Bad to the Bones (A Rappan Athuk campaign) (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Swanson

"That right, ogres probably know way better," Malzii cautiously agrees.

Arlok points to the ogers.

"You lead. Arlok not know way. Do ogre agree with Arlok? We kill goat priest for loot and food?"

The ogres stare for a moment back at Arlok, their greatclubs held to a ready position to strike at the offending godling, but the leader waves off the others. "We lead. You follow." They then proceed to head off on their way down the corridor, the leader trailing behind. It does not take them long to head out of your sight.

It is clear to the rest of you the ogres are definitely planning something here.

Actions here? Keep in mind none of the spell-casters have had an opportunity to learn or pray for their spells yet.

"Malzii not stupid, ogres planning something," the kobold hisses softly once the ogres are out of earshot. "Probably ambush or trap. Malzii say beat them to punch if others think we can win."

Malzii won't be super helpful without spells but I'm good to try and get the drop on the ogres or make a strategic withdrawal, whichever works for the group.

Keil's yellow eyes narrow, The female is right to be suspicious. Focusing his attention to the lead ogre and his ilk, the shadowy man tries to determine what and possibly when.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Considering what you know of ogres, they generally prefer beating their opponents brains to a bloody pulp. Since they did not immediately attack you an ambush is a reasonable assumption. Since they traveled ahead of you they may know of a suitable place for the ambush, one that you are not aware of.

Varg looks warily at the ogres.
Suppose we should get ready for our new friends to change their mind about being friends.

Varg will ready and action to use his Enlarge Person SLA as soon as the ogres make any threatening action.

Glancing around to the others, Keil nods in agreement with Varg. Whispering in infernal he adds, "Let them escort us. Be wary of ambush." Keeping his eyes on the ogres, Keil makes his way around the group as they proceed repeating his suggestion in common to Malzii (anyone else not speak infernal?) to ensure everyone is on their toes.
Perception of ogres: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Stealthy delivery of message: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 (Or should that be Bluff? As Keil is speaking I'm not sure)

I think it would be Bluff to pass a secret message but Stealth probably works just as well since the ogres aren't standing right there with us :)

Malzii nods as Keil whispers to her to be wary. "Ogres think we weak but we show them," she responds quietly.

Where did they even come from, anyway?

Grey clears his throat.

"Shade, scout on the ogres and report back. Keep out of sight if possible."

Then he slipped his hands into the opposite sleeves of his grey robes and waited.

While you all prepare for combat with the ogre family, Praetor sends his undead servant to see where the ogres are heading. It takes a while before the shade returns.

"Big ones move fast...not stopping...no where to stop..." It reports in its dead voice.

Raaz pipes up here. "If I was going to ambush someone I would look for a suitable place for it. This corridor is not a good choice because you can see them coming long before they reach you. Maybe they know of a place further ahead."

Brok keeps his crossbow loaded and his eyes open.

"Guess we keep following for now?" Malzii responds, looking thoughtful. "And just be ready when corridor changes to something else."

Varg nods in agreement:
Waiting is not going to help. Lets keep moving and have Shade scout ahead.

Wait a minute, have the ogres already gone on ahead without us? If that's the case, we might as well hang back and let the magicians prepare their arsenals.

Yeah, they originally wanted us to go first but after we pointed out that they know where they're going and we don't, they took the lead and seemed to expect us to follow behind.

I agree, if they are setting a pace to get ahead lets give them and hour lead and let the casters prep.

"Ogre go fast. Seem like no wana be around Arlok."

Once the ogres have departed the rest of you prepare to continue your trek, following behind the ogre family and wary for any ambush. Still the ogres do not show their ugly faces.

After several hours of dull, monotonous travel along the mostly featureless corridor, Keil's sharp vision picks out an opening just up ahead. Most of the floor ahead is open to a second floor about 30 feet down, with a curving walkway leading across the room. A ramp leads down to the lower floor. Two glowing sources of pale blue light dimly illuminate the area. Peering across the chamber, the fetchling can see the entirety of the lower floor is being used to cultivate flowers, vegetables and mushrooms. Strange and exotic fragrances invade your senses.

Looking about your surroundings you do not see any movement, and there is no sign of the ogres here.

Map updated.

"Hmmmm .... which way did they go." Brok muses as he studies the floor.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 (+2 for traps)

survival to track ogres: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Brok can see the ogres passed through this area not too long ago. Judging by the distance between their faint scuffmarks on the floor it looks like they were moving through this area at a rapid pace.

along the curving walkway, or down the ramp?

Down the ramp.

"Arlok's buddies went down to the mushroom farm." Brok declares flatly.

Does Brok know anything about underground cultivation of plants? Like who might be doing it?

Knowledge(dungeoneering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"Shade, scout the bend in the passage." Grey said, sending the Shadow ahead.

Keeping a wary yellow eye open for any looming dangers, the shadowy man moves quietly down the ramp to investigate the cultivations; perhaps some of these plants hold value.
Perception - Dangers: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Knowledge Dungeoneering - identify underground fauna: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 - A bit of a stretch...
Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

"Arlok not know why Ogre work for goat priest. Goat priest must be strong. We follow, we kill all."

Kn. Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Malzii peers at the various flowers and vegetables for a moment and then shrugs. "Malzii not know what most of these are. Maybe to feed goat priests? Or for rituals and magicks," she suggests. "Too bad no moon radishes here..." she adds with a sigh.

Varg looks down at the mushrooms.
They look good. Will have to grab some for a snack.

So did we wait for spell preparation after all, or not? :D

Grezzor follows after Keil, but remains a safe distance from the plants.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

I assume you all spent time on spell preparation.

As Shade flies off to perform its assigned task, Grezzor and Keil follow Brok along the curving passage that heads down to the ground floor. The signs of the ogre footprints are much more noticeable now as is the mix of strange fragrances rises to the upper floor. Before you can reach the edge of the ramp movement catches your eye. A pair of floating spheres of moss with several red eyes, randomly spaced over the surface of the sphere, looking out through eyelid-like gaps at the various plants and fungii. Following along behind these floating spheres are several shambling humanoids that resemble nothing more than green-skinned zombies with glowing red eyes, their heads draped with moss.

Thus far, none of these creatures have noticed you yet.

Map updated. Actions?.

knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

"I have no idea....."

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"Hold." Grey says as soon as he sees the strange mossy eyes. "These plants will enslave your mind if they touch you. Do not go near them. Blunt weapons will not hurt them. Grezzor, we need fire."

Activating Scarshield (swift action), dropping my Skullstaff (free action), drawing my Falchion (part of a move action), and casting Mage Armor (standard action)

Is Shade still off scouting or is he here with us?

"Heh...Malzii have good spell for that too," the kobold chuckles, mentally preparing herself for the likely battle to come.

"Ogre must have ran through, Plant men must be slow. Arlok think we run through."

Grezzor nods at Grey's words - "Just let me know when"

The shadowy man flinches at all the noise, If they don't know we're here by now, they soon will. Rolling his eyes, the fetchling signals to Brok and Greezor to hold. Then drawing his bow Keil closes the distance between them - all the better for them to fully enjoy the fetchling's halitosis. Whispering he briefs the two goblins, "They're not from this plane. Keep your distance. Avoid their beards lest you would like to become their slave." The fetchling points a bony finger towards the green-skinned zombies with them. "Keep hidden. We can flank when the others pass." (Sneak attack time!)
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Basically am waiting for an opportunity to catch as much of them as possible in a Burning Hands, while my burlier companions offer me some protection :D
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Something like:

.G.
AxV
xxx
xxx

Where .=Floor, G=Grezzor, A=Arlok, V=Vargrenz, x=Burning Hands Cone. Or:

.x
.xx
.xxx
G

And then retreat behind the melee combatants.

If this is not possible during the surprise round, I will Grease first (if they are together), or Flaming Sphere.

Engaging them in melee is the last thing we should do. We should either provoke them with range attacks and draw them to us or run past them. The problem with running past them or engaging them in melee is this is a perfect ambush spot for the ogres and they could be waiting for the combat to start. If we draw them to us we take that away even though they could still jump in and engage we could fall back and fight them in the hall where they can't surround us.

I'm willing to shoot one and get this started....but I'm goblin with mediocre intelligence.

Just FYI: both of the moss spheres are currently hovering about halfway up from the floor, so about 10' down from your level. The humanoid moss creatures are situated as follows: One is on the ramp about halfway down, and the other two are standing underneath the floating moss-spheres.
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I assume you all withdrew out of the chamber to whisper your discussion. Just let me know what your plan here is and we can get this party started!

I'm in agreement with Arlok that if we're going to engage that we should do it from range; potential ogre ambush notwithstanding, it sounds like we really don't want to try and melee these things if we can help it.

Varg looks to the others.
I only have my fists, great for bludgeoning, need to learn how to pierce and slice with them.

I can hold the front.

Varg looks to Grezzor:
Do you have one of those spells that makes magic armor? I can make a defensive front while you all shoot from behind.

GM, is Shade with us?

Praetor: Shade has not returned from his scouting expedition yet.

Brok thinks we should kill the plant monsters, because they would be in our path back if we merely evaded them.

Arlok wants to kill them because he wants to pretend he is vegetarian for a few minutes.

Brok's eyes widen, but he does not comment on the gray dwarf's sexual preferences.

As you all continue to plot your next move here, Praetor feels the presence of his servitor returning. Without preamble it states in the dead tone you are accustomed to hearing, "More of the...plant things in room at bottom of room. They did not see me. Saw big...ogres on other side. Did not see me either."

Varg looks to Grezzor:

Do you have one of those spells that makes magic armor? I can make a defensive front while you all shoot from behind.

"I do not Vargrenz. Today I can only make you larger" - Grezzor explains - "Also, I am able to engage them from a distance, though the more destructive spells still elude me, for the time being..." - he ponders - "I can however produce the balls of flame you have seen before, to open hostilities, and resort to the close combat spells if it comes to it"

"Arlok only have 5 attacks at range. Arlok need bow."