Lukas Kains |
We have done the retreat into town approach before, would be great if we could take that approach this time too - if we keep having such a tough time with the dragon's sidekicks, we're going to be out of spells, hit points, and everything by the time we actually get to the dragon.
Sarasha |
If we can, that's my vote. I'm kicking myself for not buying a wand of CLW while I had the chance.
Karu the Kobold Strider |
You can retreat to town and rest but there is no guarantee that everything will remain the same as before aka the dungeon isn't static.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Sarasha |
If we can steal anything even slightly valuable we may be able to pass this off as a burglary, not a failed assassination. So maybe we can avoid the dragon destroying the town in vengeance.
A single tear trails down from Sarasha's left eye.
But that poor man's wife is likely to suffer for our failure.
She turns her head away, unable to look at the party.
For my failure.
Cobb |
Down 11 Con means we'll need to try something to bring Sarasha back into the game. Let's get the lesser restorations cast, and see about casting more again tomorrow after resting?
Cobb looks down at Sarasha, who can barely walk, and he states the obvious.
"You can barely walk..."
He looks around the immediate area.
"What do you think, Jeb? You able to patch her up enough so that resting here ain't gonna get her killed?"
Sarasha |
Sarasha laughs bitterly as she speaks,
I can walk. Keep me away from any strong breezes, though.
Sarasha |
I think that room with the dead monk F18 probably doesn't get much traffic. Maybe we can lay up there long enough to recover.
Cobb |
Sarasha needs HP restoration too right? Let's get our wand charges rolled out.
Cobb rubs his chin.
"Let's see how much Jeb can do. When do you pray, Jeb? The time for Ol' Dessie is midnight. Not sure if you're the kind of fellah that needs to wait 'til sun-up?"
Jebediah Lillywag |
Jebediah sets up a small ritual and calls upon Pharsma to restore Sarasha to full health. It appears that Jebediah was a good Acolyte and his prayers are heard as he is able to largely restore his companion to full health.
1d4 ⇒ 4
1d4 ⇒ 3
1d4 ⇒ 2
Sarasha |
Thanks Jeb. That's much better, but I still feel like I'm made of feathers.
I have a scroll of Cure Light Wounds and a scroll of Alarm which may be useful now. Jeb, do you want to do the honors?
Lukas Kains |
Lukas watches as Jeb does his best to put Sarasha back together, nudging the fetchling gently and saying, "Flanking buddies, remember? How am I gonna flank with you if you're all chewed up and poisoned?"
Looking around the room a bit, he says, "If we're going to stay here, we should definitely go somewhere more private, even if it's the creepy room where that monk died. But I have to say, things might change while we're gone, but I'm guessing the sidekicks we killed will stay dead. And if we're back at the village, no wandering monster is likely to eat us - can't say the same for this place."
I know we had a deadline, but I can't remember if we're right up against it - I have a feeling we've got a little wiggle room, but I'm not sure of that. DMBS?
Tessa Firebrand |
Maybe Asmur can help us out a bit. He did say to find him if we are in need. Tessa suggests as everyone seems to have forgotten about the helpful man.
GM Bold Strider |
You had a week. You rested for a day and are wrapping up the second day, but you have just slaughtered a bunch of people, left their bodies to be found and are intending to sleep for the night. That might accelerate the time table. Or it might not. Who knows?
Looks like you are going to sleep in the dead monk's room as no one has definitively said otherwise. If there is no plan in the next 24 hours, then that is the course of action.
Status
Sarasha @ 0/33 HP [2 Con Damage / 6 Wisdom Damage]
Jeb @ 7/31 HP
Celes @ 19/48 HP [2 Con Damage / 2 Wisdom Damage]
Jebediah Lillywag |
Jeb's healing wand is done. But I think we have another one. Jeb will heal anyone with it just make the rolls yourself. Let's just push on from here once everyone is healed up.
Cobb |
Cobb's wand has 38 charges left.
With just 2 Con damage on 2 PCs, we could push on. I understand there's Wisdom damage as well, but I'm not sure that materially affects the characters... although it might when it comes down to saves against a fear aura.
Cobb also has lesser restoration, 3/3 remaining today. He'll go ahead and use those now.
Lesser restore (Sarasha Con): 1d4 ⇒ 2
Lesser restore (Celes Con): 1d4 ⇒ 4
Lesser restore (Sarasha Wis): 1d4 ⇒ 3
That leaves us with Celes -2 Wis; Sarasha -3 Wis.
Cure Wand (Sarasha): 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 5, 7, 4, 5) + 5 = 29 She's down 4hp
Cure Wand (Jeb): 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (1, 1, 8, 3, 8) + 5 = 26 Jeb @ full HP
Cure Wand (Celes): 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 8, 4, 7, 2) + 5 = 28 Celes down 1hp
That takes the wand down to 23 charges. We'll need to try our best to take less damage going forward.
Cobb does his best to tend to the injuries of his allies with what little Desna provides this day. The wand in his hand glows with heat like a hot rod from a forge by the time he's complete.
"Alright. We're beaten and bruised, but we got a dragon that's gonna get away if we linger too long. It can't be much further, can it?"
Sarasha |
Sarasha climbs to her feet with gusto.
Ahhh. Bring it on, dragon. I have a blade that thirsts.
Could be the -3 Wisdom talking, but Sarasha is now pretty confident. Yeah, that's probably the low wisdom talking.
She nudges Lukas playfully.
This time, you pretend to be in charge.
Lukas Kains |
Lukas grins at Sarasha, impressed by her courage after what she's been through. He looks around at his companions, who appear ready to keep moving, shrugs and says, "Okay, here goes nothin'."
GM Bold Strider |
The group restores themselves to the best of their abilities for the moment before cracking open the other door in Thaena's lair. Inside, they find a large bedroom that is furnished with a single large bed before a wall of empty bookshelves. A shallow bathing pool sits opposite the bed, its tile basin empty and dry.
Tucked between the headboard and the mattress, Sarasha spots a dusty, plain-looking cap, but Jeb actually sees the worth in the item: a buffering cap.
Finished with this floor, the group returns to the stairs before ascending to the belfry.
The belfry is accessible via a 20-foot-tall spiral staircase that leads from area F25 to area F28a, followed by wooden stairs that wind up the inside of the bell tower before reaching the belfry itself, 50 feet above (area F28b). The view from the belfry is majestic, allowing an occupant to watch the monastery grounds and its perimeter (except for two blind spots-one just past area F2 and one past area F5). On this bright, clear day, the town of Belhaim and Aeteperax's bones resting atop the Crypt of Tula are visible in the distance.
You were told that Pentosh of Manaket, Aeteperax's other human minion, would be here in the belfry, but you don't see her.
Status
Sarasha @ 29/38 HP [3 Wisdom Damage]
Jeb @ 31/31 HP
Celes @ 47/53 HP [2 Wisdom Damage]
Jebediah Lillywag |
Considering we caused quite a ruckus throughout this place I'm not sure all the lieutenants are just waiting for us to show up. At least that's not what I would do if my Stronghold were under attack.
Cobb |
"While that's true, somehow the universe deigns to position the resistance in places like this like chess pieces, each separated into their own cubbies rather than lump them all together."
Cobb shrugs.
"Or at least, that's how it seems."
Taking in the vista, along with Belhaim in the distance.
"Well, if she's not here, and she's not in her bath tub... maybe there's a chance she's abandoned the dragon for greener pastures? Maybe she was charmed and the spell wore off?"
Cobb kneels and looks for signs of recent use of the belfry.
He'll take 20 for 32 if time permits -- that'd be what? 10 minutes?
Otherwise..
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Tessa Firebrand |
Tessa whistles as she looks out at the view from the belfry. Looking all about the monastery she tries to see if she can tell what other forces that the dragon might have at his disposal here. At least it would give them a moment to prepare incase they came across another of these difficult lieutenants.
Placing a hand over her eyes to block out the sun she looks in all directions that she can see.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Sarasha |
A buffering cap is pretty useful. Our primary front-liners are myself and Lukas. Lukas, if you want it go ahead (I already have the ring of epic acid resistance), but I would make a case that my crappy AC makes me more likely to have a crit confirmed against me.
As always, just a suggestion.
Sarasha examines the bedroom as well.
Take 20 if possible for 28 (30 vs. traps), or
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 +2 if there are traps
Lukas Kains |
Sarasha - go ahead and take the cap, after what you've just been through!
Lukas is relieved and disappointed at once when they discover that Pentosh is not in the belfry, and offers his recollection of the conversation with Asmur, "That guy who told us that Pentosh would be up here also called him a 'mad alchemist.' So he could be off doing something crazy, or maybe he drank some potion to turn himself invisible and he's standing right behind me."
Lukas whirls and kicks low at the air behind him, but finds nothing. He shrugs and says, "Well, he could still be here somewhere."
GM Bold Strider |
The group spends an immense amount of time searching the belfry, but their findings are one large brass bell with a rope hanging down the lower landing and a separate rope attached to a nearby wooden post (probably so it can be rung at the top and the bottom of the belfry), a dozen or so bats hanging from the rafters and a few discarded pieces of parchment and food crumbs. Further investigation of the parchment indicates that it was probably used as a napkin!
Sarasha surveys the surrounding area and spies a few more patrols of kobolds, similar to those that they fought at the front gate, but since they now know of their locations, it should be easy to bypass them.
Tessa Firebrand |
There is nothing here. We should head back down below and clear out the ground level first. Tessa suggests.
Sarasha |
Sounds good.
Lukas Kains |
"You're right, Tessa," Lukas says with a nod, "let's go."
How about we check out the room west of F9? And if we can do it without metagaming, we should look for the entrance to the covered area next to F19. Seems we'd notice a big space we have to walk a long way around but can't get into, at least enough to search for a way in.
GM Bold Strider |
If anyone has Kn. Engineering trained, I would let them roll for the room west of F19.
As you reach the first floor, you move around the long hallway to the east and find a door. Upon opening it, you find a courtyard that surrounds a dry fountain. A statue of a woman wrapped in a flowing robe stands in the center of the fountain, her arms extended as though reaching up to touch the sky.
Tessa Firebrand |
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Odd statue...Tessa says as she barely gives it a second glance. Doubt we will find anything concerning the dragon here.
Tessa darts through the courtyard and to a door to the east. She keeps an eye out for any of the kobold patrols.
Cobb |
Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Cobb rubs his temple for a moment, squinting at the statue.
"Saint Kyerixus."
He then looks to Tessa as she heads to the courtyard.
"Let's keep moving."
Sarasha |
Statues and history and old time Saints mean nothing to Sarasha, but she grimly moves on with the party.
GM Bold Strider |
A fire long ago immolated the contents of this dormitory, leaving the narrow cubbies black with soot. Many of the grioths that patrol the surrounding lands roost in this chamber, however you find the nocturnal creatures have only left a few here, which the group quickly makes short work of.
You find the creature's armor and weapons, but they are not valuable to your group at all. They are mostly comprised of the crystalline structure you found when they invaded the auction.
Tessa Firebrand |
Wonder if the dragon burned all of this down years ago?
Tessa sighs, thankful that these creatures were not nearly as powerful as their leader was. She moves a bit further north and investigates another door.
Lukas Kains |
"I wonder how a dragon would fit in these tight hallways," Lukas says in reply to Tessa's thought. He moves into the nearby hall and examines the door, giving it a look and a listen.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Cobb |
"Oh?"
Cobb raises an eyebrow.
"... better than necromancy, at least if you can spot the flaw in the illusion, it's less likely to rip your heart out."
I think we're trying to make our way to the 3rd Floor West?
GM Bold Strider |
@Tessa: These are stairs, but they descend downward.
Tessa quickly opens the doors to the north and finds a set of ominous stairs that descend to below the abbey as Cobb opens the doors to the farther north and finds an empty dormitory with a set of spiral stairs that seems to lead up to the next floor (Second Floor stairs of F21.).
Cobb ponders on how to reach the western third floor and he believes that the stairs in the room with the giant grioth would lead up that direction.
Sarasha |
Sarasha flashes a grim smile.
Last time I lead anywhere I ended up with about a gallon of poison in my gut. Somebody else lead this time.
Lukas Kains |
Lukas thinks back on what they've seen and says, "I think you're right Cobb, we need to go up the stairs where we fought the big grioth to get to where we want to go. But how about we check out some of the hallways we passed along the way, so we know what else is down here?" With a wink at Sarasha, he adds, "I'll go first, unless Celes wants to."
Anyone object to exploring the big covered portion of the map directly north of F4? If we head west down the hallway we're in, there's a passage to the north that will take us right there.
Tessa Firebrand |
No objection here. Let's finish this lower level. Er rather middle level now that we found stairs leading down.
Tessa quickly follows behind Lukas as she tries to keep up. Safely she shuts the door behind her to the stairs so as not to allow whatever is below to come up.
GM Bold Strider |
The group moves north through the hallways before taking the stairs to investigate any more of the other floors and find a simple rough hewn door that opens onto a blue mosaic dominating the tiled floor. The ceiling rises to several domes twenty-five feet above. A large marble statue of a robed man with hair braided in a loop and worn like a necklace looks down on the chamber serenely from the east. All of you are aware of the patron saint Irori and his likeness.
The mosaic on the floor is one of Irori's symbols known as the Master's Rebus. Though there's nothing of value here, you find that a prayer rug has been shifted by some errant step and the corner of a trap door peeks out. The trap door opens into a 10-foot-deep shaft fitted with a ladder. The shaft leads to a tunnel to the east that connects to a second shaft.
Sarasha |
Sarasha examines the ladder and shaft for traps.
Trapfinding: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Assuming none are found, and no one objects, she descends the ladder quietly and examines the second shaft.
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Celes Rose |
Celes will look at Sarasha as she head down,
Wouldn't you rather I go, just in case something wants to try and kill us down there?
In either event, Celes will head down the shaft, and then draw her axe at the bottom in case her thought was right.
I wonder how many of this dragon's pawn we have to go through? The big guy we fought earlier and then this snake lady were a pain to deal with. she thinks aloud in a hushed voice.