his forearms and palms, and draws himself out of the sinkhole. He catches up to pristine Briar, and chuckles as they gain the setting sun at the Dead Warren's entrance.
As the party reaches the surface, and fresh air, they rejoice in the light. It's mid afternoon on a pleasantly warm day - a far cry from the cold dampness of the shafts below.
You trundle with your derro-sized wheelbarrow a few blocks through the streets. A few glance at you but most are willing to let you go your way with nary a look. This is a big metropolis and if you want to push a derro and large sack down the street who's to stop you?
At the Citadel the derro is quickly taken into custody and you are escorted, wagon and all, into Cressidas office. While you give her the run down of events, she sends a messenger to Thousand Bones.
About the time you're finishing your tale, Thousand Bones comes into the office. Cressida explains to him that his grandsons body has been found, but alas it is not intact. He seems saddened by this, but understanding.
In the end, he sighs and prepares to leave, hoisting his grandsons body out of the wheelbarrow.
The Shoanti Priest holds out his gnarled wood staff to the party. "Though he may not be whole, he is complete. I thank you for your efforts and give you this in thanks and as a sign of peace between our people. You have done well."
He moves slowly but powerfully to the door without the support from his walking stick and carrying the heavy burden of his grandson over his shoulder. He turns once and nods curtly to Cressida, and departs.
Charlie will reverently step forward and receive the staff. "Being new to the faith, I thank you for this gift and will try to use it in the spirit of new beginnings."
Barael makes a point of a non-singing bardic performance in Cressida's office, regarding Nik's last blade stroke.
Barael studies the exchange, old man to old man, and tries to understand it. "...so, Charlie. The staff is a symbol of the Shoanti's power with his people? Like a soldier's flag? Or is it more than wood then? If another Shoanti were to see you with it, would they pay you more respect?" Seems a shame the old Shoanti had to leave without it. Wonder how far he has to walk with such a burden.
"I'm fixing to return this blade to the Church, and I'd welcome a visit with Saul soon enough. Let me know if you need help setting up the lab back at Zellara's, Dandi."
As the party marches back to the Citadel, Briar, slightly embarrassed at the gorewagon, walks behind the party.
What we needed is some sort of container for this bloody cargo. Like a barrel. A Barrel de Gore.
* * *
At the Citadel, Briar wonders what his payment was going to be for his service (although actual contributions were minimal) in the returning of the Shoanti.
As the staff gets passed to a new home with Charlie, Briar almost holds his hand outstretched for his share of a payment.
When none forthcomes, Briar sneers momentarily before returning his face to his usual countenance.
What? Are we supposed to slice the staff in 6 parts? Or sell it and share the proceeds? Or...or...are they paying us as a group?! I'M STUCK WITH THESE PEOPLE?!
Nikolay tries to brush off Barael's praise, but can't help finding himself standing taller and puffing out his chest.
"We all worked well together."
Yes. We did. Magic and steel. Magic and steel. We need more magic. Nikolay's blade quivers ever so slightly.
---
When Nikolay has some time alone, he will use the identify scroll from Briar and try to gain a better understanding of his blade as well as the dagger that has so far bewildered the party.
daggger
sword - LOL. Exactly as I've been playing it. I'll have to learn the hard way.
"One moment." Cressida calls to you before you leave and asks you to wait. When Thousand Bones is well and gone she continues.
"Bad news I'm afraid. Trinia has been found guilty of the crimes against her, and she is scheduled to be hung tomorrow at dusk in Castle Korvosa's public courtyard."
She pauses to let her words sink in. Then she takes out a package from behind her desk.
"The Queen wanted you to have this as thanks for bringing her in."
Cressida seems clearly to be of two minds, but says nothing further, but instead pushes the package across the desk toward the group.
Inside the package is the following:
- potion of cat’s grace
- potion of jump
- +1 mithral shirt
- masterwork dagger
- two bronze bracelets worth 50 gp each
- copper necklace worth 100 gp
Dandi stands there silently for a moment, then turns and runs from the office, nearly hyperventilating in her panic. Tis our fault! We've doomed her to death! We know better. We know what the "authorities" are like. Never again! Never ever ever again!
Upon entering her office, Fondo gives Kroft his irregular salute and bows to the Shoanti. "You've quite a squad here, ma'am. Desna herself marshals us to victory. Nik the mighty spell stroke. Barael's a walking abattoir. Briar, who I'd trust to hit a fly from across a market square. If the fly were giant and standing still with a bullseye on its thorax. "Dandi's bombs tear apart foes. And friends. While Charlie keeps us *COUGH* hale and hearty. *COUGH* It's been a pleasure guiding them to victory. They do Korvosa proud."
The news of Trinia's brings out an altogether different side of Fondo. "The lass is innocent. The priests lie, or they are fools. What questions did they ask of their gods?! How can you let this stand?" He looks accusingly at Kroft, his admiration for her gone and replaced by old mistrusts.
It wasn't hers to say. It's out of her hands. But she's still the knight mustering the Queen's pawns to fell work. Fondo's look softens a bit, then hardens again.
Cressida speaks quickly, "The priests were very thorough. They even asked some oblique questions to be certain. Questions such as 'Did poison kill the King?' *Yes* 'Was Trinia present when the King was poisoned?' *Yes* and even, 'Did Trinia possess the poison that killed the King?' *Yes*"
"There can be no mistake. Trinia is involved and she is guilty."
Even though the words leave her lips, she seems herself unconvinced.
"And did they ask they direct questions? 'Did Trinia kill the King?' 'Did she do so of her own free will?' Those questions dance around the matter. Worthless." He begins to spit on the ground but remembers himself.
Cressida speaks warmly and directly at Fondo, "Sir, you forget yourself. The priests would be idiots if they did not... and they are not idiots. Do NOT presume!"
Cressida calms down a bit and says nothing more.
"Why did they ask the 'oblique' questions? All three of these could be true if someone else was the killer. Even though all three are true, she could still be innocent. Is there no intelligence amongst the religious? Why did no one ask, 'Did Trinia kill the king?!'"
This is why. This is why I could not remain here.
We must protect the innocent.
Nikolay paces about the room before finally stopping.
"Is there no appeal? This thing stinks worse than that otyugh."
Briar shrugs.
She fooled us all. She's guilty and let what happens to her, happens because the Gods found her guilty.
"If the Gods found her guilty, she is guilty. No deed hides from their sight."
Briar picks up and examines the armor, casting Detect Magic, and examining the weaves of both chain and abjuration about the armor.
Too bad this is made of metal and not rose.
* * *
"It's been a pleasure guiding them to victory. They do Korvosa proud."
I wonder if he'll be as so quick to take credit for a failure as he is the credit.
Briar smirks.