If he does study, we want to support him.
"Why yes certainly, perhaps you could prepare some tea for us.We will be back soon to share it with you, perhaps you could be a dear and ensure that the others don't interrupt us helping Crove"
"What an amazing place you have here, is there anything I should take care to avoid? A wonderful man like you no doubt would know such things"
Victoria spends a short moment inflating the mans ego and ingratiating herself...
Diplomacy
Solaric holds his tongue for a moment and smiles as he watches the Countess exercise her remarkable charm and influence over the unsuspecting dolt.
The dumb man grins and replies in a now nearly friendly tone
Well betta watch out for'e lunatics and other orderlies, kay, sweety? Especiall Bargo will be furious if he finds ye, heh! I make tea now.
And with that he turns around and walks back into the kitchen.
"Impressive, your Grace! I see I have much I can still learn from you. Well, let's see if we can find some stairs down and see what Crove is up to. Let's try this way!"
Solaric leads the party northward to AV13 and looks west.
"Too bad we didn't get any directions."
"Normally men are so bad at providing them" Victoria replies dismissively.
""Normally men are so bad at providing them"
Solaric comments, "Perhaps that is because we usually know where we are going and simply do not ask for them. Hence we never hear directions given."
You walk down the dark stony corridor and as you take a look arround the corner, you spot two more orderlies standing in front of a large door, loudly discussing the physical qualities of "Imara".
Solaric returns around the corner and confers with his companions.
"Ok, what do you suggest? We have two orderlies guarding a door. Do you want to bluff our way past these guys, or simply take a different route?"
Pitr hangs back around the corner ready to attack if it comes to that.
"The orderlies are guarding the door up ahead. Although we urgently need to find our way to Crove, I am not convinced that these workers need to be slain. We needed a distraction of sorts for them. Do you think we could convince them that they are needed elsewhere?"
I propose you Solaric use diplomacy. I only know a spell creating a fixed illusion. But at the moment I do not see how this will help us here...
"Perhaps I should check to see if they give off any evil auras before I try my diplomacy."
Solaric will discretely cast detect evil and see if either of the two ordlies give off an aura of evil.
@ Solaric:
You don't sense any evil, but maybe these orderlies are just not powerful enough.
Victoria, I memorized a spell which creates sound and a spell which creates a silent image. Do you posses any spell which would - in combination with the one or the other - lead to a sufficient result?
My proposal would be directly talk to them.
"My proposal would be directly talk to them."
"Thank you for the encouragement, Johenric. I do not detect any evil. Perhaps with some manners they will let us through."
Solaric walks up to the orderlies and confronts them.
"Well met, gentlemen! I am Solaric Zekkaran, and we are Karcau's Chosen. I am looking for Waldur Crove, and the other orderly sent us this way. Could you be kind enough to lead us the rest of the way downstairs?"
Diplomacy
The orderlies stop their talk at once and seem totally surprised, maybe even a bit intimidated.
The more burly one harrumphes and replies
Umm...I'n't know ye...who be ye? You a frien' of Crove
The other ordlerly twiddles nervously with his club.
"Umm...I'n't know ye...who be ye? You a frien' of Crove"
"Do I appear to be a friend?! And do I need to repeat myself?!!!! I am here for business! Crove and I have urgent matters to discuss with my colleagues and you would do well to escort us down there right away! Now, let's not tarry a while when we have a Yog Sothoth on his way over to pay us all a friendly visit! Let's get this meeting started!"
Hmmm, ok, me no wanna have shogatotagh in here! the other one nods eagerly and you begin to ask yourself if the lunatics are the oderlies in this strange asylum...
The stairs are right here! he points at the door next to you.
Here he throws a ring with keys over to you. Give 'em to Crove when you found 'im.
Many Thanks
"The stairs are right here!" he points at the door next to you.
Here he throws a ring with keys over to you. "Give 'em to Crove when you found 'im."
"Thank you, gentlemen. I will certainly see that he gets them."
Solaric takes the keys and opens the door to the stairs. He leads his companions onward.
"Follow me, my friends!"
Once out of view of the orderlies, he pats Johenric on the shoulder and says to him, "Thanks, my friend. Your suggestion was perfect!"
Pitr follows shaking his head, "Well that went better than I expected. I have to admit Solaric, you can be pretty convincing. I guess it helps when we're dealing with half-wits."
"Well that went better than I expected. I have to admit Solaric, you can be pretty convincing. I guess it helps when we're dealing with half-wits."
"Well thank you, Pitr. It certainly helps when there is truth behind the words. For indeed we do need to have a meeting with Crove and find out how to destroy that creature. It is also not a lie to assume that the Yog Sothoth is on his way here now as we speak. Let's just hope we can reach him in time!"
You open the door and walk down the stony stairwell into the dungeon level of the asylum. It's damp down here and the dark rocky walls glisten with humidity. The stairs end in a small room with an open heavy wooden door. Dark corridors lie ahead you and you hear even louder moaning echoing through the corridors...
Let's hope Crove isn't a mad inhabitant here...
"We are getting close, my friends. Let's see what lies ahead. Perhaps it would be prudent to arm ourselves at this point."
Solaric proceeds through the open door, drawing his longsword just in case.
Solaric leads the others through the door and enters into the hallway.
No, the S just belongs to the map's legend, so that's no problem.
Victoria follows on, ready to play her part.
You cautiously walk down the corridor, shrieks and moanings pierce through the darkness and make you shudder. As Solaric reaches the end of the way, he looks around the corner and spots iron bars that block the way .
"I do not like the looks of this! Let's hope we are not walking in the middle of some trap!"
The half drow move forward cautiously up to the iron bars where he attempts to pull them up.
Strength
But he is too weak and the bars remain where they are.
Johenric follows the group together with Victoria. As Solaric tries to move the iron bars, he says.
This does surprise me. I had estimated Solaric is strong enough to lift the bars. Those bars must be heavier than normal bars...
"These bars appear to be locked shut. I am not sure if force will open them. However, if we all try together, we may be able to open them."
Solaric looks around to find some mechanism that may open the bars.
Perception
If no mechanism can be found, then together, Zekkaran, Jendarne, and Spearborn all try to lift the bars up.
"Ok, Kirk, Pitr. Let's lift on the count of three. One, . . Two, . . . . Three!"
Strength Check
Pitr stands back, "There's got to be an easier way than giving everyone a hernia. Kirk can't you jimmy this or somehow disable it? Pray for him, Solaric."
Pitr Know engineering
Kirk Disable Device
Checking the bars a bit more thoroughly, you spot several rusty parts. Some quick blows with a bludgeoning weapon could destroy the barricade easily.
"Actually, these bars aren't looking particularly sound. Get back."
Pitr draws his spare flail and whacks at the bars.
power attack w/ flail
damage
The bars shatter with a cracking sound and open the way for you.
A small table and a chair sit in the western part of this room. A worn out booklet, lies on the table. Two large bloodstains, as if someone was dragged from the one door to the other, mar the floor and as you suddenly hear that someone is hammering from inside on the western door a shudder runs down your spine.
Help me! Help me out!
You hear a muffled voice from inside.
As the Taldan shatters the bars, Solaric comments, "I always knew that you were good for someting, Jendarne. Nice!"
As the dark elf notices the bloodstains and hears the cry from the western door, he calls out.
"Dear Iomedae, what as happened here? Let's get this door open and help this poor soul. It sounds as if he is trapped inside this door."
Once again Solaric tries to open the door.
Strength
"Jendarne, do you want to try that flail once again on this door?"