The Pyramid of Shadows (Inactive)

Game Master PathlessBeth

Thomas will follow Mundarion and keep his weapon in plain view, resting it on one shoulder.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

nonchalantly, De'Arv'Ki slips her katana back into its sheath and walks past the Ettin after the party with a flick of her ears, casually glancing at the Ettin.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Not hugely better than your rolls...

At the end of the hall is a large green bush. It is as tall as the ceiling and almost as wide as the hall. There is enough space for a medium or smaller character to slip by on either side, but not a large person. It's just a bush, though...

The next room will likely require a map/grid of some sort. I'll go set that up...

Yessai waits for the party to file past, then nods to Gurrak. Satisfied their rear is now safeguarded, Yess heads south.

Why do I have this strange urge to set fire to this entire area and never come back?

Thomas looks at Mido.

Hey Jitters, go scout that for us?

Edit: So apparently Midi hasn't posted for Twenty days and has been off his main account for a little over a month. How do you want to proceed GM?

Gemheart moves with the group, making no effort to hide his weapon.

Thinking ahead for safety, De'Arv'Ki pulls a pair of alchemist fire flasks from one of her bandoliers, readying them to be thrown at the plants.

Ready action, throw flask

When the GM is ready to implement this ...

Mundarion will try to move stealthily down the passage on the right hand side as the party faces the hedge. He will not go all the way through, just far enough to get a reasonable look around without exposing himself on the other side.

Stealth check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Perception check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

And if he keeps rolling like that he may as well go back and try to teach Gurrak how to be a ballet dancer.

The floors are covered with vines, but not enough to slow you down.
Within the bushes, or possibly behind them, you can here someone moving.
Here is a map of this room.
The grey is the floor. The black are the walls. The green are large, dense hedges which reach the ceiling and block line of sight. I'm not sure how to keep part of the room hidden, so try not to metagame it. The blue is a pool of water.
All of you start in the passageway on the northeast corner of the map. Gurrak is a bit to the north of the map, above a hedge in the hallway (also off the map).

If we're starting at W1 and X1 I would call that the northeast corner :-)

Not seeing anything immediately dangerous, Mundarion will advance far enough into the room the others can come in behind him.

Put him in W3 for now.

If we're starting at W1 and X1 I would call that the northeast corner :-)

Oops:) Fixed now.

how high are the walls, cuz that'll change my action for this turn
De'Arv'Ki moves over to one of the nearby walls (Y3) and proceeds to climb up it, preparing to tie her self off if need be.
Climb, Take 10: 10 + 21 = 31

The hedges reach all the way to the ceiling (about 10 feet). You can climb them pretty easily if you want...

In a deep, rasping voice from somewhere in the room, someone calls out
"Who has entered our lair?"

Mundarion answers back, "We have. We come in peace."

De'Arv'Ki will tie herself to the wall and draw & load her crossbow, attempting to avoid attention.
Actions:
Move: tie self to wall + stealth check
Standard: draw crossbow
Free: load crossbow

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

just noticed i'm post trip-6, so everyone enjoy this song.
Number of the beast - iron maiden

I'll be in X4 if need be

I'll be in V3 with my blade out.

Yess waits for an answer to Mundarion's call.

Standing in W2, also with blade drawn and buckler strapped…

Another voice responds. This one is closer, and seems to come from inside one of the bushes:
"If you are so peaceful why do your companions hold weapons out?"

Mundarion responds, "Gurrak told us that you were hostile and not to be trusted. We have come to see for ourselves what the truth of the matter is. My companions have been attacked in this pyramid before and wish to take no chances. I promise you that we will not start a fight."

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

About time the RNG came through. :-)

"Gurrak?" The voice scoffs. "And you trusted that oaf?
Regardless, your companions are wise to be readied against assault in the Pyramid, as there are many hostile creatures in here. What are you looking for?"

We are looking for Karavakos. We seek his head.

Thomas will dissipate his blade for now and ready an action to materialize it should the group come under attack.

De'Arv'Ki will let her crossbow hang at her side from it's cord, but doesn't unload it.

"And so you came to the Arboreans looking for help?"
A third voice picks up
"We do seem to be the strongest group around. Our lord could bring you to Karvakos, but he would require a favor first."

What exactly would this favor entail?

"Do you know Medragal, from the Sundered Temple?", asked the first voice. "Bring us his staff and then we'll talk."
The third voice interrupted in an annoyed tone:
"Of course you would want the staff."
The second chimes in
"Where did your staff obsession come fr--oh, right, we have visitors. Ahem. You don't have to listen to the other two, just...there's a group of thieves to the north who have a werewolf locked up. Bring the wolf to us, alive, and alone, without any of its allies. Then maybe we can talk about favors and you finding Karvakos."
"No, no, no!", the third voice calls out angrily. "Don't bother listening to these two! Just go find Thoraska in the Blizzard Caves and get us a spike from her tail. Then, and only then, we can discuss what favors might get you to Karvakos!"

A fourth voice groans.

With eyes full of mirth, De'Arv'Ki rasps out "Perrrrhaps you rrrrequirrrre a moment... to gatherrrr yourrrrself...?"

"No, we are fine."
"Yep, we are all in agreement."
"Agreement? Yea. Just get that thing done, then we can talk about Karvakos."

Yess smiles appreciatively at Mundarion's words and effect, and enjoys the banter from the Arborlings. She drops her sword to her side, and calls in:

"Er, which of the three things you mentioned will win this favor from your lord - retrieving the staff, freeing the wolfwere or finding the tailspike? Or would any one do?"

"Would be i corrrrrrect in... prrrrresuming that Thorrrrraska... can firrrrre these... spikes at us?"

"Decide on a task, and we shall see it done. Any information you could provide us to aid in doing your task would also be appreciated. What are your names?"

These guys make us look organized. :-)

'sprobably a Threattin (three headed, arboreal ettin)

The group of people (or threattin? :P) answers each question in turn.

Yess smiles appreciatively at Mundarion's words and effect, and enjoys the banter from the Arborlings. She drops her sword to her side, and calls in:

"Er, which of the three things you mentioned will win this favor from your lord - retrieving the staff, freeing the wolfwere or finding the tailspike? Or would any one do?"

"From him? We can't say. Maybe none. You'll have to ask him."

"Oh, right, any of the three tasks would be good enough."
"Yea"
"Yea"

Iomedea please give me the strength to not chop these guys into mulch

Then we best be off. Right now. Right guys?

Oops, I forgot to answer the other two questions in my previous post, and it is too late to edit. So here is the edit:

"Would be i corrrrrrect in... prrrrresuming that Thorrrrraska... can firrrrre these... spikes at us?"

"Can she?"

"What are your names?"

"Oh, people don't normally ask. I'm Icnor."

Mundarion turns to the rest of the group and says, "Well, given that we get to take our pick of which task to perform I suggest we go to someplace we can have a private conversation and discuss the possibilities."

"That is agrrrreeeable, Mundarrrrion... perhaps the carnel... lorrrrd's chambers? That should... be safe frrrrom listening... earrrrs..."
Actions:
Free: unload crossbow, Talk
Standard: untie self and remove pitons
Move: climb down

Climb, Take 10: 10 + 21 = 31

Getting back to the Charnel Lord's chamber is not a problem.

If the group chooses to go that far Mundarion has no problem with it.

Is the CHARNEL Lord still there?

he didnt die, that i know of...

Last I checked, he was in a hole and then we ran.

Is it likely that Gurrak will agree to be of any use, or will she/he just cower and wait by the pit/ in the room we arrived in?

I vote the Sundered Temple. Thomas wants to go there, and it might allow us to clear a base of operations. If it is in a dead end that would be an extra bonus. But I'm really not fussed where/which/what we do next/first.

The plant people may not have to worry about contracting lycanthropy, but we do. So unless the werewolf wants to come willingly that is out. As for the other two options I don't care. Either would work for me.

The Charnel Lord's chamber appears mostly how you first saw it--the Charnel Lord is not visible in the pit, but you can hear its heavy breath in the lower, hidden compartment. The rats are not visible either.

what lycanthropy?

Just thinking, what would happen if my cat got bitten by a werewolf... a werewolf cat? isn't that an oxymoron or something >_<? could be interest though... if only i had a high wisdom bonus to control it... :(