Truk'tosh |
I assume that doesn't provoke either? =(
Edit: The others beat me to the question.
Valjoen_GM |
The rules thing I would distinguish would be a concentration check to keep the spell and a fighting defensively to avoid AoO. I think it would need both because it's doing separate things. Malthazir, I think the GM said the cloaker's special abilities only work in dim illumination, which casting light on a pebble would provide.
The Cloaker needs dim light to have shadows to use some abilities. The ioun torch or a pebble with Light cast on it, gives normal light for 20' then an increase in light for another 20'. The second 20' will go from darkness to dim light in our case. Since Garidan had the ioun torch next to him, he couldn't use his shadow abilities. But Niyut at 25' could use her abilities. With, him gone, neither could use their abilities. With Mathazir casting light, both are now in normal light, and still can't use their abilities. I don't believe that affects the Shadow Trap that has already been cast.
Valjoen_GM |
I assume that doesn't provoke either? =(
Edit: The others beat me to the question.
So, defensive casting, grappled condition, and entangled condition all require separate concentration checks with slightly different DC's according to the majority of opinions that I can find on the forums. Sorry, kinda messed this one up. It's a pain doing this on my iPhone... Too many things to look up. Haha. So, defensive casting check passed already. Two checks to go.
Concentration(Grappled): DC22 : 1d20 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 8 = 28
Concentration(Entangled): DC16 : 1d20 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 8 = 17
Success! So, bye bye, Garidan... Muahaha!
And correct, no AOO's since defensive.
Niyut |
Wait! He failed the entangled one: "An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level)." Maze is 8th level right? So the DC would be 23.
Valjoen_GM |
Ack! You're right. I did the entangled spell's level not Maze. Oh, that would have been fun! Ok, sorry all. Garidan is NOT banished! The cloaker lost its SLA. Please post you actions. Mathazir can alter his action, of course.
Battle of the Dwarven Dining Hall - Round 3
Grymdor (Nauseated 1rds, -9)
Shadow Cloaker (Shadow Trapped 2rds, Grappled, Prone -36)
Truk'tosh (Grappler, -11) <-- UP
Niyut <-- UP
Garidan <-- UP
Gruskorb <-- Missed attack
Malthazir <-- UP or Readied Spell: Grease
Effects: None
Garidan Vissir |
And I had this epic voyage of epicness planned through that maze too.
As Truk'tosh lifts the beast into the air, only to slam it violently to the stone floor a moment later, Garidan puts a lot of effort into tuning out the admiring noises coming from the stone floating over his head. Instead, he focuses on the beast and, recognizing its vulnerable state, takes shameless advantage of the cloaker's rattled condition and splayed form to plunge his rapier deep into its body. Though its form is nothing like what he's used to fighting, his strike is apparently on target regardless, as it begins an agonized thrashing around the blade pinned into its body. Stepping firmly on a thrashing, wing-like flap to brace himself, Garidan pulls the blade free, narrowly avoiding a pressurized stream of gore that spurts from the wound immediately after.
Standard action to attack.
Rapier Attack (Threat): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Rapier Attack (Confirm): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Rapier Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Rapier Damage (Crit): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
If the cloaker attacks Garidan, he will spend one panache point and an AoO to activate his opportune parry. If the parry is successful, Garidan will follow up with the riposte as an immediate action. If the parry attempt fails, Garidan will spend another panache point and his immediate action to active dodging panache, moving one square down as his granted movement.
Rapier Attack (Parry): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Rapier Attack (Riposte): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Rapier Damage + Fire Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (1) = 6
Truk'tosh |
Truk'tosh body slams the writhing mass of shadows and then wrenches on what he assumes is a limb.
CMB (maintain, studied target, prone): 1d20 + 6 + 5 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 5 + 1 + 4 = 35
Damage: 1d3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6
Valjoen_GM |
Confim: 1d20 + 8 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 2 - 2 = 19 for damage of : 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
While Grymdor continues to vomit, the Cloaker thrashes about under Truk'tosh's grip. It screams in pain as Garidan skewers its hide and Truk'tosh bends its wing against its joints. Finally, it opens its jaws and sinks its fangs into the large half-orc holding it in place.
Battle of the Dwarven Dining Hall - Round 4
Grymdor (-9)
Shadow Cloaker (Shadow Trapped 1rds, Grappled, Prone -57)
Truk'tosh (Grappler, -26) <-- UP
Niyut <-- UP
Garidan <-- UP
Gruskorb <-- UP
Malthazir <-- UP or Readied Spell: Grease
Effects: None
Garidan Vissir |
With Truk'tosh managing to maintain his hold on the cloaker, even as the beast savagely mauls him, Garidan is able to take careful aim and sink his weapon deep into the cloaker's body a second time. The rapier's tip enters less than a hand's span from the previous injury it inflicted, and the reaction it draws from the cloaker is considerably greater, indicating that the swashbuckler's weapon has struck a fierce blow to something vital.
As he twists the blade free from the shrieking cloaker, Garidan can't help but smile faintly as the stream of admiring words from his sister cuts off into a stunned silence before turning into full blown gushing of sibling pride over his own performance against the creature. It seems as though he still has the ability to impress his sister, even with Truk'tosh to compare to.
Standard action to attack.
Rapier Attack (Threat): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Rapier Attack (Confirm): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Rapier Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Rapier Damage (Crit): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Cloaker's gonna regret not successfully mazing Garidan!
If the cloaker attacks Garidan, he will spend one panache point and an AoO to activate his opportune parry. If the parry is successful, Garidan will follow up with the riposte as an immediate action. If the parry attempt fails, Garidan will spend another panache point and his immediate action to active dodging panache, moving one square down as his granted movement.
Rapier Attack (Parry): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Rapier Attack (Riposte): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Rapier Damage + Fire Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (1) = 8
Valjoen_GM |
With a dramatic convulsion, the Cloaker goes limp!
Out of combat
Niyut |
Niyut releases a sigh of relief as the great creature dies. Despite her worry for her brother she tries to capture any of its shadow magic that remains.
Spell Craft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
But her distress prevents her from being able to focus. As she goes to stand next to her brother and their dwarven guide, she asks Malthazir, "Do you detect any essence within the creature?"
CLW on Truk'tosh: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Gruskorb |
As Niyut tended to Truk'tosh's wounds, the immediacy of combat left Gruskorb.
No hesitation. You act on instinct.
It's gotten me this far, hasn't it?
Did you think I was complaining?
While that innate sense helped him defeat the cloaker with his companions, the rogue had no idea how common these things were - or if other perhaps related monsters lurked about.
"How common are those things? Do you think we're going to run into more of them?" Gruskorb addressed nobody in particular, for he was unsure how much experience the party had with them.
Valjoen_GM |
EthE86: 1d100 ⇒ 39
AE55: 1d100 ⇒ 13
The DC to identify the presence of any essences is 16.
Valjoen_GM |
Mathazir crouches over the cloaker's corpse and examines the abberation. To his delight, he finds that an ethereal essence and a shadow arcane essence can be extracted which he does with a quick cast of his cantrip.
Truk'tosh |
Truk'tosh groans and rolls over, allowing his sister and the elf time to siphon off the shadow-creature's spirit.
"I believe we found what killed those goblins and left the treasures behind."
Niyut |
"I think you are correct, my brother. Gruskorb, there is a locked door over there that needs your attention. Malthazir, would you be willing to use your ooze to heal my brother the rest of the way and Grymdor to preserve my spells?"
As Niyut heals some of her twin's numerous wounds, one of the crystals that Malthazir formed floats towards Niyut. Instead of being absorbed into her body, it is absorbed by her shadow cast in stark relief by Garidan's stone. Her shadow roils briefly before growing somehow deeper.
Garidan Vissir |
As the cloaker grows still, and the others move in to tend to wounds and, in Malthazir's case, harvest more of those odd crystals from its remains, Garidan wipes his blade clean while eyeing the corpse speculatively. His eyes then slide over to Truk'tosh, or more specifically, his armor, then back to the dead cloaker as the swashbuckler slides his rapier into its sheath. As he considers the corpse, and the armor worn by the half-orc, an urge makes itself felt. Small at first, and easy to ignore in the face of recovering from the rigors of the unexpected fight, it grows quickly to something that Garidan must acknowledge. "Grymdor," he says with an inquisitive tone in his voice to the dwarf getting his rebellious stomach back under control. "I seem to recall some mention of your experience as a scout and explorer of places far from easy access to supplies. Would you by chance know anything about preserving hides for use?"
As he waits for the dwarf to manage a reply, Gardian kneels and runs a hand over one of the cloaker's wing-like extensions. He turns it over to get a closer look at the other side, noting how the hide seems to respond somewhat to presence or absence of light. If the hide, properly cured and prepared, retains that property, then Garidan is certain it could prove quite useful for what he has in mind. Returning his gaze to the armor worn by Truk'tosh, he starts making rough measurements in his head.
Gruskorb |
Not knowing Garidan's plan, Gruskorb nonetheless took a positive note to his resourcefulness. He is not one to pass up opportunity. We'll have to make sure he doesn't neglect his advantage when talking to shopkeepers.
"Good idea, Garidan," offered the hobgoblin on his way to defeat the portal. Compliments did not come easy from him; the bland praise was as uncharacteristic in its existance from him as it was unremarkable in its affadavit.
It took him a few moments to fish out his thieves' kit and appropriate tools - bits of metal, slender and delicate. Aptly suited not to ruin, but surpass. Such as it was, he meant to make his way through the door without wrecking it. I doubt our guide would like that.
Disable Device: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
NPC - Grymdor Hallowheart |
"Grymdor," he says with an inquisitive tone in his voice to the dwarf getting his rebellious stomach back under control. "I seem to recall some mention of your experience as a scout and explorer of places far from easy access to supplies. Would you by chance know anything about preserving hides for use?"
"No. Never had a reason to preserve hides down here," the dwarf says as he composes himself.
I believe it would be reasonable to assume that Truk'tosh would have some tanning supplies given that he has the Profession(trapper) skill.
Valjoen_GM |
EE's: 1d3 ⇒ 2
I forgot that multiple ethereal essences could drop from the cloaker. So, there are 2 essences. Gruskorb got one. You need to roll for the second one.
Truk'tosh |
I'm going to assume Malthazir helps heal Truk up.
With his wounds rapidly on the mend, Truk'tosh sees to Garidan's suggestion. He'd never done a field dressing on a creature like this but despite appearances it was made of flesh and could be skinned.
He retrieves his razor-sharp skinning knife and goes to work.
Trapper: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Here's a couple more if you need more than one.
Trapper: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Trapper: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Garidan Vissir |
No idea how long this process of obtaining and prepping the cloaker hide is going to take, so Garidan will get things ready for the transfer of the cart and beasts.
Garidan is visibly disappointed by Grymdor's answer, but the disappointment soon gives way to surprise as Truk'tosh wordlessly begins to strip the cloaker of its hide. Other than requesting that Truk'tosh do his best to leave certain portions of the hide attached if possible, he leaves the obvious professional to do his work in peace.
Instead, he decides to spend his time by getting those chains ready for use, after attending to a few minor details. First, he examines the goblin corpse at the end of the chamber for anything of use that it might have. Noting a second corpse further down the hall, he leaves it for the time being; the party will surely get around to that area in due time. With the goblin stripped of its unneeded possessions--and said possessions stacked with the ruined armor recovered earlier--Garidan then turns his attention to the chains he wants.
Starting with the chandelier nearest the goblin corpse, he slowly unwinds the winch until the chandelier is as low it will drop, then carefully hoists himself up onto the arrangement of metal rings and chains. Examining the point where the chandelier joins the chain from which it is suspended, Garidan mentally maps out best way to separate the two, without killing himself in the process, then climbs back down to the ground to lower the next chandelier to the south.
That accomplished, Garidan rejoins the others at the split, eyeing Truk'tosh's work curiously as he points a thumb back over his shoulder. "I know which tools will be needed for getting those chandeliers off, and I've a decent enough idea of how to go about it without wrecking myself in the process. But I'll hold off until we've finished scouting the rooms around here properly. Assuming nobody is standing ready to catch those chandeliers when they're cut loose, they'll make a fair bit of noise coming down, as will the chains when they're wound up for retrieval."
What did dead goblin #1 add to the party's supplies? Also, Garidan made a search for rest of that broken blade before the cloaker dropped in. I'm guessing that was unsuccessful?
Valjoen_GM |
As Gruskorb quickly and efficiently unlocks the door to the north, Truk'tosh skins the Shadowbrood Cloaker in an expert fasion while Grymdor looks on in amazement. "Nice..." is the only word the dwarf utters as he sits on the overturned table watching the trapper at work.
Deep within the half-orc's head, Morgrym's voice comes forward. Must say I'm impressed, boy... first you wrestled it, now you skin it. I have to admit, I was worried for a moment.
Garidan finds little of value on the goblin other than its leather armor and shortsword.
Garidan Vissir |
With the others informed of the status of the waiting chains, Garidan decides to join Gruskorb at the trio of rooms to the west. If the hobgoblin encounters something lurking in one of them as the cloaker was, he may need some immediate backup. Making a bit of noise to avoid startling Gruskorb with his approach, Garidan leans against the wall with a watchful gaze. Keeping his voice low, he updates Gruskorb on the doings in the ruined hall. "Turns out Truk'tosh knows what to do when it comes to cleaning a hide for use, so he's busy with that. And I've got the chandeliers lowered and ready for cutting, once it's certain nothing else will be jumping out to interrupt us. Decided to join you here in case these rooms are occupied."
Malthazir |
Malthazir looks at Truk'tosh with a surprising hint of respect. If I had been that injured I would have fled, not turned on my attacker. Either brave or stupid, but certainly fearless.
We like to call it not being a bloody coward. It runs in our blood. Speaking of blood, look at how injured he is.
Mhmm.
Malthazir blocks out the voice and moves to Truk'tosh, taking out the blood-red ooze he carries. "Truk'tosh, let me help you with those wounds. I have some...unconventional healing. It takes longer and may feel strange, but there are no ill side effects." With permission, Malthazir sets the ooze on Truk's shoulder. The thing seems alive and begins to squirm around, then as it touches blood it quivers and goes into the wound. As odd and disturbing as that is, Truk begins to feel his wounds knit.
I'll spend 3 uses of it to get Truk to full.
Niyut |
You only need to use two on Truk'tosh to get him to full after my CLW. You might want to heal our poor guide though.
Niyut examines the southern room she opened. Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Gruskorb |
It must've been him acclimating to his new surroundings, for Gruskorb didn't mind Garidan's oversight as much as he would have previously. "Sure. I've got a hunch there's something here. Who locks a door with nothing behind it?" In truth, the merchant had images of valuables in his head already. "Must the chandeliers be cut? If we're worried about being followed, we might be able to just lock this door behind us. Or perhaps prepare some snare of our own."
"It's good the half-orc is skilled with hides; it doesn't sound as if the dwarves are well-stocked with metalworks they're willing to part with."
Once they finished conversing, he pushed open the recently unlocked door, whip in the other hand.
Valjoen_GM |
Niyut examines the southern room she opened.
This room was an old storage room. It is covered in dust and the air smells stale. It is full of boxes and crates. After an exhaustive search, she finds that all of provisions stored in this room have gone bad a long time ago.
Valjoen_GM |
Once they finished conversing, he pushed open the recently unlocked door, whip in the other hand.
Beyond the door, Gruskorb finds a short hallway with an open archway leading west.
*******************
With Mathazir
Grymdor thanks the noble elf for his kindness.
Garidan Vissir |
As Niyut joins pair at the doors, Garidan gives her a slight smile of welcome. "Before I forget, you did a great job with that spell you hit the cloaker with. Between you and your brother, I think you saved us a lot of trouble with what could very well have been a bad fight." Noting her intention to enter the open room, he asks her to wait just a moment while he checks to see if there is anything hiding within. Finding the room clear of threat, he steps out and makes way for her. "I don't doubt your ability to defend yourself if pressed, Niyut, but better that I take a hit and you be around to heal me than the reverse." That said, he gives her another smile, then prepares to follow Gruskorb.
Before the hobgoblin opens the door, Garidan reaches up over his head to catch the hovering ioun torch. Bringing his hand down to his mouth, he murmurs something, at which point the torch's light fades swiftly to darkness. He then releases the stone, which begins a slow orbit around his neck, and waits for Gruskorb to lead the way. Once the door is open and his companion through, he follows as quietly as he can, senses alert for any sign of danger or features of interest.
Stealth Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Perception Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Niyut |
"I would prefer that too, Garidan," Niyut says with a small smile.
She continues, "However, I seem to be suited to a scouting role so I'm sure I'll get into trouble sometime."
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
Niyut follows them into the darkness.
Truk'tosh |
Sorry about that. My status bar's been updated.
Truk'tosh diligently tends to his task while the others scout ahead.
Valjoen_GM |
Beyond the locked door, a small hallway leads north fifteen feet. An archway in the west wall opens into a small room once used as an office. A sturdy wooden desk sits in the middle of the room facing the entry. A built-in bookshelf dominates the western wall of the office. A thick layer of dust has settled down upon everything in the room.
The bookcase is two-thirds full of leather bound tombs. One of which sits open upon the desk. A dry, ink vial rests upon the desk with a brittle quill beside it. Blowing off the dust from the open pages, Notut can see that the book is a ledger tracking the ordering and payments for various goods and services to run the dwarven household. Each entry notes the date, vendor, type of goods or services, and the price paid. Garidan looks over the half-orc's shoulder, clearly intrigued by the double entry accounting methodology of the dwarves. Bored with entries describing salted pork, ale, silverware, cookware, fuel-oil, wooden planks, more salted pork, live chickens, etc., Niyut begins to turn her attention elsewhere when the voice inside her speaks up...
There! Halfway down... Del'Agost Dianndor!
Scanning the entries, Niyut finds the elven surname.
15th of Teldar, 3316; del'Agost Dianndor; 140 - Assorted; 155/ea; 21,700 gold
Niyut |
Niyut never responds to her unwelcome guest. She thought that would be encouraging it. The sooner it gave up its hold on consciousness the better for them both. Life was for the living after all. She felt no shame using its magic. No more than the wolf feels shame for the nourishment provided by the rabbit. Likewise, she felt no shame for making use of its insights.
"The dwarves who once lived in these halls had business, apparently valuable business, with the murdered elf in the great hall," Niyut murmurs to Garidan.
"Perhaps, Malthazir would find this interesting. Or Gruskorb. He finds wealth to be very fascinating." Her voices pauses briefly on the elf's name.
"I wonder if Grymdor will share with use why this portion of the dwarven hold was originally abandoned. This mountain is pregaant with secrets. No matter. Let's finish with the western room. Then perhaps you can lower me to the lower floor to the east so that I may scout it."
This discourse is longer than any Gardian has had in the past with Niyut. Perhaps she is slowly warming to him.
Before she leaves the room, she scans it for any linger auras. Detect Magic.
Niyut will then go check the western room and the eastern hallway as she has mentioned. She will leave the ledger on the table near Malthazir.
Gruskorb |
Gruskorb did not contest Niyut's willingness to scout ahead. He felt perfectly capable, but he was curious to see what the woman of many talents can do. It also kept him safe.
Assuming Niyut's revelation makes itself known in the room:
One of these talents seemed to be a knack for finding juicy information quickly. This is one we share. Gruskorb worked better with spoken words, but he dealt with writing readily enough.
The hobgoblin cast his eyes upon the entries. An effective system. Bit long in the hand for me though. This nexus of mercantilism was busy, but the large entry gave away an Elven name. Do you know who that is, spirit?
Garidan Vissir |
Satisfied that no threats are to be found within this room either, Garidan relaxes his guard somewhat to examine the orderly ranks of abandoned books. After inspecting the open book for a time and finding it to be a typical accounting ledger--interesting method the dwarves use for it, however--he quickly surmises that the shelved volumes are similar in nature, which quenches any interest he has in examining them further. Instead, he wordlessly follows Niyut to the final door, wondering what will be found behind it.
Valjoen_GM |
Niyut will then go check the western room and the eastern hallway as she has mentioned. She will leave the ledger on the table near Malthazir.
Niyut scans the office for anything magical, but the search finds nothing. She heads back to the hallway and slowly opens the western door to find a short hallway that leads to a winding staircase ascending up to a large chamber above the storage room and office. The room contains a dozen or so neatly made beds, each with a large chest at its foot. A small table with an empty basin rests against the far wall. Like the other rooms, this chamber has not been touched in a long time. The beds are rugged, but have several blankets and feather pillows. Each chest is closed with a simple lock that Gruskorb easily opens. Inside you find a fair amount dwarven clothes of decent quality, several daggers, and a single throwing axe.
Grymdor's ears perk up as he hears his name mentioned. "This portion of Eastgate has been sealed off since 3316 of the common era. The stories my mother told me described a dragon that was awoken deep within the The Abyss, a deep chasm that has no known bottom. Other people say that it was a horde of fire breathing, winged demons that were discovered in the depths of the mines. In the little time that I've spent beyond the Lower Gate, I have seen neither. But, I have seen many aberrations that undoubted crept out of some hole deep within the world. Whatever lies down here, was pushed back by a massive surge of our Dragon Legionnaires. Many of our best warriors sacrificed their lives when we sealed the doors behind them. Those doors stood closed for 200 years and were only just recently opened."
**********************
@Gruskorb - as previously mentioned by the half-elf within you, "I never knew my father. His name was Kyllvyn del’Agost Dianndor. She told me very little. That he was an elvish lord and that she had met him when he came to the grove. He was leading a caravan to Narwell and stayed with her for a full cycle of the moon. She loved him but he never returned." He knows nothing more about the del'Agost Dianndor family, although you can also tell he takes some pride in having a noble ancestor. You can tell that he is troubled by the reference in the ledger and the dead elven bodies that the group has found.
**********************
Any other actions here? If not, I'll move us along to the eastern hallway.
Garidan Vissir |
Following watchfully along behind Niyut as she explores what lies beyond the final door of the trio, Garidan is quite content. No threats present themselves, which he feels is adequate compensation for the lack of interesting treasures--though he does take the daggers and the axe; waste not, want not--and he is able to finally spend some time getting to know these people chance has pushed him into association with. After the final room is cleared, Garidan follows Niyut to the opposite side of the ruined hall. Glancing speculatively down at the drop to the floor of the eastern corridor, he says to Niyut. "If you'll give me a few moments, I'll rig up a rope for us to use."
Leaving the half-orc waiting at the drop, Garidan returns to dangling rope leading to the upper level of the hall, though he does take a moment to pile the daggers and axe with the few other bits of assorted equipment found thus far. Following a short climb up--and taking a few moments to pet the two draft animals, who've been remarkably even-tempered about this situation--Garidan pulls the coiled length of hemp rope from their supplies an makes his way back to the floor below. He does spare another moment to watch Truk'tosh at work, marveling at the half-orc's swift but sure expertise. Garidan hopes he'll be pleased with what the human intends to do with that hide once its finished.
Pulling himself away from Truk'tosh's efforts, he rejoins Niyut and Gruskorb, uncoiling the rope and steadily tying knots into its length at intervals of a couple feet. "Instead having to rely on a helping hand to get up and down, we'll use this instead. It'll be a bit faster, and once it's tied off to that lowered chandelier, we can use it here as well as at the drop in the corrior to the north." Nodding throught the darkness toward Truk'tosh--and Garidan takes a moment to revel in his ability to see without light--he continues. "I haven't the slightest clue as to what your brother is doing with that cloaker's hide, but he's doing it with a will and apparently pleased with the results, so I'll venture a guess that it goes well for him."
Even as he speaks, his deft hands swiftly prepare the rope, finishing both the knots and the tying off at the chandelier with little active thought required on his part. The trio is ready to proceed down and into the eastern corridor as soon as Niyut gives the word.
How many daggers recovered?
Niyut |
"3316? That was the same year these elves were slain here. Must have been a busy time. Given that there bodies are still here, I guess they were caught up in the excitement," Niyut replies in response to Grymdor's information.
After Garidan has fixed the rope, "Thank you, Garidan."
Once below, Niyut scouts the passage.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
Garidan Vissir |
Hearing Niyut's thoughts on the elves reminds Garidan that she wasn't present when he informed Gruskorb and Malthazir of his findings that regard, and he is quick to bring her up to date. "Actually, I've uncovered a bit of information that strongly indicates that the elven woman was in fact slain by one of her own guards. That little bit of sword in her chest came from one of her guards' weapons, and it was stuck into her after it was broken off of the rest of the blade." He glances around the ruined hall with a speculative expression. "There are further hints, based on something Malthazir said regarding the del'Agost Diannodor family, that this was likely family politics at work. Someone may have used the chaos racking these halls for their own benefit to make a convenient disappearance happen."
Having imparted what little he had to contribute on the matter, Garidan shuts his mouth and opens his senses as he pads along as quietly as possible in the company of Niyut and Gruskorb toward the next destination on the list of places to clear before getting to the laborious and involves task of shifting their supplies and transport assets. Unfortunately, he quickly gets distracted by thoughts of the work ahead, and his focus on his surroundings lapses dangerously. His attempts at stealthy movement fare a bit better, however, and it takes only a few near-misses of his armored form with the wall before he returns his attention where it belongs.
Perception Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Stealth Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Niyut |
As she creeps down the eastern hall, Niyut finds herself troubled by Grymdor's story. His story ends with "and then we sacrificed our finest warriors." Katadante also mentioned that many of their finest warriors were lost in the battle against the recent goblin incursion. Either dwarven warriors are not that fine or their lives are treated carelessly. It seems that every few generations there is a massive culling. That does not bode well for our world since they are the only friendly people whom we have yet met.
Valjoen_GM |
As the duo descend the small drop-off that leads to the eastern hall, they see that it quickly opens into a room. Approaching the room, they can see the multiple tables, work stations and fireplaces of a working kitchen. Although undisturbed for ages, the clear signs of a battle are present. Many of the tables are over turned. Wooden bowls, flatware and fragments of plates and mugs can be seen strewn about the room. Without entering the room, you see the decaying form of an armored dwarf lays prone with a battleaxe in his right hand and a shield, adorned with the same sigil as seen elsewhere in the dining hall, strapped to his left arm.
Just beyond, another dwarf lays supine; its left hand across its chest covering multiple slashes to its harded leather armor. Its right hand still griping an ornate warhammer. In the southeast corner, another heavily armored corpse sits with its back to the corner. The many dents and cracks to the plate armor hint at the wounds the led to its owner's death. A backpack rests in its lap and a elven curved blade in its right hand. On the ground next to the corpse, you can see a broken elven curved blade missing the final several inches of its blade.
What is everyone else up to at this time? I have Niyut and Garidan in the kitchen. Please place yourselves appropriately.
Niyut |
"Something unnatural is happening here," Niyut cautions Garidan.
Detect Magic. Are there any Kn. checks that I can or should be making?
Truk'tosh |
I don't know how much time has passed exactly. Is Truk done skinning the cloaker?
Garidan Vissir |
Instantly on guard in response to Niyut's words, Garidan draws his rapier, then steps up to her side, ready to slide between her and a threat with but a moment's notice. He then narrows his eyes and points at the armored corpse in the corner with his blade. "There's our missing del'Agost Dianndor guard, and the blade who's piece was found in the chest of Brynderie as well." Eyes flitting around the room, he searches for anything that might be a problem.
Perception Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Garidan moves up to stand next to Niyut, either side on the map is fine.