[PbP Gameday IV] GM Alera's Masters of the Fallen Fortress (Inactive)

Game Master Aerdriana

oops

Sigríðr responds to Krush, "My eyes are keen 'nuff. Don't worry about what I may or may not see. You just worry about where you swing that monstrosity you carry over your shoulder."

She looks back to Prizm and points at Bert, "Glad to see your dodo agrees with you and your feelings about our arachnid friend there. Keep up the good work on being consistent." She rolls her eyes with the last word.

With a huff she readies her heavy pick and shield before walking to the doorway of the next room. "Okay, I'm ready, how about all of you? Want me to enter first again?"

Fhlangorn walks up beside Sigrid.

Why are you always angry or irritated

Sigrid looks at Fhlangorn, "I don't know Drunk Male Dwarf. Why are so irritating all the time?"

Krush laughs at Sigrid's comments, shaking his head as he moves up next to her.

"You took the bad end of the web. Please, let me take the next one."

After surveying his allies, Krush faces himself forward, shining his wayfinder into the room, both hands on his earth breaker as he walks forward.

As long as nobody stops him, Krush enters the next room.

The tower's west wing is mostly choked with rubble, but there is a door on the eastern wall of the room that is still accessible.

Additionally, as you move into the room you stumble across a small web cocoon, holding the remains of an unfortunate dog that fell into the spider's clutches. The desiccated carcass is still wearing its leather collar, which is studded with lapis lazuli stones and has a silver tag reading "Kita".

ack! What the heck just happened! Tried to move my guy and it grabbed Jack's icon instead and stretched it wierdly.

Fhlangorn moves in next to Krush.

So what is that klar made of anyways?

Sigrid kicks the web cocoon as passes into the next room, "Looks like we weren't the only one smackin' dogs around. That gem encrusted collar though tells me somebody's missing their prize poodle." She laughs heartily at her own comment. "Do something worthwhile men, keep your eyes open for loot."

Perception on the room: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Krush, do something worthwhile and open that door. We also have that other room to check out."

Feeling somewhat safer, but still puzzling about the weird way that Fhlangorn speaks, as if something was missing from the words, Glastor moves in to the next room.

Another thing that was troubling him was how familiar that Prizm and Bert were to him... as if he had known them before. But that couldn't be true, he didn't know an illusionist with a dodo as a best friend... so what could it be?

Is there any other instance where bold is used? If not, why are quotes necessary?

I use bold sometimes if I am casting spells.. or want something to stand out.. quotes just indicate speech

Krush shrugs, looking at this weapon.

"Steel I suppose. Iron. I have not given it much thought. It is heavy and does its job well." Krush gives a considering shrug this time. "At some point, I will find something stronger, I'm sure. And what of your weapons? What are they made out of?"

As he talks, he moves over to the door in the room, carefully avoiding the refuse left behind by the spider. He looks the door over carefully, then forcefully pushes it open.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Looks good!

Looking sadly at the dinner of the spider Prizm sighs. "Life is cruel, maybe Sigrid is right to some extent. Things are not the same since I left the treetops. Things were simpler then, we collected treasures and ensured the seasons progressed according to the laws of the seelie court. But I will say, I do miss flying.. legs... get tired."

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 checking to see how old this structure is for my Scarab Sages checksheet

"Mr. Krush, would you please open the door and take us further into this wonderful place? I just know we are going to find some books - and books are truly awesome!"

Sigríðr makes a sideways glance at Prizm, "Glad to hear some sense being talked into you Prizm. Always remember that life is a harsh mistress. You don't always get what you want, and sometimes life takes a bite out of your hide. Sometimes you have to take a bite out of it in order to survive. You'll get it someday, or you'll be dead. Either way no skin off my nose."

Sigríðr then takes a long hard look at the room they had not explored before turning back to Krush, "You got the door open? Good, let's go before Prizm learns this lesson too.

Perception on next room: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Ha! Krush ninja'd Prizm.

Fhlangorn moves up beside Krush and peers around.

"Ah, it's so interesting you see. I literally pull my weapon, mentally, from the ethers of beyond! I slay my foes with Ectoplasm!"

GM, if door is open, peering is into next room.

After a little shoving and kicking of debris you are able to get the door open. Ankle deep rubble spills out of the doorway as you do so. As soon as you open the door you are able to clearly see that you will not be able to progress this way. The door leads to a stone spiral staircase that runs through the center of the tower. Unfortunately, the stairway on this level is completely blocked with fallen rubble. If you wish to progress up the tower, you are fairly certain you will have to head back outside and attempt to climb the tower’s exterior walls.

Southern room, completely filled with rubble. Can't even walk in.

Sigríðr crawls over the rubble back outside the tower and does a once-around to see if there are any particularly good places to attempt a climb, "I have a rope and grapple, because you know, unlike you menfolk, I plan for contingencies. I can climb, what about you?"

After examining the tower stairs and the rubble, Krush makes his way back outside, setting his earth breaker against the tower and pulling open his pack. After rummaging, he pulls out his rope and grappling hook. He begins connecting the two before looking at his companions, at which point he begins knotting the rope instead.

"Of course Siggy! Those of us who can carry the gear should have the gear for the job, right?"

Ninja'd by GM. As long as someone suggests east, that's where I'll toss.

The sound of Sigríðr grinding her teeth can be heard nearly inside the tower. She shoots a piercing glare right through Krush, "Call me Siggy again and I'll pull your teeth through your rectum one at a time. You will respect me with my proper name and refer to me as Sigríðr or Ms. Jǫrðhamarr."

The tension in the air can be cut with a knife as Sigríðr throws her grappling hook upwards to the second floor and bellows to the rest of the group, "Get your collective asses out here. I'm not going to carry you up."

Sorry Anyone who steps outside and actually looks up at the tower:

The tower stands ~80 ft tall. The exterior walls of the tower are surprisingly smooth, superior masonry walls. Possible to climb, but difficult (and no place to secure a grappling hook there).

Climbing the ragged remains of the eastern wing's walls looks considerably easier (with many edges of stone available for a grappling hook). It looks like you can reach most of the levels of the tower with this method, but might not quite be able to make it all the way to the top with this alone.

Fhlangorn follows everyone outside and walks around to the East wing. He starts pulling some camouflage netting from his backpack.

"Yup, that should do it. Prizm, can you get Bert to help me?"

Sigríðr just stares in complete confusion and thinks long and hard. I don't understand, is it a dwarf, is it some otherworldly entity? Do my eyes deceive me and what I see? Whatever it is, nothing he does makes sense. Regretfully, I am unsure what I did to earn our Venture Leadership's punishment to be saddled with this level of ineptitude.

"Um, Drunk Male Dwarf. Why in the nine Hells do we need that?"

Hrafn watches carefully from his perch, clearly agitated by Sigríðr's demeanor.

"Oh, climbing! They told me I would have to do this once and a while. Never was any good with it, though. Is that rope knotted? How is Bert going to up. Last I checked dodos were flightless birds. Maybe we can make some contraption to haul me and Bert up, so we don't fall down. From what I remember from my Pathfinder training, falling hurts.

"Oh!maybeifItakemyshieldoffIcanclimbeasier... whocanhelpmeoutofmyarmor... Whyiseveryonelookingatmelikethat?" Glastor looks at his teammates, not understanding why they might be a little... overwhelmed... by his stream of consciousness.

Fhlangorn sighs.

"Ugly mean lady dwarf, I'd appreciate it, if you used my name, Fhlangorn. As for the netting, we can either create a space where we can safely fall or use it as a basket to haul up those unable to climb. Now if you'd please have your nice blackbird grab a corner and fly it over there? "

Sigríðr throws up her arms in exasperation, "He has a name! After hours of exploring, and traveling together, we finally know his name!"

She immediately squares off directly in front of Fhlangorn and thrusts a finger at him. "Men. You're all the same. You'll listen to each other but you ignore the woman the moment she opens her mouth. Typical, utterly typical. You know what, your communication is atrocious. I haven't known your name. That's on you. I offered you a chance to tell it to me hours ago when I first informed you of your new epithet. I cannot be taken to task for your failings in a group setting."

Without missing a beat she continues, "Then you wander out and ask for assistance without asking for how you wanted assistance. I mean requesting a dodo and a camo net and uttering a vague 'that should do it'? What are we supposed to assume with that?"

Sigríðr pantomimes what she pictures is somebody acting like a know it all, "Ooooh, I want to open this door with small horseshoe and five street meats. I mean what are we supposed to assume except you're off your rocker? So maybe, just maybe instead of an ad hominem attack on your cultural ideal of what you consider attractive, maybe you should instead communicate. You know, the cooperate part of our mission."

She points to the grappling hook attached to the rubble on the second floor she's already thrown up. "And you know, instead of ignoring the woman, actually recognize her skills."

Fhlangorn throws his hands up in disgust.

"Seriously! I introduced myself on the path here! Just because, like a typical woman, you have some sense of self importance, doesn't mean you get to berate me for not doing something I already did! So I suggest getting that chip off your shoulder as it's obviously too big for you to hear or see around!

Obviously about had it with the rude and bossy Sigrid, Fhlangorn starts tying his net to some rubble about a foot over his head.

"And if you don't understand what someone is doing, before just assuming it's dumb and you know better. Ask! That's also part of cooperation! It's your type is why I left home in the first place!"

Fhlangorn looks pointedly at Sigrid.

"Sigrid, I am going to say this once, and slowly. Make sure you get it! I. Do. Not. Need. Another. Overbearing. Bossy. Mean. Mother!"

Fhlangorn wipes spittle from his mouth, seeing that he is nearly done setting up the net.

"Now be nice or don't talk to me!

Might want to take a look at page one again Ryan. The act is starting to get old.

Sigríðr looks at Fhlangorn and spits on the ground, "I assumed your idea was dumb because, well, in the end it is dumb."

With that she stows her gear and starts to climb, motioning the rest to do the same. She leans over and calls down to everybody, clearly ignoring Fhlangorn in the process, "In an effort to actually communicate with the rest of you, let's get moving, daylight is fleeting. And Glastor, tell that weird dwarf to quit playing with his net and get moving."

I'll take 10 on climb for a 14, which should climb a rope against a wall.

You'll just have to get used to the act then.

Glastor turns to Prizm and Bert. "What is it with those two dwarves? Allthisyellingandshoutingandcallingnames?" The little healer looks genuinely concerned.

Trying not to spit the name, he says to the Fhlangorn, "Fhlangorn can you please put away your net so that we can climb up to the next floor because the stairs are blocked and we can't use them to climb up?"

She then just walks up to Sigríðr, and asks, "Should I go first? I might fall on someone if someone follows, but it would be good to have a healer in good armor up top in case there is something nasty, but it would also be good to have a healer down below in case someone falls down but I hope no one falls down I hope that you and the foamy dwarf aren't going to fight i know you are just trying to help us to be successful Pathfinders and being a Pathfinder is all I ever wanted to do since Pathfinders get to do all sorts of neat things and travel the world and all sorts of neat things did you see my Wayfinder it is really neat why are you looking at me like that?" He finally breathes.

With the knotted rope against the wall you are all easily able to make it up to the ... which level do you want to go to? - second or third?

The dodo can attempt to climb up the rubble from the eastern area himself, and might even make it. If that fails a rope can be tied around him to haul him up.

Play nice, people

Fhlangorn finishes setting up the net.

"Glastor, if someone falls, hopefully the net will help break it, and no healing will be necessary. But I can use a wand and can stay below until everyone makes it safely."

Fhlangorn looks up angrily at Sigrid.

"Not even an apology for yelling at me for something that was your fault?! Typical! Ya want respect, ugly woman, you gotta dish it first!"

Sigríðr climbs to the second floor where the grappling hook made purchase. Once she hits the landing she quickly pulls out her weapon and shield while looking around for any dangers. She calls down to those on their way up, "Tell the Dwarf that the ad hominem using his male-dominated cultural opinion of beauty makes him sound like an ignorant pig. For those of you interested in exploring, I’ll keep watch up here while you all make it up. If the dodo needs help up, I’m sure somebody could shove him in a backpack or something.”

Don't worry Windy - it's all in character.

Just waiting up here until everybody catches up with posting.

"Fhlangorn? The ad hominem using your male-dominated cultural opinion of beauty makes you sound like an ignorant pig." says Glastor.

As he climbs up, he babbles, "I hope I got that right and our self-designated leader Sigríðr won't drop me on my head because I really try to be a good Pathfinder and being a good Pathfinder is cooperating and reporting and exploring and I really try to do the right thing and heal everybody when they are hurt and be nice to everybody but it is hard and everybody seems to be yelling except Prizm and why does Prizm seem familiar oh and hey I made it to the top safely howaboutthat?!"

"Oh piffle posh!"

Fhlangorn grumbles as he waits for everyone to climb.

"Prizm, I'd gladly allow Bert a ride in my backpack."

Looks up toward where Sigrid entered the second floor and yells as loud as he can.

You know, I was in a good mood before I met you."

Once everyone is up, Fhlangorn will climb up quickly.

I will post more tomorrow, tied up w real life. Ryan, while the roleplay is very good. It's getting old, and a bit much - please try to dial it back a bit. No disrespect meant. Windy if you want to push forward please just bot me. Was up all night w outages.

Wasn't trying to be rude, but reading it a couple times - it could be read and interrupted poorly. Just wanted to ask politely, and maybe I wiffed heh

Looking up at the task at hand Prizm gives it his best try.

Climb: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

"My that's a bit more work than I was thinking it would be! I am not used to not being able to just zip up there.. it used to really be second nature... before the.. well before all of this..."

Looking down he sets his eyes on his little Dodo Bert.

"Where to my argumentative companions? Krush? Let's go find some trouble!"

Bert hops onto Glastor's lap and deposits a pebble as if it were payment or a token for passage.

"bert, bert, bert"

Krush shakes his head, looking out away from the tower as the others scurry up the side of the tower. He trusts Sigrid to watch Prizm for a few moments before he secures his hammer and starts to climb, taking his time to the top. Once he reaches the landing he stretches, makes sure his light is on, and pulls his earth breaker back out.

All's good. Direct is good - and appreciated. Thanks :)

You climb up the rope/rubble and find the crumbled remains of the eastern room, which now serves as an open landing. There are doors to the northwest and southwest. Strong wooden construction.

Go ahead and place yourselves on the level two map, eastern landing area

As Krush wraps his rope up, he smiles at the slightly higher view they get from here.

"Moving up in the world!" he laughs lightly. "Thank you for getting us up here Sigríðr. Please, allow me to take the next risk, with the door."

He moves over to it and starts examining it closely, gripping his earth breaker tight in one hand.

Perceive the Door!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
This is a mighty fine door that is certainly safe.

Waiting for everyone to catch up/ready on the ledge.

Sigríðr shakes her head at Krush knowing full well that she doesn't need somebody to 'protect her from risk'. "Do what you feel you have to do Krush."

She looks down at the remaining gnome, "Let's move it; elbows and a***oles, there's a rope to climb. If you really can't do it, I can haul you up myself."

Fhlangorn clambers into the second floor on the heals of the gnome. He glares at Sigrid and positions himself as far from her as he can.

"So, left or right Krush?"

As he points at the two doors.

Are we planning to break over the next couple dats, the weekend? I'm going to be in Ohio till late Sunday and will try to look in from phone at least once a day

Glastor nods as he accepts the pebble from Bert. "Bert bert BERT!" he says, hoping that without his gnomish magics it is at least somewhat intelligible. 'At least one person here has manners and honor' he thinks. 'But why are these two so familiar... the only time I have known anyone with those names was a couple of fae in back home...'

Glastor then pulls out a small coin. "Without any clear reason, I like to let luck dictate!" He flips the coin in the air, looks at it, and points at the left door.
coin: 1=left, 2=right: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Krush shrugs.

"Who am I to question fate?" he says as he moves over to the left door, looking it over closely, letting people position themselves behind him before pushing it open.

I moved everyone's characters up to the door. Remind me what people are using for light. These inner rooms are dark.

You shove open the door. This octagonal room is covered in a fine layer of dust. It's clearly been abandoned for a long time.