The Storm in Isger: The Devil's Hole

Game Master Sigil

I take it the spiders weren't loaded down with magic goodies then? Well done everyone.

"Canny job alles but."

Elinor takes off her helmet, dragging fingers through the hair which has escaped its binding and has tangled, and peers over the lip of the hole.

"Brrrrr." She shivers uneasily. "Hello down there!"

She lights up a torch and unless anyone stops her waits till it's burning strongly and tosses it down.

"Tell me we remembered rope."

The air coming from the hole is cool and fecund. It smells like early Spring incarnate.

Bryndyn grins a toothy smile when he finally connects and then watches as the spider retreats and is picked off with arrows.

Elinor takes of her helm, takes a torch and tosses it down the hole and Bryndyn's smile turns into a grimace....(although that may not be apparent to everyone else)

She asks about Rope ...

I have a coil around my arm he responds.

He then looks at the tracks in the dirt and wonders aloud

Is this a defilement? What has gone on here?

He questions are said to the air and he doesn't expect an answer. Instead, he adds

The Devil's hole may be roused by bandits or worse. These spiders will be just the first sign of that. Remember, we have a mission and need to make sure we don't overstep our bounds here. I can go first, if you like

Watching the torch fall, you can see that this top part of the Hole is perhaps 10 feet of stone, in a shape more or less matching the opening, but past that it opens up into a larger cavern whose dimensions you cannot discern from your position.

The floor is some 30 feet down, and looks to be a mix of rock, mud, and something glittery, almost like coins, though that would be a small fortune if that is what it was so reason tells you it must be something else.

This is not what catches really grabs your attention though... Lying on the ground directly beneath the top opening to the Hole are 2 still nude human females. The torch lands near them, but they do not stir or move at all, and one of them in particulars coloring looks really pretty bad.

"Roused? What do you mean?"

She looks down at the women.

"Hinny! We're coming. The drake won't eat yese."

The look she gives Bryndyn reinforces her hopeful statement as she holds out her hand for the rope, wrapping it twice around her waist and passing the short end to Larayn since it'll take at least two to hold Bryndyn's weight safely (although if there's a handy tree to tie it around that would be good too). She digs her feet in and gets ready to take the strain.

Larayn peers into the hole, it does not look like any place that she would prefer to go, but those girls, "I must help them if I can" she thinks and a silent prayer is sent up to the Goddess. She takes the rope to steady Elinor, and offers her own assistance Elinor I admire your bravery. If you find the women alive I offer my healing aids. Go quickly and we will be down soon.

Harlynn remains silent but cannot go without noting the foolhardy bravery of those around him.

Bryndyn realizes that Elinor cannot hold him alone....and that Larayn isn't ready to take this challenge on first, in case there is something foul ready to attack below.

Taking the rope from her, Bryndyn states

Go first. I shall ensure you will not fall.

Bryndyn takes the rope and wraps it around his waist. If Elinor found that tree she was looking for, he'll use that as an anchor and then use his muscles to offer a steady hand.

There are indeed several large trees near the mouth of the hole.

If your move speed is 30 you will need to make 3 climb checks to get down unharmed. The first is DC 5 and the other 3 are DC 15. With Bryndyn lowering Elionor, no checks need to be made.

Narnel peers into the hole.

I would like to follow Eli down after she hits bottom. In the mean time, I will cover her descent.

Narnel draws his bow and peers into the darkness awaiting Elinor's descent.

"Aye, canny."

With a sturdy tree to take her weight (and that of her equipment) and Bryndyn guiding Elinor allows herself to be lowered down into the small pool of light within the dark cavern.

When she hits bottom if nothing toothy appears her first act is to ignite the sunrod she thoughtfully added to her equipment list, after which she crouches over the fallen women to determine if they're alive or dead.

"Come on lassie, help's arrived."

If no threat assails Elinor, Narnel will peer carefully into the hole, then climb down the rope.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Elinor lands safely, and looks around for danger. Content that there is none immediately, she lights her sunrod and motions for Narnel to join her. The atmosphere is that of a library or tomb. The black does not seem to welcome noise and somehow that idea of quiet is understood without ever being expressed.

Of course this is all subconsciously understood. What attacks the senses first is these unfortunates at the bottom of the hole. They have been beaten to death and it is clear without touching them that they are not recently dead either.

Apart from this, you note that the floor is is largely decomposed leaves, but oddly, or fortunately(?) the floor is covered with scattered jewelry, coins, gems... A small fortune!

This place is about a 60 foot circle, with the floor being lower in the center than it is at the edges. This indentation, which looks natural leads off into the dark, into a very wide tunnel. Tree roots hang from the ceiling of this room.

I am trying to be respectful of people and their limits here... There is some additional description of this room that is "R" rated, and fairly graphic and I do not want to assume you all are okay with that. Click the spoiler if you choose (if you choose not, you are missing flavor and will get through this part fine without). You have been warned.

Narnel's descent is more eventful than Elinors and midway down he slips on the rope and falls to the ground.

Narnel make an acrobatics check at DC 15. For everyone else, I mistyped above... You should be making 4 climb checks if that is how you are getting down.

Climbing the rope down a bit unsteady

1d20 ⇒ 3
1d20 ⇒ 6
1d20 ⇒ 11
1d20 ⇒ 4

and Acrobatics just in case

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Harlynn gets down and investigates the scene as pragmatically and methodically as possible.

I am willing to make any knowledge checks needed in regards to if this was an animals lair, or discern what the physical appearance the person would be by the size of the bruises, if they were made by hand or a device. Also the age of the bruises, did they occur at the same time or over a period of time. Are they at different colors and stages of healing. Has morbid lividity set in and the blood pooled on the part of the body closest to the ground or are they still fresh

Sorry for the technical question, I am a paramedic IRL

Once everyone is down the hole, Bryndyn follows, leaving his rope in place.

Climb check 1 (5) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Climb check 2 (15) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Climb check 3 (15) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
climb check 4 (15) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Acrobatics if needed 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Once Bryndyn is down, He glowers at the forms of the woman, a thin veneer of saliva coating his teeth and lower gums.

Perception Check to see if he recognizes either woman 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

This is ugly he says, anger welling up within him.

My sister's a paramedic... Useful to have some RL expertise to guide the use of skills.

Presumably, Bryndyn can lower each of the lighter folk (Harlynn and Larayn) in the same way that he lowered Elinor to avoid the need to bounce off the ground?

Elinor is white-faced (under her helm which she has put back on) and speaks through gritted teeth.

"We should have killed Jad where he stood."

She can't look at what's left of the women and stares at the tunnel, readying her shield.

"The savages of the northern isles leave sacrifice, gold and men, for the wild Linnorn. Who here is making sacrifice? And to what?"

"Ugly" Bryndyn repeats as he readies his weapons. "If they are indeed left as tribute, do not touch them. They are lost to us. Let us push onward. Leave the offerings where they fell."

I need to put you all on notice - this past Monday, my job situation changed and I can only get out to the site 1 or 2 times during the day hours. This is supposed to be a temporary solution, but may be as long as two months. If this causes a problem, I will regretfully bow out.

Bryndyn I like your character and real life happens so please post when you can. I know I have my own weird job stuff. I have interviewed a lot this week and likely will soon be taking a job and moving across the country. Right now the blessing of having a job would be enough!

After being lowered into the hole Larayn makes her own observations of the women. The brutality unto which they left this world scream injustice, and deep sadness wells up in side her. Whomever has done this should pay. "Let us not disturb this place of death. I will say my prayers and move when we are ready"

Immediately after the descent of Elinor, when Narnel touches down, he circles the bodies and companions examining them while peering into the outskirts of the cavern for any threats while drawing an arrow.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Bryndyn, I will second Larayn. Thanks for the heads up, and if it gets to be too much I understand, but I think if you keep up as you have the last few days everything is great from my end. Hopefully this means oodles more money for your family!

Harlynn, to see if this is a lair you would need a nature check.

I am not sure what skill would be of use to Harlynn in examining the bodies... Nature is not it, and neither is heal... But heal is closest, so why not make a DC 15 heal check to perform a forensic examination. Meanwhile I will go look up morbid lividity. :) And no need to apologize. If you are interested I take it as a compliment and believe that you are having fun!

Harlynn, please take 2 points fall damage

1d6 ⇒ 2

Bryndyn, the bruising is ugly, but you are pretty sure that these are Ressa Garrow, the spinners daughter, and Sadi Desmin the daughter of pig farmers. What news to bring to those parents! If you are right neither of them saw 18. You did not know Ressa at all really, but Sadi let you drink from thier well more than once, and never seemed afraid of you. That by itself was worth something. ETA These are the missing girls, if that was not clear.

Narnel's instincts are keen! As Larayn says her prayer, and Harlynn performs his examination Elinor gets a possible answer to her question. Stealthily crawling up the tunnel toward the heroes are grubs or maggots nearly as long as a man is tall!

Initiative please. I hope to have a map to you tomorrow morning. I am pretty busy today.

A snarl erupts from Bryndyn's maw as he recognizes first Ressa and then Sadi. "These girls...I know them...I know their family. I don't know of any reason why they should be here....this was a Lizardman place..." he stops to ponder a moment and seems about to say more when he spies the huge slug like things sliding toward them.

"To Arms!" he growls and then readies himself.

Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
GAH!

"Your folk did this to them?!"

A very nasty misunderstanding is delayed by the welcome arrival of something to kill.

Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Initiative:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Stealth:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Narnel slides into the shadows to prepare to snipe at the oncoming foes.

Get ready, here they come from that hallway.

Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Heal 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Harlynn scratches his head and looks at the bodies, mumbling, Hmmm, Interesting.

Bryndyn snarls in protest as Elinor makes her exclaimation, but like her, his attention is diverted by the oncoming slugs.

Grub initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Initiative order: Narnel, Bryndyn, Elinor, Larayn, Harlynn, and the grubs.

Round 1, AC: 17, HP: 9/9, Sneak Attack

Narnel takes careful aim and fires at the first Grub (n8) to show itself.

LB ATT: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16
LB DAM: 1d8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (2) = 6

Elinor will move to M7 and ready an action to smite the first grub to get within sword reach. Hoping that the one in N8 is already skewered, but quite happy to hit it if it's still twitching by the time I get there.

Round 1, AC:16, HP 20/20

Bryndyn sees Narnel attack the first grub and raises his heavy crossbow to shoot at the one just beyond it (n7)

"nomag wer dask di pabi tiichi ini lowd"

Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Damage 1d10 ⇒ 10

Larayn takes up a defensive posture at K7, with all the grubs too far away to attack.

Narnels well placed arrow drops the first grub. A good start! Bryndyn does the same. An even better start! Elinor moves forward and readies herself to dispatch another. Larayn comes forward, ready for the advance of these disgusting monstrosities and Harlynn follows, launching his signature acid attack, but is unable to maintain the momentum of the group.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 21d3 ⇒ 3

And the grubs continue to press forward. As the first gets close to the party, a ripe smell, almost like rotting fruit asails your noses. Elinor swings at the lead and it twitches once, twice and then no more. But they continue to come from the blackness, pushing forward. At close range you see what looks to be small tentacles from thier faces(?) that writhe and reach for you. Luckily they will need to be very close in order to connect. But one is close enough to Elinor to attempt to grab her but she is safe for another round at least.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 131d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Top of the order. Narnel, Bryndyn, Elinor, Larayn, Harlynn, and the grubs. It is very helpful when you include your AC and HP for me in your posts. Thanks!

Bryndyn will estimate how fast the grubs are moving as to whether he should drop his crossbow and switch to his mace.

They have been moving at a rate of 20 thus far.

Round 2, AC: 17, HP: 9/9, Point Blank Range

Narnel takes careful aim and fires at another emerging grub.

LB ATT: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7
LB DAM: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Narnel will then take the opportunity to attempt to meld into the shadows.
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Because of readied action I'm actually after Larayn and Harlynn and just before grubs. Man those dice were rubbish Narnel - hope you've used up your bad luck.

"The tunnel is chocka with these things! Like they're spewing out of the mouth of hell! I hope you've got enough arrers. Back off Harlynn, back off."

Round 2, AC 16; HP: 20/20

Bryndyn drops his crossbow, seeing the others move forward and raises his Heavy Mace. He belows a warcry that reverberates through the chamber and charges past Larayn to attack the nearest grub and to put himself between the grubs and the others.

attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Unsure if I should have gotten a charge bonus above...if so, that score might be a 14

Didn't Bryndyn get bit by a spider for 2 hp? I'm pretty sure that moving through an ally prevents you counting a charge, but probably you wouldn't want the -ve to your AC anyway.

Elinor - yes you are right - I forgot - that's why I had to make a fort save. I'll correct for my next post

Sorry Bryndyn, Elinor is right, you cannot charge through a team mate.

Narnel second shot is not as well aimed aas his first and his arrow misses entirely. Bryndyn races up to slow the advance of the creatures, but he too is unable to hit them.

Larayn, Harlynn and Elinor.

HP 4/6 AC 11

On Harlynns turn he will summon forth the fires of all the 9 hells into his fingertips and let it spew forth. Damaging as many creatures as he can.

Burning Hands, REFLEX DC 141d4 ⇒ 4

Just a question - in Pathfinder, is charging a straight line, or is it as long as I am progressing toward my foe? I could have went diagonal first, then at the Grub to avoid being in Larayn's square but still technically 'charging past her' I didn't explain that, so no problem, but would like a ruling for another similiar situation.

You can only charge something that you have line of sight to and you must take a direct route to the nearest square where you can attack from...no meandering.

Gotcha - went to core book and see that charging in pathfinder is different than other charging rules (or perhaps homebrew rules) I've used. I've always played that as long as I'm moving closer to the enemy each step I take, then it's valid. This breaks the 'draw a line from starting square to ending square and that line must be unbroken rule'

I guess Harlynn moved to M6 from where he could get three of the grubs with a 15' cone. Or N6 (2) if Larayn were to get the front one in her round. (N9 also gets 3, but prob gives AoO). 4 points of damage might kill them (go Harlynn!).

On charging, there was a ridiculous thread where someone was presenting the case that he could be charging on top of a mount that wasn't charging. Some people don't have enough to do...

Elinor steps forwards to cover the courageous, but foolhardy, boy-mage. (5' step to N7 or N8 depending on where he ended up). If there's a grub in sword reach she'll strike it, if not she'll ready to strike the first grub which does get within sword reach, which will presumably be pretty well instant and won't affect the initiative tree so I'll just roll.

"Back off as we fight, give Narnel clear lines of fire! Narnel, wait for your shot."

AC 19 HP 11/11

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 171d10 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Larayn hears Elinor and for a moment holds her spot, but no, she would not shrink while they fight. She runs forward and tries her luck against the creature in the lead. Her hit is solid and decisive. The creature falls.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 151d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Harlynn moves forward and calls forth a mysticism that his companions have not seen. Fire in great gouts shoots from his fingers. Both the creatures in his range catch the fire full on and turn from the heroes, back to the black from wence they came.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 71d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

This is not the general mood though, and the grubs continue to push forward, with what is now the lead creature being dispatch expertly by Elinor. This still leaves one of the them to attack Bryndyn, but the space of a round has made much difference! Bryndyn's attacker falls short, and leaves himself exposed to your tender mercies.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 81d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Top of the order. Narnel, Bryndyn, Larayn, Harlynn, Elinor and the grubs.

Round 3, AC: 17, HP: 9/9, Point Blank Range

Narnel takes careful aim and fires at the emerging grub on o8.

LB ATT: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 = 20
LB DAM: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Narnel will then take the opportunity to attempt aqain to meld into the shadows five feet closer to the tunnel opening.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

AC 16; HP 20/18

Dodging out of the way of the attacking Grub, Bryndyn snaps his teeth and jaws closed, the audible click of the sound oddly loud despite the sounds of battle nearby. He places both hands upon the heavy handle of his mace and rears back.

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

The attack is fantastically successful and he growls once again in pleasure as his heavy weapon crushes the pliant grub.

How do you handle Crits?