Fina says, "I doubt I can climb well enough in this armor to join you. And the doctors' leather jackets will hardly fit over my plate."
"Hmm, that doesn't leave us many options, Fina, save to send one of us back up in this device to collect you once we have secured the area below," Emerion points out. "Of course there may be no-one in the immediate vicinity down there, so the question may be moot."
"The Gray Maidens have been protecting the Queen's Physicians for some time now. They're fairly used to seeing and interacting with you," Istas states, "So, perhaps it might be best if you led the way below?"
"That would be acceptable." Fina's voice is flat. SHe is merely stating fact.
"If Fina is accompanying us, I would suggest her and I go down first, with me as a physician," Keliwyn suggests. "That should easily be enough time for the rest of you to join us, and without the danger of crowding on top of the lift. Afterall, we don't know what the weight limits may actually be."
Eyeing the lift cautiously, he adds, "However, before anyone gets on board, I'd like to look the lift over one more time."
"Allow me to join you," Emerion offers, and does so. Out of range of the others ...
Perception:
"A thought occurs to me," Emerion addresses them all once their inspection is complete, "that the Grey Maidens here may never have been in the places below, or even known of them. If the Urgathoans were working there to destroy the city by plague, it's hardly something they would want the Queens most loyal soldiers finding out about, is it? So wouldn't your appearance there trigger more alarm bells and not less?" he points out to Fina.
Keliwyn, the lift is not trapped.
Fina replies evenly, "I fail to see how my appearance would trigger more alarms than yours. But if you think it politic I will wait here while you go down first. Send the lift back as soon as you are inside, but be quick about sending the lift back up for me."
"The people that anyone sees first will be in disguise," Emerion explains. "That will help give us the element of surprise should anyone be waiting sown below in sight of this contraption." he addresses the others:
"Well then, shall we go?"
"I'm first. Who wants to squeeze with me? Emerion?"
"There's room enough for all of us. We'll just need to stand close and be ready to exit as soon as we reach the bottom," Istas states, "Before we go, let's make sure we all understand what we're up against. Cults of Urgathoa don't just accept undeath, they revel in it. We'll likely face some undead guardians down below. They'll have a hard time standing against the power of Pharasma. So, make sure you stay close and don't get overwhelmed by them. I'll deal with them as quickly as I can. The rest of you will need to focus on the cultists. We eliminate them and there won't be anymore undead to worry about. Thus, it's doubly important we find this Lady Andaisin we've heard about. If she's that high up, she's likely the source of all these problems. And, as far as I'm concerned, her judgement awaits in the Boneyard. So, let's make sure she doesn't miss her appointment with the Lady of Graves."
"We're all of one mind then," Emerion agrees cheerfully. "Let's go."
"Alright then, no disguises. Let's just get to it," Keliwyn says as he motions the others on to the lift and sets the key into the slot on the operating lever.
Heather turns to Istas.."I took the precaution of stocking up on scrolls which will let me be effective against the undead."
She takes in the others.."I can also increase your size and strength if need be, reduce our foes to the size of halflings, haste us a very limited number off times and generally hamper our foes"
DM ref:
Fina steps aboard the elevator with her naked long sword in hand.
The elevator descends with the five of you aboard. The walls of the shaft are mortared brick. Occasionally a small drip of water seeping through the wall darkens the surface of the brick below it and makes it glisten.
The elevator jolts to a halt. It is gloomy at the bottom of the shaft. There is no illumination save that from the room the height of six men above your heads. A brassbound wooden door is before you. There is no sign of light beyond it.
Emerion strikes a sunrod and holds it in his left hand as the party descends. He examines the ground, walls and (where possible) the ceiling for traps before moving out of the lift cage. If Kelwyn is also checking they will divide the area between them.
Perception (trapfinding):
"Just a moment," Keliwyn says as he does the same as Emerion, checking the way for traps, his bare rapier in hand.
Perception
Heather mentally checks the contents of her haversack one more time
Scrolls...check,Reducing wand..check,Enlarging wand,check....
The walls around the lift cage are free of traps. The floor of the lift precludes a check of the ground. A trap free brassbound wooden door with no sign of light beyond it appears to be the only way out, bar the open lift shaft above you.
"Well we won't get anywhere standing here looking at doors" heather whispers "..who's first?"
Emerion draws his rapier and nods to Keliwyn.
"You open, I'll be ready," he says tersely to the elf.
"Wait, I have an idea," Keliwyn says, donning his new hat. "If I look like a physician, and there is anyone there, I can confuse them and maybe get past them and attack them from behind when you come through the door."
Once everyone's set, Keliwyn opens the door, rapier at the ready.
The door opens to reveal an empty, dark room. You are facing east.
The walls have been plastered over and decorated with fantastically colored murals of skeletons cavorting in the corpse-littered streets of Korvosa. Waterstains discolor the paint in places; in some of the discolored areas the plaster has crumbled away entirely, exposing the brick beneath.
About 25 directly across the room in front of you is a sizable set of double doors. To your left (north) there is a single door set in the wall. The southern wall bends around a corner, perhaps a 15' wide corridor joins this room? Each of the doors is decorated with a fresco of a scythe wielding skeleton.
"Uggh....why do these death cultists always have such tacky decor.?" Heather asks off no one in particular "No imagination whatsoever..which might be a good thing for us"
Emerion examines the doorway carefully, and the floor of the room beyond before anyone steps inside.
Perception (Trapfinding):
As far as you can tell from inside the elevator, the floor of the room beyond is trap free as is the elevator doorway. IF you meant any of the other doorways, you'll have to go see them at close range.
Keliwyn whispers "Guard Room?" and points Emerion toward the single door on the north wall as he himself walks toward the set of double doors. He pauses to look at the skeletal artwork, and examines the doors to see if they are trapped or locked, and listens for any noise beyond.
perception (trapfinding)
perception
Emerion nods and glides over to the side-door, checking for any traps or alarms, then listening at the door.
Perception: +1 for traps.
Heather cast a detect Magic as a matter of course.
Keliwyn is about halfway across the room when he's interrupted by, "What's the news? No one's come down in a long time. "
perception: ..
The interlocutor is dressed in the long leather coat and mask of the Queen's Physicians. Behind him stands another man similarly garbed. Behind him is an open door in the southern wall.
Keliwyn, B3
Emerion, A2
Physician's E3, G4
QP initiative, if you move to attack
Heathers initiative just in case
"Me? Oh, I'm Brightthune, just arrived from up coast, they said you needed someone who knew Varisians to better spread our lady's blessings," Emerion grins nastily as he saunters over, sword on his shoulder. "Nice place you have down here."
Bluff:
Initiative (if needed):
Emerion does not sheath his sword, if he can get close enough to spring a surprise strike, he will. If they see through his ruse, he'll rush them.
"More help," Keliwyn says, moving toward the two physicians. "Davalaus sent them personally, and asked me to show them around. Do you know what's going on up there?" he says, hitching his thumb toward the ceiling.
Bluff
Initiative
Sense Motive: ..
"Brighthune," the man nods. Then he glances back to Keliwyn. "I was hoping you could tell us. Why hasn't anyone been down. The chamber pots are starting to reek."
"It's not good," Emerion tells them seriously, playing for time until Keliwyn gets into position, "when we arrived, we found guards all over the place. It seems some of the priests of the Grey Whore got hold of a body off the ship you used and wrung some answers out of it. Deavelus has had his hands full dealing with that, and the hospice has regular guards in it now poking their noses everywhere. I had to hide my mask and come in as a concerned relative, good job I'm a convincing liar."
As Keliwyn gets in position Emerion strikes like lightning.
Attack: Damage:
"For me, that is," he adds cheerfully.
The girls, Istas, Heather and Fina, are still in the elevator. There's an open doorway and maybe 20 feet between you and Emerion so it's likely you heard him.
Heather winces at Emerions 'Grey Whore' Comment and feels Istas stiffen beside her.."He's playing a part Istas..don't condemn him for it" she whispers to her friend grasping her arm lightly..
"We'll have words...later," Istas states in a whisper, "If I've learned anything as a Pharasmin, it's that you have to let things happen in their natural order. But also, that there's consequences for every choice we make."
As usual, it's hard to tell if the stoic Shoanti is joking or serious.
Keliwyn moves to attack that second physician as Emerion attacks the first.
Attack w/ human bane rapier
Damage + Sneak Damage
Emerion and Keliwyn explode into action. Emerion's foe is badly hurt but tries to stave the Varisian off with his ball headed diagnostic staff. .. damage
Keliwyn's foe reacts slighlty more quickly than the elf. His staff rips toward the elf's head. .. damage
Keliwyn's riposte runs home and the Physician slides nervelessly off his blade onto the floor.
Round 2
Heather 19
Emerion 16
Qps ....15
Keliwyn 11
Istas
"That sounds like our cue..." Istas announces as she hears the sounds of battle in the next room. She hefts her spear and shield and runs after Keliwyn and Emerion.
From the door beyond Keliwyn -- surprised voices, furniture scrapping, the clink of metal on metal.
Keliwyn turns to face who ever comes through the south door, hoping his disguise will gain him surprise on these foes, too. "Quick! We're under attack!" he says to the first one that appears in the door.
Bluff
Istas swiftly closes the distance on Emerion's opponent, her spear leading the way.
Heather moves to A4 where she can cover the entire room.She prepares(ready action) to cast a scorching ray on any serious threat that my develop.
Istas' spear penetrates leather jacket, ribs, and sinew. The Queen's Physician between her and Emerion drops dead.
Heather takes up her central position in the room.
Three Queen's Physicians charge into the room.
Sense Motive
"Traitor!" one snarls at Keliwyn. Two of them move to engage the elf from either side.
Acrobatics
CLub .. damage
CLub .. damage
The third man tries to blindside Istas as she pulls her spear out of the dead doctor. CLub .. damage
Fina trundles past Heather in her heavy armour.
Emerion darts around the fight, using his enhanced mobility to get a flanking position on one of the 'physicians'. This time his guard is up although these foes don't look terribly impressive.
Attack: Damage: