Gryphon Gold's Rise of the Runelords Campaign (Inactive)
Game Master Ludomancer

Thanks for the reminder. Markum uses Light to see by as well.

You find a secret door at the end of the long passageway you just traveled.

Go through the door. Be ready to attack

"And sometimes a cave in is not just a cave in..." Praxim says with a friendly grin and knocks an arrow to his bow.

"This is not a cave in." Markum mutters.

"Someone's attempt to cover their tracks then, perhaps?" Lym suggests.

The door opens into a circular cave, 30 feet in diameter. A collection of crude goblin beds and meal remnants are strewn about the cave. The cave overlooks the Varisian Bay, and the mouth of cave slopes down to a narrow beach.

How old is this camp? Are there any tracks on the beach?
Markum
Survival 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Vuvo aid another
Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Lona looks about, wondering where all the goblins went.

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

You can't see any tracks from the cave. The pieces of food are molding, and look they've been molding for at least a couple of days.

Markum turns around and goes back to the brick wall. "There's nothing here. They've been gone for at least a day."

"Let's check whether they left any clues behind," Lym suggests. She repeats her brief incantation and looks at the camp more closely.

Another Detect Magic, just to be sure.

You find nothing magical at the cave.

Are you going beyond the brick wall?

Yes, down the rabbit hole or through the wall as you see fit.

The tunnel curves for 150 feet before you have to make another decision. On the right wall, an opening to a cave appears, while straight ahead is another fork in the tunnel.

Map

The blue arrow is the direction your traveling.

Lona is a left-to-right kinda gal, and would opt to go left. However, she senses there are some rather strong-willed men leading the group around. So, instead, she busies herself searching for traps as they move along.

I'll check in the cave to the right.
Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
I won't go in further than a few steps unless there's something of interest.

Lym stays with Lona, re-casting Detect Magic and Dancing Lights when they run out and looking everywhere.

As Lona begins taking her first steps to the left, she sees Markum move to the right. Why am I not surprised, Lona thought to herself with a sigh and a shake of her head. She gestures for Lym to follow her as she heads over in Markum's direction so that they can investigate the cave together.

Praxim continues his practice of scanning with detect evil.

Varg is still following Markum and Vuvo closely.

Everyone except Markum, make a Perception check.

Perception = 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

Also, everyone roll initiative.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Initiative = 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10.

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

You enter the cave. Immediately, a [hairless, emaciated humanoid, standing nearly five feet tall], lurches at you from the other end of the cave.

Varg and Lym are surprised. Everyone else can make a move action or standard action. Vuvo needs to make a DC 14 Perception check, too, to act in the surprise round.

Map

Initiative: Praxim, Markum, Varg/Vuvo, Lona/creature, Lym

Vuvo Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Markum moves up to engage the creature.

Round 1:
Praxim quickly slips an arrow out of his quiver and lets it fly from his bow at the creature.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21; damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Perhaps we'd be better served to have the creature come to us, where there is more...ah, nevermind," Lona calls out. With only one ally in the way, and Markum at that, Lona decides to let the arrow fly anyway.

Attack into melee (-4, included) 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 8

Surprise round

Praxim hits the creature in the side of its ribcage, and Markum approaches to face it head on. Lona's attack misses, while the creature opens its jaws wide and bites down on Markum's shoulder, ripping the meat off his shoulder (5 dmg, make a DC 12 Will save).

Map

Round 1.

Will save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Markum strikes back at the creature
Scimitar 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Vuvo rushes in and bites at it
Bite 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 Trip 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Praxim fires another arrow.
Attack:1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 4 = 22
Damage:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"Sagitta, omne errore vacua, vole!" Lym chants. A dart of force shoots out of her hand, zips between the other members of the group and grounds itself in the creature's ribcage.

One Force dart (or whatever they're called again). Automatic hit to the tune of 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 force damage.

Varg walks up to stand side-by-side with Markum and stabs at the creature.

Attack = 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Damage = 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

With the group crowding the creature and blocking her path, Lona contents herself guarding their back and keeping an eye on the fight, lest another hostile creature comes upon them unawares.

With the combined assault of Praxim's arrow, Varg's sword, and Vuvo's teeth, the creature falls dead in the cave.

Combat over.

Lona pats the backs of the burly men of the party as she congratulates them on a job well done, and proceeds to do a thorough search of the body and the room for traps and goodies.

I'd like to identify this thing. What kind of Knowledge check(s) should I roll?

While the women search and study, Varg keeps a lookout for any other attackers.

Markum moves to guard the tunnel.

Praxim knocks an arrow and assumes a covering position near the tunnel entrance, detecting evil constantly outside the cave.

You have to make a Perception to search the body, and a check to search the room for traps.

Make a Knowledge (Dungeoneering) check to identify the monster.

I'll take 20 on the body and the room for goodies (that's a result of 30). If I can't then:

Perception body 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Perception room goodies 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Here's the trap search (extra bonus from the level of rogue):
Perception traps 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

I don't have Knowledge (dungeoneering). Anyone else?

You find nothing on the body or in the cave.