DougFungus' Rise of the RuneLords
Game Master DougFungus

Damieka walks to F13 trying not to think of what the town had been built on as she notices the torture machines, "It looks like they may have had a lot more down here than they know." She states while looking about, "And yes, sorry Samara. You are so quiet I sometimes forget you are here. Sorry... that was not meant as an insult."

Nicea strolls to look at the nasty equipment. "Ugh, seriously? Inflicting pain in battle is one thing, but this? Nasty and sick, is what it is."

Move to F19.

Move to F12

Samara nods a few times towards Damieka and says, "It is fine. I find conversation... difficult. Awkward. Uncomfortable."

MAP!

Zara gives Samara a reassuring nod before moving forward into the atrium. Looking around she's a bit shocked by the strange instruments and wondering what they do. Quietly she points to the door opposite (G21); with a querying look. "That one?" she whispers.

Bringing the ranseur up in a high stance she prepares for what the other side might bring.

Move: to E20

Nicea surveys the two doors with some distaste.

"Friend Samara," she calls back softly, "You have quick ears and nimble fingers. Do you hear anything behind these doors? Are they safe to open?"

She holds up a cautioning hand to Zara with a little I don't know shrug and makes room for the elven treasure hunter to enter.

Move to F21 and ready if anything hostile bursts through the door within scythe range.

Samara approaches the door Move to F22 in order to listen at it and find out if there's anything going on inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Damieka stays where she is and waits as there are enough people in the little room as it is and she still needs a bit of space to shoot. There were also enough to fight in that limited space so instead she waits and watches their back.

Moving along with Damieka and Nicea, Davben looks towards the torture devices "Strange... this place seems more like a dungeon than a smuggling tunnel. I can't imagine how one might balance acts of torture and imprisonment such evil is bound to throw you off your center."

He moves along to join the others getting into position next to the door so that he'll be ready to act if needed when it opens.

Move to G22

"With pleasure and freedom," mumbles Samara in reply to Davben. "How to deliver these, that is a thing I do not know."

Samara places an ear to the door.

MAP!

"There is something through the door," says Samara softly to the others, leaning away from the door, "I think someone talking to themselves. A goblin perhaps, speaking between Common and Goblin, but seeming... mad. I cannot say much more than that. There are phrases... 'Koruvus serve Erylium'. 'Drink the Water.' 'So hungry, must guard the flock'." She glances back to the others, whispering, "Means nothing to me. Speak softly now. Do any of you know what any of that may mean? I think it is a cloud of madness. That is a thing that I think."

Nicea looks at the quiet elf with bafflement, shrugs her shoulders, shakes her head, and tightens her grip on her scythe. "Just one, do you think?" she whispers softly.

"Koruvus, wasn't he one of the goblin lords, the one that went missing?" Zara pipes up softly leaning to the others. She gives a tantalising nod to the others, affirming that they should probably enter and deal with the creature. Apparently Zara got something from the cloud of madness.

"That's right, Shalelu mentioned something about that..." Silva says as he strokes his beard, before stopping abruptly. A look of realization passes over his face - as though he just remembered something of dire importance. "Damn, she looked amazing. How the heck did I pass that chance up...?"

Davben looks towards Silva and raises an eyebrow a bit "Well I believe she had better things to do."

Nodding towards Zara he talks quietly "But who is this Erylium? Does the name mean anything to you?" He considers the options "We should have the element of surprise, we could just charge in and take them, or sneak in quietly and try to learn more." He shifts his eyes towards Samara "Some of us are light on our feet, and might be able to slip in without being noticed."

Samara glances towards Davben and purses her lips for a moment, nodding at his remark. "Though if whatever or whoever is in there is looking towards the door, it does not matter how slippery one can be. I would prefer to give that a try, though."

Leaning into the group she whispers; "I can be quiet, I know I am quite noticeable." Zara flicks her hips causing the azure scarf to billow, before settling against her tattooed thighs.

"So we sneaking in then?" she looks to the elven treasure hunter.

Davben nods agreeing with Samara "Of course, if someone is looking directly towards us moving quietly won't help much, but generally a room would not be set up facing the door. There should be a good chance whoever's in there will be looking another way. I think it's worth a try to get in unnoticed as well."

He glances towards Zara and nods at her statement of being noticeable "We shouldn't all go in anyway, two or three is probably best, if you think you're too noticeable stay back. I wear no armour, it's easier for me to move quietly I will go in with Samara."

Looking towards the elf he whispers "As you're ready Samara" He readies himself to follow her into the room moving as silently as possible.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Nicea stands her ground and waits unmoving.

This should obviate the need for a stealth check on clunky Nicea's part.

Zara's just about to whisper that she's amazing at being subtle, then Davben virtually vanishes into the room. The dancer looks forlornly to the other's and decides she has been chastised enough for being hasty and not to rush off again. 'Plus I can make sure Nicea doesn't get more hurt.'

Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Samara moves in quietly after Davben, though not as quiet as the monk, still shows that she can be a little bit of a sneak.

The ceiling of this strangely cold chamber arches to a vaulted height of twenty feet . The floor contains eleven wooden lids strewn haphazardly over eleven five-foot-wide pits in the ground. From the darkness within these pits echo up strange shuffling sounds and, every so often , a low moan.

"Hru?"

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Everybody roll Initiative!

MAP!

Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"Well, that sounds promising," Silva says with a frown, pointing his finger down the hallway. The luminous orbs dart into the dark room, before stopping in midair.

Move dancing lights to F-2 (5?/rounds remaining).

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Nicea holds her position silently, waiting to see what happens.

Samara blinks a few times at the appearance of the lights when she tries to sneak, pursing her lips for a few moments. Sneaking in the dark is so much easier!

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Zara looks to Damieka, softly biting her lip in concern. Eye's flickering down the hallway where Silva has thrust his magnificent orbs. 'I should call upon the ellusive power of the Goddess.' she hesitates.

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

8's all around! So long as we aren't eighten (NOM!).

So far, it's Silva, Zara, Samara, Nicea. Wait. Something happened and Samara's 8 is now a 13, so Sam, Silva, Zara, Nicea.

Davben starts to proceed moving quietly down the hall until the light orb of light flies past him into the room. Davben's eyes widen, looking towards the floating light and he stops halfway down the hall. He and Samara were good, but not invisible, sneaking into that room might have just become impossible. He can't imagine anything not noticing the light come into the room, but stays quiet and waits to see if there's any noticeable reaction from anything within.

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Seeing Samara and Davben's reactions, Silva frowns. "Oh, don't give me that," he gibes at them in a hushed tone, rolling his eyes, "Tiptoeing around won't be worth much if you can't see anything."

Damieka does not offer to go first as she knows where she is best and that is in the back waiting for someone to be there to shoot. Her legs move her to F20 with the others but she only allows the others to speak as she has nothing to say. All she can do is shake her head at the questions as she has no idea what the references could even remotely pertain to then starts to consider goblins and their culture, trying to figure out what they may mean with 'Koruvus serve Erylium'. 'Drink the Water.' 'So hungry, must guard the flock'.

Perception - Goblin Knowledge roll re: 'Koruvus serve Erylium'. 'Drink the Water.' 'So hungry, must guard the flock' 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

As she thinks about this she also gets ready for watching their back and reacting to what happens in the front.

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Sorry for any wait gang. I've been a bit out of it and my computer has been locking up to make life fun. I think it is ok now. Ha ... think.

MAP!

Nicea sees nothing threatening from her position, so waits for the stealthy folk to make their move and indicate some sort of trouble.

With a shake of his head Davben glances towards Samara "It appears Silva is unfamiliar with the concept of stealth." He says quietly to the elven woman "I'm not hearing a reaction to the light and nothing came to investigate. Be careful whatever's in there could be waiting in ambush"

Davben proceeds down the hall still moving silently, despite being fairly certain that, unless it's blind, whatever's in there is expecting them. At least if he's anticipating an ambush he'll have a better time defending against it.

Not sure how much further down the hall Dav has to go. He'll go as far as he can with a move action and use total defense.

Zara sticks to the plan, to wait for the others to return. Head downcast, she doesn't want to be chided for rushing off again.

Then she readies the heavy ranseur against counter-assault.

Stay in E20. Hold action

Technically, if you are stealthing, you have to go half-speed to get full benefit. Between half and full, you take a -5 penalty. At full speed, it's -10. So a move action for a 30' move person stealthing is 3 squares.

Samara sneaks down the hall.

Move to F25

Damieka stays at F20 waiting for anything to happen. Since she's slow right now she doesn't have to hold her action.

Since Dav started into the hall last turn, and further down this turn I believe that should put him at F27 moving half speed for stealth.

Not very keen on being forced into close-quarters combat, Silva stands back as well.

"So... how many tattoos do you got?" he asks Zara in a hushed tone, as the paranoid sneaky people do their sneaking.

Silva chills and does nothing.

"That's like saying how big is a tree. They curl and creep around my body, emphasizing and inspiring, like my dancing." her words are light and soft trying not to carry as she leans into Silva slightly. "I suppose at least 5 distinct ones. How about yourself? I noticed a slight pattern." her eyes slide over his exposed body in the dim light straining to make out the markings.

Nicea is a silent statue in the dark.

Light? Conversation? Do people know nothing about being sneaky?

"A tree, eh?" Silva responds with a smirk, "I suppose that describes mine as well. To be honest, I'm not even sure what a lot of them say. I never really read much into that Thassilonian stuff. One of mine does have a habit of getting on my nerves though..."

• Davben moves to F-27.

• Samara moves to F-25.

• Zara holds action.

• Silva holds action.

• Koruvus the 3 armed Goblin mutation, leaps out from the dark corner he is hiding behind and vomits a 20 ft. line of acidic blood hitting Davben and Samara.

  Damage (DC: 13 Ref/Half: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

  Recharge: 1d4 ⇒ 3

  Davben Ref Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Fail

  Samara Ref Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 Pass

  Davben Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 Pass

• Damieka holds action.

MAP!

Next Round Begins Now

Zara hears a slight rush and realises how stupid she has been, cursing herself silently at her stupidity. 'I wish I was more used to combat, then I wouldn't be here talking about decoration when I should be doing something sensible.'

Zara starts intoning, praying to her Goddess, the lady of illusions to cast a veil over Nicea. She reaches out and places a hand upon the warriors shoulder.

Standard: Cast Guidance upon Nicea

Nicea, having waited for something nasty to happen, moves to protect her friends as quickly as she can.

Not sure if you will allow Nicea to go first having delayed in previous rounds or not. If others move first so that she cannot take this action, I need to know because her action will change.

Nicea moves swiftly down the corridor past her friends, straight up to the entrance of the room. Lowering her shoulder, she attempts to knock the goblin backwards.

Bull Rush attempt, no charge, using Zara's divine guidance. CMB.: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10

If she beats his CMD, she will push him straight back 5', plus 5' for every 5 she exceeds the CMD.

Nicea should also get the +2 wrath bonus on the CMB as well, shouldn't she? That would give her a 12 versus a gobbo. Note: when done like this the bull rush provokes from the rushee.

Just as he is about to elaborate on his last statement, Silva is interrupted by the sound of a sickening splash. "What the...?" Moving into the hall to investigate, the sorcerer reels at the sight of the hideous creature. I take back everything I've ever said about goblins being ugly, he thinks as he prepares the proper somatic and verbal components for his spell, Well, not really. But this one sure as hell takes the cake! Anyway, this my last one... better make it count.

Move to F-24 and cast ear-piercing scream on Koruvus.

Sonic Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 (Fortitude save DC 16 to halve damage and avoid daze effect.)

I just realized that Samara has evasion and would have taken no damage last round.

Davben takes a hit from the acid and shakes it off, it seems their stealth attempt was a total failure.