Heinrick Stonewright |
Heinrick goes back to pick up his torch.
He then comes back to the tentacled critters.
Anyone know what these were?
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Jens Varmodsson |
Awwww, I haven't seen it. I think it was well before my time.
"How are our friends?" Jens asks of Heinrick, drawing his sword free with a wet noise and cleaning it on his gambeson. "Not sure what they were, but I think I fought something like them doing a job in Varisia back in '95. Can't for the life of me remember much about them. I was younger and stupider, and nearly suffocated when one of them dropped on me." He finishes cleaning the blade, nodding to Tats. "If our charges are well, let's go on." He directs this last as much to the trio of survivors as to anyone else.
Iolana Torlinni |
Looking in disgust at the creature, and hearing that their companions are being checked on already, Iolana replies as she pokes the corpse of one of them, "I believe they are called darkmantles, I know they are aberrations, and that they are ambush predators but not much beyond that." She looks at them one last time, "Disgusting creatures aren't they, and they have tentacles." She shudders at the memory of the tentacle wrapping around her.
Heinrick Stonewright |
They seem shaken up a bit but well otherwise. As for those things, I guess all we can do is keep an eye out while we make for the surface.
Heinrick cleans the blade of his spear off on the dirt.
Please continue on
Heinrick Stonewright |
Heinrick lights a fresh torch, and drops the guttering old one.
I have no idea who these people are or were. Anyone else
Iolana Torlinni |
Iolana examined the statues after the fighting was over and everyone was ok, Hmmm, these guys seem familiar.
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Ah, now I remember! Looking at her companions, Iolana speaks up, "I recognize these, well, not these individuals, but their equipment. I saw similar on some old fresco's from the first crusade. these statues are of men and women who served in it." Thinking it over she can't help but voice her next thought, "I wonder how they got down here?"
GM Shathira |
Hearing Iolana's theory, Aravashnial perks up. "Statues of the first crusade?! This is marvelous! Don't you see?" When he hears nothing in response, he continues "There were always tales about heroes of the First Crusade that came too close to the Abyssal energies, and were tainted. Rumor said they exiled themselves underground to raise their deformed children in peace. That their descendants live on today in the tunnels below the city. These statues give credence to that story. The children must have carved these."
Horgus snorts, and rolls his eyes, "Another theory from the crackpot conspiracy theorist. Heh...mole people underground" He shakes his head bemusedly.
Heinrick Stonewright |
Yes, they could at least know the way to the surface.
Walls, only way I know is light to keep the walls distant.
Heinrick shudders almost unknowingly.
Iolana Torlinni |
Nodding at Tatyana Iolana replies, "That could be a good idea, certainly better than wandering around aimlessly until we find our way out of here. With these statues here they are hopefully close by."
Heinrick Stonewright |
My concern right now, is making it to the surface. I don't want to be down here any longer than I have to.
Heinrick starts slowly headed for the exit.
Shall we go
Jens Varmodsson |
"Deformed children of crusaders... Well, if they exist still, let's hope they don't see surface-dwellers as foes." Jens takes position at the front of the group again, nodding in agreement to Heinrick. "Horgus, after the things I've seen, I'm having trouble doubting any 'crackpot' theories," he adds grimly, lancing back at the noble.
GM Shathira |
Perception:
Iolana: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Jens: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Heinrick: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Tats: 1d20 ⇒ 1
stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Initiative:
Iolana: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Jens: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Heinrick: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Tats: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Milorn: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Jens and Heinrick make for the exit, and find that it opens into another large cavern, where A small campfire and a well-used bed roll, along with a few utensils and tools, sits near another cave opening in the far wall of this cavern. As you start to come a bit further into the cave, you hear a wail, "Noooo! this is Milorn's palace now! You crusader agents will not take Milorn alive!"
The figure is a crazed looking dwarf, who looks like he may have been trying to stay hidden, but did so, so poorly, you just can't be sure.
************Combat round 1****************
Party, Milorn
Heinrick Stonewright |
Seeing the one obvious threat, Heinrick looks around for another one, while the first is drawing attention.
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Iolana Torlinni |
Iolana prepares to draw a weapon if a fight begins and calls out to the dwarf, "Why would you think we're agents of the crusaders and why would we care about this Milorn person if we were? We're simply truing to get back to the surface, I don't suppose you'd know the way would you?"
diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Whu-oh, that roll wasn't very good.
Jens Varmodsson |
Jens keeps his shield low, holding up his empty right hand, appealing is fingers as much as the gauntlet will allow. "We are not crusaders, simply lost travellers fallen on hard times. If you let us pass through, we will trouble you no more, and bring you no harm."
Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 12
<Edna Krabappel>HA!</Edna Krabappel>
Iolana Torlinni |
Spellcraft to ID the spell he's casting: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Yea-noooo.
Knowing the dwarf is trying to cast a spell, and not intending to let him get away with it, Iolana pulls out her whip, and then moves closer to the dwarf.
hadn't moved my marker into the room when I posted last but I had to be to try and interact with him, sorry bout that.
Jens Varmodsson |
The look of wild fear is one Jens knows well - he breaks into a sprint, a mountain on the move as he heads for the dwarf. He stops just short of block Iolana's reach with her whip, but he's close enough to be a threat. After all, he had to protect the foolish girl.
Double-moving to get to where I am now. Not sure if it's worth activating my challenge, so I won't yet.
Heinrick Stonewright |
cannot access map from phone
Seeing the spell being cast heinrick attempts to I'd it.
spell: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
He then moves to the flank
Kelarith |
Milorn Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
The group converges on the Dwarf, Milorn, but can't quite reach him. Tatyana casts her spell and a light pops in front of his face, but the dwarf shakes his head vigorously and doesn't seem fazed by it.
He looks enraged at Tats, and makes a small step to the side, tossing a fan of colored sand into the air, which bursts into a display of colored lights that fan over Jens and Tats
Jens and Tats, I need a will save to avoid unconsciousness
Heinrick Stonewright |
found wi fi. ;)
People, he is going to be harder to hit due to being blurred
Heinrick moves in to draw attention from Tats with his spear.
attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
miss: 1d100 ⇒ 89
Low is always bad for me
Jens Varmodsson |
Assuming a 19 saves...
Jens squeezes his eyes shut against the lights, hearing the telltale thump as Tats collapses off to his side. With a low rumble of anger, he glares menacingly at the dwarf, old eyes buring furiously behind the spectacles of his helm. "Alright, dwarf. It's you and me now!"
Swift action to activate challenge, designating Heinrick as my ward - if he stays adjacent to me, he gets a +1 dodge bonus to AC, putting him at 17 and me at 19. Iolana has 15' reach with her whip, so she shouldn't be close enough to be hit easily.
Everyone but me gets +1 to hit the dwarf.
Free action to 5' step.
Standard action to smash.
If an adjacent ally is targeted by an attack, I'll use Saving Shield to give them my +2 bonus.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Miss chance; low is bad: 1d100 ⇒ 24
GM Shathira |
The spray of color washes over Tatyana and Jens, the light bombarding their eyes painfully. Jens grits his teeth and ducks his head away from the display, but the pain is too much for Tatyana, and she falls to the ground unconscious.
Heinrick maneuvers around the dwarf and strikes out with his spear which the dwarf dodges easily. Jens recovers quickly from the spray of colored lights and slashes down at the caster, opening a gash along the caster's chest. The dwarf grimaces, and clutches briefly at his chest, giving Iolana a moment to act.
Iolana Torlinni |
If this is an AoO I don't provoke with the whip yet, if it's not then see below.
Iolana's whip cracks out at the dwarf's feet in an attempt to trip him up.
CMB: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
GM Shathira |
Milorn Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Color Spray duration: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5
The dwarf starts to move back suddenly, spoiling Iolana's aim and the whip cracks on open air. The dwarf scurries back towards the other exit in the room towards the east, stops and flings a small glob of something at Jens. It flies well over his shoulder and lands on the cavern floor with a sizzling hiss.
***********End Round 3 *******************
Milorn 12 damage
PCs at full
Tats: Unconscious till round 7
Init
Party, Dwarf
Tatyana Selitov |
As the battle rages on, Tats is having none of it. Instead, she's enjoying a picnic with her beloved Roj in one of Kenabres's few parks. After a while, thought, she starts noticing things that aren't right. Things like her lack of tail and horn-stubs. Realizing she's dreaming, she tries to snap out of it and wake up, but eventually realizes the struggle is pointless and sits back down to have another bite of delicious cold chicken.
Iolana Torlinni |
Iolana moves once more to cut off the dwarfs escape and cracks her whip at it's feet once again in hopes that she can trip him.
trip cmb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Wow, exact same crappy roll as the last time.
Jens Varmodsson |
Round 4:
Not allowing the dwarf to escape his reach, Jens is relentless in his pursuit. As the orb of acid flies harmlessly over his shoulder, not even singeing his pauldron, he can't help but laugh mirthlessly. "You shouldn't have picked a fight you couldn't win, Milorn," he growls, swinging out at the dwarf's arm - unfortunately, the slightly-insubstantial form of the foe foils him, the cold iron longsword slicing only through air. He shakes his head, curses his old eyes, and tries to focus harder.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage (challenge): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Miss chance; low is bad: 1d100 ⇒ 19
Heinrick Stonewright |
Heinrick moves up to assist Jens with hammering at the dwarf.
Hold still you
attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
hit low bad: 1d100 ⇒ 62
GM Shathira |
As Milorn moves away, Iolana attempts to trip the dwarf up with her whip, but the blur effect on him causes her attack to fly wide of the mark. Jens hurries forward, but encounters the same issue, as Milorn moves to the side. The dwarf's move puts him in line with Heinrick's spear, and it looks down in surprise as the blade of the spear punctures deep into his chest, stunned that his spell didn't cause the cleric to miss.
****************Combat Over*****************
When you come back to Tatyana, she starts to stir in a few moments, sitting up slowly as she realizes she cannot see. Then, like after effects of a bright flash, her eyes start to clear and her vision returns to normal.
An examination of Milorn and his small encampment finds the following:
2 Potions that are Dark Yellow, minty smelling, bubbly and sweet
1 Potion that is Brown, musky smelling, with a slimy texture and Spicy taste
2 Scrolls
1 finely crafted cloak
a ratty bedroll,
a small pack filled with dried meat, preserved
fruit, and some moldy cheese (6 days of rations),
chipped 6-inch-tall marble statuette of a
humanoid throwing a spear
What is obiously Milorn's Spellbook
Tatyana Selitov |
As she slowly recovers her vision, Tats notices the moldy cheese. Her stomach rumbling, she digs in, looking sheepishly at the others but unable to stop herself. Once she's satisfied her hunger, she reaches for the spellbook. "I would like to have a look at zeesssss later. Zeee dwarf clearly knew ssssome ssspellsss I do not, and zey might be helpful in here."
The spellbook (hopefully) secure in her bag, Tats begins looking around where she fell, hoping to recover her rapier. That done, she looks suspiciously down the tunnel to the northeast. "We sshould continue on zat way, I think. Did anyone elssse get hurt, or hit at all by zat dwarf?"
Jens Varmodsson |
Jens looks appreciatively at Heinrick as his spear ends the dwarf's life, clapping him on the shoulder heavily with a look of newfound respect in his eyes. "Not a bad job, lad. Surprised you could see him well enough to get him." A grim smile wrinkles the corners of his mouth before he turns his attention to Tatyana, helping her steady herself - he remembers being on the recieiving end of that spell in his younger days, and the way his equilibrium suffered.
Once he's sure the tiefling isn't going to keel over, he sorts through the dwarf's possessions, setting things aside. He briefly considers the bedroll, before casting it aside. Everything else he gathers, handing the scrolls and potions to the others. "Never did learn to identify these things. Looks like we have another healing potion, though. Never can have too much of a good thing. The cloak's going to do someone a lot of good keeping warm. And this looks valuable - bit chipped, but it's still good marble." He holds out the statuette for inspection.
Leaving the others to examine the magical items, he heads back to their charges, gently placing a large hand on Aravashnial's shoulder. "We encountered some resistance, but there's no further threat. If you're all alright, we should move on."
Heinrick Stonewright |
Kind of shocked at the sucessful hit on the crazed dwarf, heinrick is still a little shaken. But still appreciative of the compliiment
Jens, it was only covered in theory, but I guess it worked
on phone, cannot access maps
GM Shathira |
(perception)
Iolana: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Jens: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Heinrick: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Tats: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Aravashnial nods to Jens, "Yes, that would be acceptable."
Anevia steps up and takes the blinded elf's arm. "I should be able to act as his eyes. The healing you gave me helped enough that I can get around without a crutch" She grits her teeth in a smile, gamely, "Still can't do anything about the limp yet."
The group follows the only passage out of 'Milorn's Palace', a steeply inclined tunnel leading upward and to the north. The walls lined with numerous nooks, handholds and dozens of iron pitons, driven into the walls long ago. The tunnel leads up at a steep angle for about 60 feet, and the cracks, handholds and pitons make it no more difficult than climbing a ladder.
After 60 feet the shaft heads northwest for about 30 minutes until The tunnel opens into a large cavern, about seventy feet across. Cylindrical rock formations along the walls arch up to make a dome like chamber, but the walls and floor are riddled with cracks. At the center of the cave, a stone tower that may once have reached the fifty-foot- high ceiling has collapsed onto its side.
Heinrick Stonewright |
Jens, I hear digging in that area.
Pointing his spear in the direction of the digging that he hears
Tatyana Selitov |
As the group winds its way up out of Milorn's Palace, Tats smiles in relief. "Light soon, Tats. Just a bit further, I'm sure."
When they arrive in the room with the tower, Tats is quick to take a look. Staring up at the ceiling, she whistles in appreciation. "Zat eez a lonk way up. Do you think zee crussadersss built zat tower?"
Iolana Torlinni |
"First a shrine, and now a tower in the tunnels, this place just get's more and more interesting."
Jens Varmodsson |
"Digging, you say?" Furrowing his heavy brow, Jens, nods to Heinrick. "Alright. Stay close. Tats, Iolana, stay here, on guard." Readying his shield, Jens makes his way to where Heinrick pointed, moving slowly, but not trying to be quiet in his heavy armour.
GM Shathira |
As Jens rounds the fallen portion of the tower, he sees two figures standing defensively, but not really threatening. The first, a hunchbacked female has tumors that warp her face so badly that she can't even talk. The other figure is a a tall, thin creature with a face that melds the features of an attractive elven man, a goat, and a lizardfolk. His oversized fingers end in dull, spadelike talons. A third figure can be seen cramped into a tiny space, trapped there by the fallen tower.
The thin creature greets the PCs in a raspy voice, speaking in strangely accented but quite eloquent Common, and asks their intentions. "If
your intentions are ill, we ask you to move on and leave us in peace. If they are good, then perhaps you can help. As you can see, misfortune has befallen us."
It's plain that the two have been digging carefully to try and free their pinned companion, but a large boulder stands poised over the space precariously.
Jens Varmodsson |
Jens warily eyes the strange humanoids, Aravashnial's excited lectures fresh in his mind. After a moment's pause, he asks, "Are you children of the First Crusade? And do you mean us any harm?"