Castle Caldwell and Beyond: (A 5e Campaign) - The Wrecking Crew (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

Niall stands behind Magnus and tries to blast one of the worker ants that are waking the others.

Eldritch Blast: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Force damage : 1d10 ⇒ 2

Victor nods to Magnus and holds back, if an ant approaches he attacks.

Longsword 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Damage 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Histoff goes out of battle into a place he might not fall because of ant infested floor weakened floor.

Klodd reviews the situation, and agrees with Magnus, that it might have been better to wait for the ants to attack through the doorway.

Bonus action to cast "Healing Word" on Aiyta. He'll then delay until an ant comes within his attack range.

1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Healing word

Ayita is at 8/9 hp, prior to the healing word, Klodd, if you want to save it. And I'll try to get out of the room next round if able.

Day 1, Wednesday approximate time of day, 3:40 pm (turn 95). Location: Caldwell Castle, Harrispania. The southwest tower – Giant Ants!.

Initiative and waiting for each player to post in the right order is difficult in PbP formats, and this plus my absence has thrown a few wrenches into the works – See technically Klodd acts before Perry, and he posted a heal to Ayita after Perry also posted a healing spell – so which one applies? I think I’ll go with Klodd’s spell, for 6 healing taking Ayita to full health, then let Perry take back his spell – Okay?

Round 3…

When Magnus shouts out a warning about the dangerous floor of the tower, Lijan backs away from the open door as far as he can, standing close to the ledge and the fifteen foot fall to the ground below. He hopes that there is room for the others to escape the tower should the floor collapse suddenly.

Niall steps back as the big man retreats to the doorway, and then leaning around the large islander’s frame, he sends a magical attack into the room, aiming wildly in hopes of striking an ant, his magic strikes a tree limb instead, and there is a loud groan from the floor of the room

Meanwhile, Klodd, who had just set one foot on the floor, pauses, rethinks the situation, and after sending forth a blessing of healing toward Ayita, retreats to guard next to Magnus

Taking a reckless chance, Ayita attacks the last Warrior ant still standing. Her sword finds its mark and lifted by her success she takes a step forward to attack one of the smaller ants. She stomps hard on the ant, killing it beneath her foot, but then suddenly…

Perry is moving with Victor to get out of the room when the floor begins to give way in large sections. A thunderous serious of loud sounds comes from below as wood splits, and pieces of the structure cascade down to the dirt floor of the oubliette below the tower.

Ayita cannot get out of the falling zone. She falls ten feet to land on soft dirt and wood debris. She can try a Reflex Save, the DC is 10, to take half the damage from the fall (1d6). Perry and Victor may or may not get swept back into the collapse, and each of them can try a Reflex Save with a DC of 10 to avoid falling. If Perry and Victor Save, they do not fall, are grabbed by Klodd and Magnus at the door, and do not take any damage. If they fail the save, they tumble backward, just out of reach, and take the full damage from falling into the oubliette.

Ayita disappears as she falls, with most of the floor of the tower.

Falling Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The remaining ants are crushed by the falling debris.

This battle is over. Ayita is ten feet below where the floor was, and there is a good deal of wood debris scattered all around. Perry and Victor may also be with her

Victor is torn at the plight of Ayita but when he can tell there is nothing he can do for her, he dives towards the doorway.

Dexterity check DC 10 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Dex Save DC 10: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Ayita makes falling look easy as she tumbles gracefully below with the debris. Now covered head-to-toe in ant guts and wood splinters sticking out of her hair, she smiles up at the rest of the party, her pearly teeth the only clean part remaining on her.

"I'm okay! Although I admit that was pretty reckless." She puts one hand behind her head and giggles.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Anything to see down here?

DEX save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Perry jumps awkwardly out onto the landing as the floor collapses behind him. He quickly glances around, doing a head count, then breathes a sigh of relief as he sees that only one fell, and is okay.

Histoff hears something collapsing
Assuming he heard the collapse without needing a perception check
He waits a moments to nake sure the battle ended and then asks loudly but still not shouting
everyone is alright ?

Magnus peers down into the mess of rotten wood and dismembered ants.

"Well, if anyone was keeping score, I'd say the elf is in the lead in terms of foes to the afterlife," he says, tugging at his beard, as if deep in thought. "I'm not sure if bugs are accepted into the Storm King's halls, but we can debate philosophy when someone comes closer to matching Ayita's kills."

He leans over, peering into the destruction.

"Now then, is there anything down there left to investigate, or shall we move on, following the wall as we have been doing?"

Rubbing away the pain from the short fall, Ayita looks around the wreckage of the floor. At first she doesn't see anything of interest, and as she begins to look for safe hand holds that she might use to climb back to the open door, and her friends ten feet above her, she steps on a small board and it shifts, as if it rolled on something beneath it. Bending down to see what it might be, Ayita finds something

"Eek!" Ayita screams and falls backwards in surprise, landing hard on her butt.

"There's a corpse down here, or at least an arm. There's a fancy ring on one of the fingers. I wonder if it was one of the Caldwells? I'll bring it up for you to see. There is too much death in this castle. I do not approve."

Acrobatics to Climb Out: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 (Plus Bardic Inspiration: 1d6 ⇒ 2) : Total 19

Climbing out is no problem for Ayita

"Well, one thing's for sure: our job here is definitely one that needed doing. Cripes. Anyway, is everyone more or less okay? Are we ready to continue with the perimeter?"

Yes
Histoff says while pondering on what will happen next....

Niall takes a look at the ring that Ayita brought up with her.

History? Investigation? Both are +2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

"Wow, that's some ring," Perry says. "Want me to check it for magic? It'd take about ten minutes."

Ayita sits down as starts picking the splinters out of her hair. "Go ahead Perry. I could use a few minutes to clean up. Perhaps if we don't find water anywhere else, I'll make my way down to the river to bathe. While there, I can refill everyone's waterskins and maybe even forage some dinner as well." Ayita scrapes some slime off her face. "Yuck!"

We will have to stay in a group, and in case of splitting, not to to go alone Ayita
Histoff says to Ayita in humorous way and pats her on the back
It will be a shame to lose you
Histoff says in a more humorous way

" This silver is excellent quality, " Niall says turning the ring over in his hands. " and this brown and gold stone, hmm, I can't remember the name of it but I do recall that only members of the Baravkovian Aristocracy generally wear them. "

Niall passes the ring on to Perry.

Perry sits down, sets the ring on his palm, and spends the next ten minutes wiggling his fingers and babbling incessantly.

Klodd stands tapping his foot, and awaiting the others recovery. As Ayita recovers he quips to her. "Wow! You're really starting to fall for this place aren't you". He then hesitates a bit before doubling over laughing at his own joke.

Victor heads back down the stairs to retrieve his bow. He searches the perimeter for any beings that may be attracted to the loud crash of the stairs...

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Ayita at first stares at Klodd's joke dryly, but she succumbs to his laughter and joins in with him.

"Well I certainly won't forget the trip."

Magnus takes a close look at the rubble, looking for signs of any collapsed passages or trap doors to a lower level. If he sees none, he points questioningly to the north.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

"Are we ready to move on? After that much noise, anything to the north will know we're coming. No need to give them time to prepare, as well," he says.

Day 1, Wednesday approximate time of day, 3:50 pm (turn 96). Location: Caldwell Castle, Harrispania. The southwest tower – Giant Ants!.

Perry takes a few moments to study the ring, turning it over in his hands and speaking arcane words, he hopes to draw out its secrets, but he soon realizes the ring has no secrets to reveal, and is only a simple piece of fine jewelry.

Klodd moves close to Ayita to share a moment of levity, while Victor and Magnus look to the north to try and gauge what lies ahead.

Will make an effort to update the map tonight

Saw anything interesting?
Histoff asks Magnus and Victor as he begins to follow them northwise.

"Welp," Perry announces as he gets up and rubs his tired jaw, "I can confirm entirely that this ring is one hundred percent nonmagical."

He pauses and looks around. "Anyone find anything interesting while I was doing that?"

"A tower due north, jutting out toward the east from the west castle wall, is a stone wall that rises over ten feet in height with what appears to be a chimney.

This wall, together with the west castle wall and most likely a similar stone wall to the north I think are separate building", Victor responds to Lijan and Perry.

Castle Caldwell, the west wall structures, going north from the southwest tower

Day 1, Wednesday approximate time of day, 3:50 pm (turn 97)

The southwest tower floor has collapsed, filling the basement level with debris and dead, giant ants. Mission accomplished?
Finally the party descends from the elevated platform where the door to the west tower was located. Once again on the ground they approach the building to the north of the tower, noticing that the east wall of the small building is made of wood, in a lath and plaster style, showing some deterioration, and a few small holes here and there. There is also an old, very poor looking wooden door in the wall.

Huh, somehow I didn't notice this latest post.

Perry starts to reach for the door, then hesitates. "Let's see if we can get a peek first this time."

He picks up a pebble, casts light on it, and begins peering through the various holes in the wall.

As Perry shines some light through the holes in the wall, others gather close behind him hoping to get a look for themselves.

Holes in the roof allow some other light into the room, and as Perry moves his magical light a little left or right, most of the entire room can be seen through various holes.

The space on the other side of this wall appears to once have been a large kitchen. A large fireplace dominates each wall, north and south, and in the south fireplace you still see a cooking pot hanging on a rod imbedded in the stone. The floor is littered with pieces of broken tables, but no sign of any chairs can be seen. There are large spoons, flat long handled Peels, rolling pins, and other cooking related tools scattered around.

Most curious of all, however, is the presence of a large, Iron bound sea chest, sitting on the top of a pile of wooden debris in the center of the room.

The chest is ancient, and the iron bands rusted, but even with the little light shining in something telling can be seen. There is a metal plaque, probably made of bronze or brass, on the front of the chest, just below a lock visible holding the lid closed. In large engraved letters inlaid with something black colored is the name

Naranoc Myn Morra

History: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Morra? The old pirate captain?" Perry says, bewildered. "Why the hell would one of his chests be here? I thought they all got dug up in various beaches, and besides that, this is a weird place to store a treasure."

Perry heaves a heavy sigh. "In any case, real or not, the setup just screams 'trap'. Lijan, this looks like a job for you."

He was a pirate......
Histoff says to himself as he begins to remember about a sadistic pirate that took pleasure in torturing others

history: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Histoff curious to know what is inside the chest, begins to disable any trap that might have been put on/in the chest
thieves tools: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
You better get away
Histoff says to the whole group.
It might get nasty, he was known for his not so merciful traps Histoff warns.

Perry, why not try to tell the rest of the group more about the chest
Histoff suggests as he finally begins to put his mind to the task, whistling(whistle) to himself an old sea song melody.

I assumed that Histoff remembered somethings about the pirate, hope you don't mind about ignoring the passive stuff....if it's not passive does it means it takes time for the character to remember ?

Ayita waits by the door until Lijan gives an all clear.

"A chest in the middle of a room? What could go wrong?" Magnus says, before taking up a position by the door and watching as Lijan draws forth lockpicks and other tools. "Friend Victor - see to your crossbow. I've a feeling the fates have something more ... complicated ... in store."

Victor sheathes his sword and once again draws his Longbow at Magnus' suggestion.

"Seems like a trap indeed. I suppose we are being paid to spring them all eh?"

Before Lijan goes forth, Klodd clasps his shoulder, and mumbles a brief prayer... Blessings of the Gods be with you friend.

Resistance: For 1-minute you can add a d4 to any save, once. You can add the bonus before or after the save, but before the results are known.

Castle Caldwell, the country of Harrispania

Day 1, Wednesday (turn 96) approximate time of day, 3:50 pm.

The party has approached what appears to be an abandoned kitchen that is part of the west wall of the castle

The Story so far

Lijan looks though a crack in the wall, and decides he thinks he is capable of examining the chest safely. He approaches the door to this place, and seeing no handle, only a hole in the door where once a rope probably served to help pull the door open, he shoves against the rotting wood and the door collapses into the room, kicking up dust.

Klodd approaches Lijan from behind, and speaks a few words of blessing before the half-elf turns, smiles and then carefully enters the kitchen.

He approaches the chest slowly, and sees no obvious rigged strings or balanced planks below it.

Kneeling in front of the chest he takes out a slim leather folded tool pouch, and places it on the ground. He stares at the lock for a moment, then selects a couple of tools, one in each hand, and then just as he is about to go to work on the lock, something in the wood below the lock catches his eye. He carefully examines the concealed trap, notes it is somehow connected to the latch held shut by the lock, and in only a few moments he successfully inserts three small metal spaces into the wood and disables the trap

Anyone watching the room, and not Lijan, while he works on the lock can make a Perception Roll. Passive Perception does not apply to this situation

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 11

"How's it going in there, Lijan?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Ayita is fascinated watching Lijan work. She doesn't notice anything else.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 perception

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Niall glances about the room from the doorway but his main focus is on watching Lijan work.

The chest is fine, I disabled the trap, it's safe now
Histoff says happily as he finishes disabling the trap.
He then begins to unlock the chest with his tools while he does that he asks the group
Thieves tool: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Any guesses of what might be inside ?

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

"Hold Lijan! Something in that pot just moved," Magnus says, pointing to the hearth with his sword.

With everyone looking inside Victor again scans the surrounding area making sure nothing approaches the group from behind.

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Histoff jumps quickly at the moment Magnus warns him, looking at whatever Magnus warns him from.

PERCEPTION: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

When Lijan hears the warning, he turns his attention to the large kettle hanging in the southern fireplace. Magnus keeps his eyes trained there as well. A tense moment passes and the kettle doesn’t move an inch.

Then slowly, very slowly, a pair of hands rises up from inside of the kettle. With fingers spread and held high, the hands rise higher and higher until both hands of some tiny person are clearly visible, and a small voice calls out.

Now, don’t shoot, or do anything rash. I’m unarmed. I mean no harm. I know you told me to get out of here yesterday, but, um, I, um, I got lost. Yes I got lost and ended up sleeping in this kettle last night. Please don’t eat me.