"Cool, Dakka, nice find. I suggest that someone search the altar for secret compartments that might hold a key or something."
"Well, Urhan, you still have your strength. Maybe you could force the door open."
Chombo is keeping watch on the stairs in case someone joins us.
"Fair enough Chombo. Couldn't hurt." Dakka gives the altar a thorough inspection.
Urhan takes a look at the door and says, "That one looks beyond all of our strength."
He goes back to both altars and gives each a thorough look.
While he manages to stay focused on the task for a while, he keeps getting distracted at his inability to put together his words correctly when he attempted to sing.
"Unless any of you find the key, I suggest we keep moving upward. If the wall is blasted open on the other side of the door, we may be able to climb down from the level above anyway."
Deciding to forgo the secret door for the time being, the group returns to the central staircase, carefully moving up the stairs. Although the majority of them move quietly, there's a slight mishap on the stairs and Shae yelps when she nearly tips forward. She immediately holds her breath and everyone goes strangely silent as though to determine what'll come next.
There's no sound to suggest any mischief or otherwise terrible and dangerous foe, so they proceed.
Chombo "creeps" up the stairs and stands next to the door and quietly draws his greatsword and readies for someone coming through the door.
Shae noticed the smell instantly and drew out her scrimitar. She looks at the others and makes a shushing motion while pointing towards the door.
Can someone place me? My phone is being friendly today
Dakka takes up position with his bow ready. "Again I await for you brave mammals to lead the way. I promise to say kind things should you perish."
Dakka strains to listen to the voices beyond the door, trying to get a sense of how many speakers there are.
His hand strays to the wooden symbol around his neck and he begins to murmur quietly.
Dakka Nobu blesses the party just before Aicard slides the door open. Immediately, you can see crude bunks line the walls of this room and the scent that had been so lightly familiar moments before blasts you dead on. Having been free of it for a time, you find that it doesn't much make you feel good. Fortunately, only Dakka Nobu and Urhan Quinn are greatly affected.
The source is instantly obvious when the three troglodytes that were relaxing in the barracks cry out and stand, reaching for their weapons.
Combat Round 1
Effects
Terrain
Those bolded below may act.
Dakka Nobu - sickened
Aicard - 2 damage
Shae Sasogne - 2 damage/ Scarlett - 2 damage
Chombo - 3 damage
Urhan Quinn - sickened
Troglodyte (Green)
Troglodyte (Blue)
Troglodyte (Red)
Urhan feels the familiar feeling from before but keeps his footing. At the same time though, he doesn't trust himself to open his mouth to say anything without any unwanted side effects. To focus on something else, he begins chanting and tapping his guisarme against the floor. This time he is singing a Chelaxian rebel hymn about the fall of Asmodeus.
"Ugh its back!" Dakka ties to suppress the dry heaves in his stomach. "It's worse than ever!" Dakka takes a step to get an clear shot and woozily fires his longbow.
Chombo moves into the room to attack the creature on the left, mainly because he see a clear path to him. "Argh! Let's get them."
Knowing that time is of the essence, Aicard moves in and draws a javelin. Discord rages through his veins as Urhan's song both empowers and pushes him on.
Shae attempts to use the element of surprise and yells, "Scarlett! Attack!" Scarlett rushes into the room, veers right and snaps his jaws at the enemy.
Shae runs into the room, veers to the left and swings her scimitar hard with finesse towards the beast.
Dakka Nobu's arrows flies true and pierces the troglodyte's left shoulder, causing it to cry out in its strange and gutteral language. Shae and Scarlett are next to move - Shae slices into her foe, causing the troglodyte to yelp in pain as it fails to dodge her scimitar. Scarlett isn't so lucky and the troglodyte nimbly steps out of the way. When Chombo charges forward to attack his chosen foe, his blow lands squarely, nearly removing the troglodyte's head. As it is, the creature drops, its body making a dull thump as it hits the ground.
The two remaining troglodytes exchange quick, frightened looks before commencing their own attacks. One attacks Shae, carelessly tossing a javelin at her before moving towards her, using the furniture to keep out of range for as long as possible. The javelin misses, but its eyes aren't on it - rather, his eyes belie his intentions; he wants to get to the door.
The other attacks Scarlett, perhaps a bit awkwardly with the javelin, but its aware that it won't be able to get anywhere with her just beside him, teeth bared. Though he swipes at her, it is to no avail. Seeing that his attack was meaningless, the troglodyte drops his javelin and draws out a club, a weapon more suitable for close range than a javelin.
Combat Round 2
Effects
Terrain
Those bolded below may act.
Dakka Nobu - sickened
Shae Sasogne - 2 damage/ Scarlett - 2 damage
Chombo - 3 damage
Urhan Quinn - sickened
Aicard - 2 damage, +2 STR, +2 Con, +1 Will, -1 AC
Troglodyte (Green) - 4 damage
Troglodyte (Blue)
Urhan can't help but let his own thumping beat propel him into the fray. Despite the roiling of his guts, he moves to the middle of the room and strikes at the troglodyte menacing Shae.
He finds that the focus the song is giving him is for now keeping the horrible feeling he is feeling inside from slowing him too much physically.
Chombo moves to attack the green trog.
"You guys can handle him. I am going to help Scarlett."
Dakka moves into the room and fires at the northern troglodyte.
As Scarlett dodges the javelin, she missteps as she snaps her vicious jaws at her target, barely missing her mark. She lets out a hardy growl in frustration.
Seeing that others are going to her beloved companion's aide, she decides to remain in her position and battle the monstrosity before her. She slashes her scimitar quickly, yet efficiently.
"I got your back, Shae!" yells Aicard as he moves in to help her dispose of the disgusting troglodyte.
Dakka Nobu's bow strikes true again and the troglodyte grunts as the arrow digs into his skin. Scarlett snaps at the same troglodyte, but he's able to fend her off with his club. Shae, however, has a bit more luck, cutting into her new foe.
When Chombo adds his assistance to Scarlett and Dakka Nobu, their enemy falls under the force of their combined attacks. He shrieks as he dies, a call of frustration as much as it is a screech of pain.
Urhan's attack isn't as effective as he might like and he growls, grumpy. Aicard's fortune is a bit better and he delivers a hearty blow, causing the troglodyte to cry out as it falls.
Quiet falls as your adrenaline slows, a quick examination of the room reveals that there's not much in here. You can only speculate that each of the troglodytes didn't want to run the risk of having the others steal from them.
Instead, you have options in the shape of doors, one to the north and one to the south.
Chombo flips a coin and says "It heads. I choose north."
"North it is!" Shae exclaims. She walks to the door, but pauses to hear any objections. Hearing none, she presses her ear against the door to see if she hears anything. She then quietly and slowly opens the door.
Aicard goes about picking up his javelin and warhammer, then returning to shadow Shae.
Urhan stops his song after the last enemy hits the floor. "Lady and Gentlemen, I am quite impressed by our actions here...even with this roiling in my gut, we can all be proud of how these foes were dispatched.
I will let you brave heroes lead the way North."
Cracks in the walls and ceiling of this chamber have allowed rainwater to collect here, too, flooding the room and giving rise to a profusion of mold and fungus along the walls and ceiling. There's rubbish here and there, things that have broken or faded with time. The water looks to be ankle deep and the mold and fungus shouldn't harm you so long as you don't touch it.
Rather, what immediately requires your attention is the giant frog that eyes you hungrily. It appears to be gauging you for the moment.
Chombo moves towards the frog prepares to defend against whatever this frog can deal out.
"Come on guys, it's just a big frog."
Dakka peers into the room to the north from the door way. "Go away frog, you don't want to eat me. I have been thoroughly spoiled by troglodyte fumes and will only make you sick. Besides my bones are sharp and will stick in your throat. Say, do you know the lizard below? He seems nice."
Urhan stays in the back of the group as he lets his stomach clear. "I love froglegs. Chombo...does he have enough leg for the two of us?"
The frog, previously inquisitive, lashes its tongue out to attempt to ensnare Chombo, the presumably tasty treat. Overexcited, though, his tongue splats against the wall beside the door instead of landing on the half-orc.
Combat Round 1
Effects
Terrain
Those bolded below may act.
Dakka Nobu
Urhan Quinn
Chombo - 3 damage
Giant Frog
Shae Sasogne - 2 damage/Scarlett - 2 damage
Aicard - 2 damage
Chombo says "Oh yeah, big frog." Chombo moves in to attack.
Seeing Chombo's mighty swing bite into little more than air, Urhan moves up alongside and says, "The key is to have your feet set before you swing. Otherwise you might slip on the wet ground...I thought you knew this..." Urhan is smiling as he swings.
As the giant frog's tongue lashes out Dakka hops a little in suprise. "Amazing! You're perhaps even more entertaining than your lizard friend!"
He's so fascinated by the frog's display he entirely forgets to aim his shot.
Dakka Nobu and Chombo both miss, but Urhan's guisarme falls true, cutting into the giant frog. It croaks as its flesh splits open. Still, it's more hungry than interested in life and it tries to bite Chombo. Unfortunately, the poor thing misses again.
Combat Round 1/2
Effects
Terrain
Those bolded below may act.
Shae Sasogne - 2 damage/Scarlett - 2 damage
Aicard - 2 damage
----------
Dakka Nobu
Urhan Quinn
Chombo - 3 damage
Giant Frog
Shae rushes into battle with her scimitar. Seconds before attempting to hit the frog, she calls out, "Scarlett, attack this frog!"Shae slices into the frog.
Scarlett runs up to the frog, teeth bared. She attempts to bite the frog, but is distracted and completely misses.
Chombo grins at Urhan and sets his feet before attacking the frog.
But Chombo tried too hard and missed, again.
"I don't understand what's wrong. I need to find my center and concentrate."
Dakka looses another poorly aimed shot.
"I just can't bring myself to hurt this magnificent beast!"
[ooc]If it is still up can somebody move me into a flanking position[/IOC]
"It is slick in here..."
There's a quick squirmish, though it mostly involves slipping and sliding - the water here is far more slick than any of the party members had expected! But nonetheless, the giant frog gives a last choked croak before going still, its slimy body relinquishing itself to the floor.
The other door in the room lies open and through it, you can see naught but the sky and the the Cairnlands. You can see how someone might've been able to climb up and down this outer wall. Aside from that, there's little to do here - unless one felt particularly adventurous.
Still, there is that southern door...
"Well good job guys," She lets out a soft giggle as she walks more into the room. She goes to the small jade statue of an angelic being that she spotted before the frog attacked.
She picks it up, "Hmm. How much is this worth?"
"Frogs, really?" says Aicard as he puts away his weaponry and helps the crew scavenge the room. "What's next, a flesh eating plant?" Talking seemed to help the soldier of fortune calm down and deal with the situations he gets thrown into.
"We are definitely taking this with us. Hopefully there's more to find." Shae carefully puts the statue in her backpack. "Aicard, don't jinx us! I like plants too much to have to kill one. You're not afraid of a little flower are you?" She teases her friend. "Are we going back to the other door now?"
The Taldorian's mouth drops down and remains ajar as he takes in Shae's words. "You're taking the piss, aren't you? Gods below, you are, good. Yes, let's move back once we're done here and secure this tower so we can uncover all its hidden treasures without turning into troglodyte, frog or dogfood."
Shae gives a wide smile that lights up her face. "I don't know what you are talking about my dear Aicard. You forgot to mention the electrifying lizard. He was a cute little spark. We don't want to be fried food either." Shae moves towards the door with Scarlett, waiting for the others to finish their search before she leaves the room. This is not the place to be wondering off on your own.
"Don't you want the legs, Urhan?"
Chombo moves over to the southern door and take a deep breath before setting his feet for a fight.
"Good night majestic creature." Dakka says a little sadly and then looks around the room carefully.
"Shall we backtrack and explore the rest of the floor?"
---
They don't find anything else of interest in the room and turn back to see what lies beyond the southern door. Upon opening it, Chombo is nearly skewered by a javelin - it flies just past him, clanking against the stone before falling to the floor. The troglodyte stands behind a brazier full of glowing coals to the ground, causing the acrid smoke to mix with the ever-present troglodyte stench, mouth open in a sneer. Fortunately, only Aicard and Dakka Nobu are hit with the full force of the stench.
He's bigger than the other troglodytes you've seen thus far, and stinkier, too. Behind him, knives, pokers, and other metal implements lie atop a rusty iron box.
Combat Round 1
Effects
Terrain
Those bolded below may act.
Dakka Nobu - sickened
Shae Sasogne - 2 damage/Scarlett - 2 damage
Urhan Quinn
Tulok
Aicard - 2 damage, sickened
Chombo - 3 damage