GM Rat Sass's Age of Worms

Game Master Governayle

Round 8, Init 21

Hourpen whispers to Tynan, "Should we return to the keep or see what's afoot outside?"

Ready movement to follow Tynan's lead.

Round: 7, Initiative: 4

More damages flow through, and Ascaria absorbs the trickle.*

He considers casting defensively, but he really cannot afford the loss, so instead he channels energy, avoiding the lizard folk he sees, up to six.

Channel Energy (healing): 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6, 1) + 1 = 9

Ascaria then drops back behind Cinder, hoping the lizard folk makes the mistake of attacking the horse.

* Eri heals 5hp of damage thanks to Ascaria.

Group spells in effect
Bless (+1 attacks & saves vs fear (morale)) (everyone)

Round 8, Init 22

Eri gets up pulling a couple javelins out of his side and looks around. stupid lizard jerks.

Run lizards! RUN!

He then let’s one loose at the lizard in the lead.

GB Arrow1, bless : 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 = 23 for Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1) + 1 = 5

Round 7, Init 13

Purple unit seems to disregard the horn, at least for the time being. The lizard bold enough to shove the gnome, pursues the gnome down the stairs, hissing and snapping as it goes.

Mortimer turns to the soldiers he just barrelled past. "Follow me -- close and bar this door behind us..." He steps through the doorway, crosses the 15' landing and vaults down the stairs after the pushy LizardJerk.

He lets a shrill whistle fly through his teeth at the Lizardfolk inside to get its attention. "Hey, Dirtbag! Let's see how well you do with someone more your size!"

He launches himself at the bipedal reptile and tries to restrain him.

Grapple, Not Improved: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 19 +Bless, +Maneuver Training (Grapple) for Damage: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Shirt of Immolation.

Round 7, Init 11

"Let's head back to the rope. With them retreating, we should regroup and prepare for the next wave."

Tynan circle toward the north side of the stable, heading toward the rope.

Mortimer abandons his post, deciding Ascaria needs him. Following both gnome and lizardman down the stairs from the second floor, he's able to catch the lizard at the base of the stairs. Reaching out to grab the lizard gives it the chance to injure the giant.

AoO, Morningstar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage

It dies moments after it fails to hit. Ascaria heals himself, then hides behind the horse, unaware of the lizard's fate.

Tynan and Hourpen move around the stables to the north side. On approach, they can tell the rope has been lifted out of reach.

Eri rises to his feet, and rails against the retreating lizards, firing and injuring, but not killing, a distant enemy. Solrisa readies for any creatures foolish enough to get close, and encourages the archer to move inside.

For his trouble, Eri is greeted by the rear guard's barrage of javelins, which almost manages to end his life.

Javelin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage
Javelin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage
Javelin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 damage
Javelin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage

The rear guard seems to focus fire, and remains vigilant against the ranged attacker still on the ledge.

The southern retreat continues.

Round 8
Lizardfolk- 18-
Keep Soldiers- 16
Mortimer- 13
Ascaria- 12 (-11hp)
Tynan- 11 (-3hp)
...
Round 9
Eri-22 (-25hp)
Hourpen- 21 (-2hp)
Solrisa- 18 (-2hp)

Ascaria has already cast Bless- +1 to Attacks and Saves v Fear

The party is up! Mortimer, Ascaria, and Tynan,- take your Round 8 actions. Eri, Hourpen, Solrisa- Round 9.

Round 8, Init 11

Tynan looks over to Hourpen. "Well, looks like we're climbing. I'll check around the base of the tower to make sure none of them are lingering."

Tynan quickly moves along the back wall of the tower (double move) to the north-eastern corner, then peeks around to see if any are still nearby.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Round 9, Init 21

"Wait, I can get it."

Hourpen spends a point from his Eldritch pool to enter a state of mystical focus to use spider climb.

Assuming here that two rounds will be enough time to climb up to retrieve the rope.

Round: 8, Initiative: 4

More damages flow through, and Ascaria absorbs the trickle.*

”Thank you Mort. That was close. Sorry to have pulled you in though. I should’ve stuck to the plan! Still, I think they’re falling back. Should we pursue them? We need to get to the hostages.”

While he waits for Mort’s response, he heals himself of a few of his burgeoning injuries.
Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 6) + 6 = 19

* Eri heals 5hp of damage thanks to Ascaria.

Group spells in effect
Bless (+1 attacks & saves vs fear (morale)) (everyone)

Round 9, Init 22

Not willing to leave her post, Solrisa continues the same ready as above.

Come closer! I like the fighting parts!

Round 9, Init 22

ow

Sri remains prone, playing dead. He doesn’t need to pretend too much.

Need to stop trying to die.

Round 8, Init 13

”Thank you Mort. That was close. Sorry to have pulled you in though. I should’ve stuck to the plan! Still, I think they’re falling back. Should we pursue them? We need to get to the hostages.”

Mortimer grunts. Why did they even take hostages? Why not just kill everyone outright?

"Falling back?" That's typical. " I think there are still some LizardJerks on the ledge," he says tossing the iron ball into the air with his icy left hand and catching it with his icy right hand."Let me go see about them as well as The Guards and everyone else first," he says, scaling back up the stairs A Move of ~ 25 feet? .

He stands -- as before -- in front of the door to the second floor and surveys the landscape looking for Lizardjerks about the ledge, or ... Alustan's promised reinforcements.

"HEY! Lizard - uh - JERKS! Where are you going? We've only just started! GET YOUR SORRY WEAK TAILS BACK HERE -- WE'RE FAR FROM DONE!"

More than anything, he hopes lizard jerks in ear shot will take his voice as bait and come after him.

Moved on the map, but avatar is probably under the (prone?) Guard avatar under the (dead) LizardJerk's avatar.

Mortimer eventually meets up with the West Ledge scuffle, ending one, if not both, of the lizardman remaining. Hourpen is able to climb the side of the Keep, securing the Rope of Climbing for Tynan's ascension. Solrisa and Eri watch over the exodus, as the living lizardfolk make their way off the muddy battlefield, and into the Mistmarsh, with one or two of Eri's arrows to encourage their speed.

We are out of initiative. Tearing down the wooden barricaded 'door' will take a few rounds, preventing Cinder's spirited running down of the rear contingent of lizardfolk. Let me know if you have other ideas.

The Keep soldiers thank you all for your assistance. They toss lizardfolk bodies from the ledge, and gather their fallen brother's body from the north ledge. Sampson joins you all.

"You managed to thin their numbers substantially. I don't think they'll be coming back any time soon." He wipes his blade of lizard blood. "Guess we'll hole up, and wait for reinforcements. Now, I don't suppose you'll take your strength to them, and bring our brothers' bodies back to us, would you? Theirs, and Marzena's too, I'd guess. Doesn't seem right, them eating the bodies."

Ascaria heals himself and/or Eri, back to health...

22hp down
Cure Light Wounds x2: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (6, 5) + 12 = 23

- - -

Ascaria wonders, "How far are we from town? When will the reinforcements arrive do you think? I don't know that I want to wait that long before pursuing the lizard folk, but it is something to keep in mind."

"Allustan commanded us to protect the Marzena woman. So I think that's what we need to set as our higher priority. Higher than keeping the keep intact and protected. I think. Be nice if we could manage both."

"Maybe we spend the rest of the day fixing this place up with more punji sticks, reinforcing the building, and generally helping out. Then first thing tomorrow we hunt lizard folk - take the fight to them."

"I dunno though, are there many left? Maybe we should go right now while our blood is up and we have a clear advantage. I still have a few spells left..."

Ascaria is unsure what to do next. Lots of time left on the Bless (hour to hour and a half).

As the lizards retreat...

After making it to the top of the wall to retrieve the rope Hourpen notices those in the keep calming, but is unsure what is happening beyond. He tosses the rope down to Tynan.

"I think we may be in the clear. Everyone up here seems to be taking a breather. You may want to climb out of harms way all the same."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Later with Ascaria...

"Perhaps we should see if Solrisa gives chase? That may make our choice for us..."

Again. I should just say it.

Solrisa makes sure the lizards have left before leaving her post as the front gate. When she sees that (almost) everyone still stands, she begins the important work: dragging the dead into a pile for a pyre. She works happily (and probably in solitude unless others join her), taking joy in the simple labor of what needs to be done.

She works and toils on taking care of the dead.

Hourpen relaxes visibly as he sees the task Solrisa has taken up.

Shouting, "I can't offer a strong arm, but I can at least look over those you're piling up so well Solrisa."

Hourpen makes his way to the pile and uses detect magic to see if anything of value might be lost to fire.

Mortimer's tiny mind reels at all of Ascaria's loud pondering.

"I think you should use up what healing or other spells you have on those here who still need them. We'll help the soldiers clean up, rest ourselves* and then take the fight to them as soon as we're all ready."

Unless alternative plans are expressed, he starts helping Solrisa pile up bodies, double checking the fallen soldiers for signs of life.
He feeds Cinder after extracating her from the Keep and getting her fresh air. He then helps the soldiers rebuild the barricade to the front door if they desire one.

He does all that anyway if alternative plans are expressed but allow the time.

* He means for everyone to rest for 8 hours or however long it takes to get all spells etc. back.

Eri takes a moment to slow his breathing once Ascaria fixes his bloody hide.

"Thank you very kindly, sir. I, ah, need to learn that lesson again and again. ‘Keep your head down!’”

"Incidentally, do you have any magic armor or something? I used to be able to get by well enough, but it seemed like every javelin found my bits with nothing stopping it."

"Allustan commanded us to protect the Marzena woman. So I think that's what we need to set as our higher priority. Higher than keeping the keep intact and protected. I think. Be nice if we could manage both.”

It looks like there are about 20 left. That seems like a big number to take on head to head. I am quite anxious to find Ms. Marzena as soon as possible. I still have a couple of spells left and more than one arrow for each of them.

Ascaria seems a little disappointed at not heading out that day, but he understands the need for the security of the keep.

"I think we can handle those that are left, or rather you lot can while I keep their occasional chips and cuts healed." he looks at Eri sternly. "Well for the most part."

Ascaria, expecting not to be of much help lifting heavy things, makes sure that everyones wounds are fully healed, especially the guards, with one more channel.
Channel Energy (healing): 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 1 = 12

Then he sets about to draw a few images of the last battles. He does so in a large circle, all the drawings on one piece of paper - so the drawings are small and indicative.

When he's finished, it's late, and he is tired. He takes his turn at watch, but otherwise sleeps soundly, eager to start the new day - one day closer to their charge.

Solrisa (and Mort apparently) finishes piling lizard bodies and finally goes into the the Keep to look around and explore. When she has a lay of the place, she goes to the top of the Keep so she might keep watch while she takes off her armor (putting on her old hide) so that she might polish it and her sword.

"Did someone say that Marzena had been taken by the lizardfolk?" Sol asks, trying to catch up on gossip. "That's the nice lady that Allustan likes, right? Oh, I should go get her back from the lizards tomorrow. You guys should stay and protect the keep. I shouldn't be gone too long."

Sol looks out over the swamp.

"Which part of the swamp do you think they are in?"

Tynan manages the climb up the northern side of the ledge, joining the others. He spends time cleaning his blades upstairs, while the others begin their work, gathering the dead.

The five remaining soldiers work in mostly silence. They don't seem to mind Solrisa's assistance. Their demeanor strikes you as battle-worn, if only for the recent siege and the toll it's taken on the men. Their fallen brother, Meeks, was barely older than 18, from his boyish looks. The claw rake across his right carotid is covered up soon enough by a dirt-caked piece of carpet.

They keep the human bodies and the lizard bodies separate. Hourpen, almost bird-like in his vulture's task of looking over the dead, finds nothing of magical value, even on the stronger lizard's body. Wooden shields, a single metal shield, several morningstars, and several javelins can be collected for restocking the Keep.

For the time they have, Sampson orders the second floor ledge door be unhinged and brought down for use as the first floor front door. They work through the rest of the day, with the help of Mortimer, assembling a semi-permanent wall of wood to barricade the ledge off, at least until a new door can be brought in.

Sampson joins Solrisa on the roof, looking out over the southern battlefield. The Mistmarsh keeps its promise, as a low foggy mist rolls out from the humidity in the air above the moist lands. "All I can tell you is south. I suppose you won't have too much difficulty following a herd of them lizards. Should leave an easy enough trail. The only problem I see you having is swimming waist water. The lizards look like pigs in mud in those swamps."

With shared watches, everyone gets a good night's rest, for once. Occasionally, a soldier bleats some uncomfortable nightmare response, but largely, you manage to sleep soundly. No sign of reinforcements from the north at any time.

Morning comes. The Mistmarsh still wears its foggy cloak, and it appears there will be no sun to burn it away any time soon. Danyel, on cook's duty, manages a small cauldron's worth of porridge to fill your bellies. He apologizes for its lack of flavor, but he and the other men toss in their thanks for your promised pilgrimage.

How do you proceed?

Meanwhile, back at the top of the Keep ...

"Did someone say that Marzena had been taken by the lizardfolk? That's the nice lady that Allustan likes, right?"

In mid-yawn Mortimer replies sleepily, "Yes -- I mean -- I think." He slowly stretches. "The impression I got that he was the guy dipping her pigtails into the inkwell in whatever school they went to in their youth. They definitely said the LizardFolk took her."

"Oh, I should go get her back from the lizards tomorrow. You guys should stay and protect the keep. I shouldn't be gone too long."

"Oh -- why do you want to go alone, Sol? May I -- we -- come with you? I thought we made a pretty good team here. We're not as good as Rae, maybe -- but we're not exactly chopped liver either, are we?" He grins.

"... south" ... The only problem I see you having is swimming waist water."

"'Waist deep?' How much of it is like that? Do you know how horses fare in there?"

GMSass -- wrt exploring the Keep -- is there anything like a study or library in the Keep that Marzena would have used? If so, Mort would spend a little time snooping checking it out.

The Keep has five floors, total. The roof, accessible by ladder from the third floor, provides a very scenic view of the countryside in all directions. The third floor, accessible by ladder from the second floor, is ascetic, providing beds and trunks for the soldiers. The second floor, accessible by stairs from the first floor, is very similar to the third floor, in purpose, as well as providing access to the second floor ledge. Well, until now, since the doorway is more securely boarded up.

The first floor is currently in disarray, with a barricade of sorts in the middle of the room which provided cover in the earlier skirmishes with the lizardfolk. The east wall of the room has a doorway, currently door-free, that allows access to weapons storage. The north part of the room has the staircase to the second floor, and a storage closet under the stairs, currently door-free. The west wall of the room provides another doorway, just beyond it, a set of stairs leading downwards into the basement.

The basement hosts a central kitchen and pantry, and several more living quarters for the soldier regiment, including captain's quarters and mage quarters. When asked, Sampson tells Mortimer there is no study or library Marzena uses, only her personal quarters. The men are very respectful of her room, since she's the only woman living with the men.

Does Mortimer choose to investigate Marzena's quarters, despite Sampson's indication that it's considered off-limits?

When the cook apologizes for the lack of flavoring Eri perks up.

"He apologizes for its lack of flavor.”

”Oh, I can help with that! Do you mind if I liven the porridge ip a little?”

If there is no complaint, he casts prestidigitation on breakfast to add brown sugar and maple syrup with small amount of slightly crunchy bits.

Eri will tag along as Mort looks for Marzena’s loot.

”Maybe I can help look for magical things among Marzena’s belongings.”

The next morning, Ascaria rises early and performs his obligations. He moves around the keep, and talks to each soldier in turn. ”We’ll be going now, but hopefully we’ll route them as we depart and you won’t have any trouble. If you do, this will heal you. Once.”

He gives each soldier a potion of cure light wounds (x5 total).

Satisfied he’s done what he can, and then some, Ascaria listens to the big folk talk a while before putting his nose in.

"Waist deep? I don't like the sound of that. Waist deep on me, or waist deep on him?" he gestures to the towering Mort, knowing he wasn't going to like the answer.

"Do you have a boat?"

- - -

"I agree, we should look through Marzena's belongings for clues, but we leave everything as it is."

The night after the battle.

Hourpen takes to the roof, spending the night under the open sky drifting off watching Chasah hunt rodents as they scurry about under the night sky.

The next morning.

Hearing mention of a boat.

"I'm not so handy with an axe, but there seem to be plenty of the trees. Anyone know how to make a raft? We.. I ah.. seen them used to much success on the rivers here about."

We, my family. Why am I suddenly thinking of them?

"Why do you want to go alone, Sol? May I, we, come with you?"

Solrisa give Mort a grin.

"You guys can come if you want, but this Fort needs to be guarded too. Not sure its safe for everyone out there and I can't protect them too well. That one, Hourpen?, he seems to fall down a lot. And he didn't do a good job protecting MemoRae.The new ones should stay here where its safer. And they can help protect things," Solrisa says with much confidence.

"I should go out tomorrow and go get our friends back. If they still live, I'll do it. I just know I will," Solrisa says, polishing her armor.

The evening before? Above the keep.

"I'd happily stay behind."

Ascaria looks at Hourpen, "No one is staying behind. We swore we'd protect this woman and that's what we need to do. Er, once we find her. There are still a whole bunch of lizard folk out there and no knowing what else. We need to stick together."

"But a raft sounds good when we get to the deeper water."

While it may have sounded good, you can see Ascaria isn't thrilled with the solution either. Better than drowning. But not much...

"Those weren't my orders. Don't talk to me as if it was my idea to break up the group. Again and again it has been her actions that have divded the group. Pointing at Solrisa. I agree we should stick together. For that to happen there must be a clear leader. It isn't me. And clearly she seems to have trouble listening to anyone."

Does Mortimer choose to investigate Marzena's quarters, despite Sampson's indication that it's considered off-limits?

"Just a formal but brief investigation. To be fair -- I don't really know exactly what I'm looking for -- clues -- maybe something that will help Marzena and the men when we find them -- something she might need or could use and be grateful to have. I'll take the responsibility and face the consequences for overstepping boundaries -- if there are any. I really believe it necessary. Solrisa will make sure we male-types don't do anything untoward."

~
Mortimer thoroughly enjoys the morning porridge -- especially the maple syrup and crunchy bits. He struggles not to eat more than his share, but manages.

"Do you have a boat?"

"Does Cinder count?" He shrugs. "Don't think she'd fare any worse that I would in a swamp. I figure the smaller folk could ride on her back -- " he glances at Hourpen, " -- if they're coming and want to. I can lead her through with the reigns."

"I kind of think we've done all we can here. If we infiltrate their territory we might be able to garner enough concern on the part of the LizardFolk to draw their attention away from the Keep. Don't kid yourselves though -- this is their territory and they will have the advantage."

"Tynan -- are you coming? We could really use your tracking skills."

"Oh -- hey -- I almost forgot to mention," says Mort, turning to Tynan and Hourpen. "Good work in the stables! -- Sol and I noticed you must have taken out an entire squad there just from the body pile up."

"Oh -- hey -- I almost forgot to mention," says Mort, turning to Tynan and Hourpen.

Sol's face turns quickly to smile at Mort, as Sol thinks Mort is speaking of her work to clean up the stables, but then turns her attention to agree with him.

"Oh yeah, there were tons of dead ones down there, for sure. Nice work, Tynan!"

"Those weren't my orders. Don't talk to me as if it was my idea to break up the group. Again and again it has been her actions that have divded the group.

Solrisa instead turns to Hourpen.

"What do you mean, Hourpen? We took the fort together. If you want to be safe, so you should stay here. I'll go find Marzena, don't you worry. It's not about breaking up the group, it's that we got you here, now you should be safe," Solrisa explains earnestly. "Allustan wanted us to get you here, and here you are."

"There is a difference between being together he makes a gathering motion with his arms and working together. I did not want to take your horse, I told you as much. I am sorry for its death, but you did not listen to my objection. Tynan and I had to argue to scout ahead while you walked ahead on your own while everyone tried to convince you otherwise. And again as others plan to work together you talk of how you, not us or we will go. Your friends say you mean well. I want to believe them. We should work together, plan together, not just end up at the same destination together."

"Hourpen is right. Our success in the stable was because we worked together, as a team. Sol, for all your confidence about taking out all of the lizardfolk alone, without Ascaria's healing, or Eri's spells and arrows, or Mort's resourcefulness, things might not go so well for you."

Tynan gives a slight pause, then continues. "Think of it like the six of us are playing a huge game of Oopsie Topsy, where each of us is helping the others to do better. You really can't play Oopsie Topsy alone, after all."

"As for a boat for our smaller friends, perhaps we can fashion a raft out of wood from the broken stable door. Mort, you're good at repurposing things... maybe you can show us how to build something."

Solrisa smiles at Hourpen & Tynan.

"Oh, you guys *want* to come too!? Okay, that will be fun!" Solrisa beams happily. "But just so you know, I can't protect you all the time. I'll do my best, but there may be bad things out there."

Solrisa continues to clean her armor.

"We should leave in the morning, yes? And we'll find and smash the lizardfolk and get their friends back. It will be so much fun!"

Looking at Tynan with amazement, "I too like cake. Cake is the best. This has to be the best cake I have ever had. Addressing Solrisa. With the promise of more cake I would very much like to come too. Thank you for being willing to share the fun."

"Mort, you're good at repurposing things... maybe you can show us how to build something."

A boat? A raft? My name's really not Mortimer...

Mortimer rifles through his backpack and pulls out one of a few skeins of lightweight hemp cord.
"Thank the gods for general stores in the damnedest of places," he says, grinning. "I'll see what I can do with this."

Improvisational Equipment.
He gathers up as much good wood as he can find and binds them together with twine and clay as best he can for a makeshift raft big enough for the Gnome, Halfling and their gear.

"I don't know how well this will work, or at all, but we'll find out." He looks over his work thoughtfully, and pulls out a dowel rod and a hankerchief. He puts them together to make a small sail, and fixes it to the raft with a wad of clay around where he's decided the bow should be.

He turns to the others and shrugs. " ' just didn't seem right without a sail."

Addressing Solrisa. With the promise of more cake I would very much like to come too. Thank you for being willing to share the fun."

Solrisa's eyes widen.

"Oh, I don't think there will be cake, will there? Who is promising cake?!" Solrisa asks excitedly. "Do you really think they will have cake *and* our friends?"

"As long as I can be of help to these friends of yours it will be OK if there isn't cake."

"Just a formal but brief investigation. To be fair -- I don't really know exactly what I'm looking for -- clues -- maybe something that will help Marzena and the men when we find them -- something she might need or could use and be grateful to have. I'll take the responsibility and face the consequences for overstepping boundaries -- if there are any. I really believe it necessary. Solrisa will make sure we male-types don't do anything untoward."

Mortimer Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

"I agree, we should look through Marzena's belongings for clues, but we leave everything as it is."

Ascaria Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Sampson looks ready to defend Marzena's room honorably against the giant, when the gnome speaks up, and softens the man's resolve with reason, and assurance. "If you think it'll help. Don't touch her clothes, and don't take too long."

Heading down into the basement, presumably Ascaria, Mortimer, and Solrisa, being a woman-type, you lay eyes on a much larger part of the Keep. The smell of the cooking fire still lingers. The central kitchen is quite warm, compared to the rest of the Keep. Sampson points you to Marzena's quarters, on the east side of the Keep's basement floor. Entering her room, you are greeted by a light smell of cloves, possibly juniper as well. Her quarters are nicely appointed, and much cleaner than the rest of the Keep, although that's not saying much, considering the male-types and their ways.

There is a bed, storage chest, desk, and chair. The table has a sheaf of papers, an inkwell and quills, and a small lamp. A tapestry showing a landscape with Egorian in the background hangs on one wall. Many of the visible papers contain simple drawings, some of them risque. Looking through the drawings, Ascaria finds one that stands out, if only for its clinical nature. It doesn't seem to be drawn in the same manner as the others. It shows a crude depiction of a worm, half-smashed, that reminds you of the worm in the jar obtained from the Observatory.

No other items of note are visible as you look around the room, and the chest appears to be locked.

Roll20 Map has been updated, as it pertains to the three folk downstairs.

...

Creating a raft is more of a c-rafting effort. The canopies discarded by the lizardfolk seem quite suitable, when turned upside down, to float a single small creature, as they are singular pieces of treebark. There are at least three of them not burnt by the destructiveness of Mortimer and Eri.

Ascaria holds up the drawing and shows Mort and Sol. ”Same sort of worm all right.” He continues to look through the paperwork to see if there’s anything he can find to connect that image to other possible leads.

Perception, take-20, desk: 20 - 1 = 19

He looks to Mort, ”Find anything? This is all just a jumble.”

Probably should have had Tynan search... what am I going to find in this mess?

"Did someone think there was cake downstairs?!" Solrisa rises with a smile to follow the group to the kitchen. She will finish her polishing another time.

Entering Marzena's room, she looks around with her nose.

"Oh, don't worry! We won't ruin anything..." Sol says to Sampson with a smile.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7 Perception (Scent - untrained)

Ascaria manages very little in his investigations of the desk. The drawings are all ink-based, save for the worm drawing, which is rendered in charcoal. The desk itself is very simple, easily lifted should it need to be moved. Very humble appointing.

"No cake today. I think the kitchen is in need of supplies. Empty stores. Empty stores indeed."

”Find anything? This is all just a jumble.”

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Entering Marzena's room, she looks around with her nose.

When are they going to start delving?

"Uh, guys -- " politely coughs Mortimer. " -- and uh, Solrisa... Do you see anything -- magical maybe that Marzena can use to protect herself, or otherwise be of use? A ring/necklace/scroll -- anything?"

Ascaria slaps his forehead, Of course!

He quickly scans the room with Detect Magic.

If he finds nothing, he is ready to depart.

Mortimer's look around the room proves far more fruitful than Ascaria's. The bed's mattress, slightly angled at the head of the bed, is easily enough lifted to reveal a journal.

Ascaria is ready to depart the basement, and possibly the Keep, as his magical probings reveal nothing magical in the mage's quarters.