Council of Thieves

Game Master Mug

Caladius frowns deeply at the stench wafting up from the ichor below. "Great."

Do we have a ceiling in this room? Anything up high to fix a rope to so we could Errol Flynn our way across the sludge-pit?

I may have a floating disc spell that I can conjure forth that may allow some of you to ride upon it. Of course, it follows me, so I'd still have to get across. Perhaps clinging to our flying warlock?

I can use one spell from my staff - it may be a waste to burn it on a single first level spell, though. Floating disc is 3' wide (so one person, or two cuddling) and 100lbs/level. The Viscount could cling to Sabinus's feet as he crosses over the ceiling. The other group members could stack on the disc in a human pyramid.

Ok, that's just silly. Could the unseen servant cross and open a chest? I assume it can't get sick from the fumes/water?

I think Sabinus actually could take Ava or Corneleous with him. Per the flight hex, he can only cast levitate on himself (once per day), but he can levitate a total of 400 lbs, which would be enough for both skinny him and Ava or Corneleous, I think.

"I think that would work, Corneleous. I can only cast the spell on myself, but I think the spell should give enough lift for you to cling to me. Or if you'd rather not conjure the floating disc, Ava and I can go and hope for the best... Another thought: could your unseen servant tie the knot?"

Loving the imagery of some of these ideas here.

An inspection of the ceiling reveals it's dry and cavernous, with no easily identifiable place to affix a rope.

Ava and her equipment weigh ~250lbs alone, and I think Lucon'd be even more than that. Alas, getting him across may be the biggest concern.

"I can make the leap without magic. Maybe we can bridge it somehow, if we know how deep it is." Ava says, peering at the fetid waters. "Though there's no doubt there's some devilish creature lurking below the surface... Perhaps we should see if we can bait anything out before trying to cross."

Reminds me of the days people used to actually carry 10-ft poles.

"I could send a few arrows down, if you think that'd help."

Oh and Corneleous, as long as the Unseens servant is in range, I see no reason they can't cross and try to open the chest.

"I could ask the grumpy halberd if it knows anything about this room too, though I'd rather not."

And can the unseen servant tie the rope?

"I think seeing what we can do with Corneleous' unseen servant seems like a good place to start. If it can tie the rope on the other end, then the weightier members of our group may be able to pull themselves across hand over hand. I suppose there is also merit to baiting any foes out of the goop with arrows as well."

I'm going to say it can tie a rope.

"We are tying a rope to a chest, the weight of which we do not know, the shifting of which may trigger a trap or summon a guardian?" says Enko with a raised eyebrow. "A chest is not an eye bolt in a wall."

"Perhaps Ava and I should jump it, and that way, whatever rises from the murk will be flanked. We will, however, be divided."

Quick, someone take a level in Heavens Oracle!

Enko looks at Caladius pointedly. "This is what you would do."

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

He grabs one end of the rope and jumps across.

Caladius shrugs, "And I was about to, too."

"Here we go again," Sabinus states with resignation, raising his crossbow, ready to cover Enko. He also prepares to cast levitation, when the time seems right.

Ava draws an arrow as well, ready for any impending threats.

she'll wait a moment to see if the jump caught anything's attention.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

If she sees nothing, she'll join Enko on the other side. taking 10 on acrobatics for 18

Apologies for my absence- finals have been rough.

The viscount sends his unseen servant across, but stays safely behind.
I can support from afar. No need to risk my rotundness on a narrow rope.

With two acrobatic leaps, Ava and Enko land on the stairs next to the sludge, and a bit deeper into the platform. All is still for a moment as no worked traps or spells are released, but the silent moment is broken as two well-concealed Lemurs burst from the sludge practically under the feet of the rest of the party. Not noticed until this moment, they both charge in towards the closest food, Ava.

They swing dripping and encrusted appendages at the rogue, bony protrusions leading, and both score minor scratches on her defensively raised arms. You can all see, by judging the amount of Lemure sticking out of the goop, the filthy liquid pool is only about 4 feet deep.

-2hp Ava and I need a DC14 fort save or you're sickened for 1 round.

Init Round 1:

• The Group

• Lemures
  
• ????

I know these devils- they are harmed with silver or better weapons. Fire, acid, and cold barely harm them. They have no mind to speak of.

Lucon looks to the others, paralysed by indecision.

How far is the drop?

30' down to the sludge, and you guess-timate the sludge is roughly 4' deep.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Enko, you'd have to move 10' north to be a position to do what you've rolled for. That'd put you in the muck and I need a DC14 Fort save or you're sicked in R1. You could 5' step NW or NE and attack either Lemure, but not both. Or you could treat your rolls as a ready action, let me know. I'll move us along in a few hours if I haven't heard from Sabinus. Just a reminder the combat map is at the top of the page.

Sorry for the delay. Often hard to find time on weekends.

I'll attack one of 'em. Sorry, I didn't realize about a combat map due to lack of brain function, or something.

Er, the one on the left.

Round 1
Corneleous looses a bolt at the leftmost lemure, but the shot is wide and splashes short into the muck.

Enko moves to stand on the steps west of Ava and elbows the lemure, seeking to knock it off balance. "I will do what I can, Viscount," says the servant of the Upper Reach with his usual humility. His strike does indeed unbalance the lemure, and it topples over into the muck, oddly bent apendages flailing as it struggles to right itself. The monk readies himself to strike if the ungainly creature manages to stand.

Lucon, leaving his shield strapped to his shoulder, takes the plunge and makes a two-handed swing at the left-most Lemure, bringing the weapon down with terrific force. He cleaves completely through the creature even as he lands in the muck, his silvery blade very effective. Hitting the ground Lucon twists an ankle, and goes down under the muck. Lucon - 3non lethal and 9 lethal damage. Also you're now prone. Also, I need a DC14 Fort Save or you're sicked for 1 round.

Ava bashes the creature back with her bow, dropping it to the ground as she quickly reaches for her hammer. Easily sliding free of its sheath, she continues the movemen to bring the weapon around in an overhead smash, cruching several mishapen bones of the remaining lemure.

Caladius grimaces as the blubbery demons surge up out of the filth below. Heeding the Viscount's words, he draws a pair of silvered arrows and snaps them off one after the other. Both are aimed at the last lemure, but only one strikes home, the silvered arrow burrying itself deep into the creatures brain, felling it into the muck.

Sabinus pauses as the visible foes seem to be down. Delay action.

Suddenly a large writhing mass of tenacles, spikes, and horns bursts from the ooze from an alcove just east of the stone stairs. A horrid creature with a gaping, spike-bearded maw full of razor sharp teeth and glowing orange eyes, glinting with savage intelligence. It clutches two gleaming blades in some of its tentacles but for now seems satisfied with a natural attack as it stretches two grasping tenatcles impossibly far to try and grab Ava. The creature nearly has her, but at the last moment the rogue ducks the first tentacle and whirls away from the second, leaving the tentacles grasping at empty air. That would have hurt.

**COMBAT MAP**

Please post for Round 2! Sabinus you still get actions for Round 1. So I'll need R1 and R2 from you.

Init

• The Group

• The Outcast King

Round 1 - Resolution

His eyes opening wider than one would have thought possible, Sabinus redirects his misfortune hex at the Outcast King. The bizzare creature locks eyes with Sabinus, and then shudders briefly, unable to overcome the hex. Seeing his success, Sabinus then takes a step diagonally behind Caladius.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Round 2

Sabinus cackles to maintain the misfortune hex and targets the horrifying beast with his slumber hex. That done, he takes another step back. The monster almost succumbs to the sleep hex, but manages to avert its gaze at the last moment. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Dang that woulda helped!

"Whoa. Ugly." Caladius snaps off another pair of arrows, this time at the tentacled beast. "What is it?" The first one strikes deep into a thick tentacle, drawing an angry roar.

Lucon emerges from the muck and spits out a mouthful of bile, his ankle narly giving way as he pulls himself to his feet. "A-... Ava, are you ok-" he begins, his voice drowned out by the terrible roar of the creature behind him. Eyes widening with panic, Lucon forces his way through the muck to stand beside his comrades. Even as he moves the creature see's an opening and the long tentacles lash out towards the dripping carpenter. His armor deflects the swift blow, and he avoids taking damage as he finds his spot. I need another DC14 Fort save or sickened for another round.

"We should shoot at it from all sides," says Enko measuredly. "Viscount, you mentioned something about a grand finale?' He take a five foot step to just south of Ava, loads a silver-coated sling stone, and hurls it at the creature. It flies though the mass of wringling tentacles to smack it right between the eyes, and it focuses angrily on him.

botting Seeming transfixed by the monstrosity in the muck, the Viscount just reloads and fire his crossbow. The bolt misses wide of the mark.
1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 4 = 101d8 ⇒ 5

"Still in... one piece!" Ava deftly weaves through the tentacled assault as Lucon closes the gap. "Let's not give it a chance to change that!" The carpenter's presence beside her steels her resolve, and she focuses the creature in her sights. "You and me, beast!" She braves the beast's clutches, stepping in and sweeping her hammer forward to deliver a monstrous blow to the creatures face, knocking teeth loose and black blood flying through the air. The beast is too hurt to even roar right away, just blinks a few times to get its bearings, eyes glowing red.

The enraged monster gnashes its teeth and lifts two of its smaller tentacles, the ones clutching swords. It unleases a flurry of attacks at Ava, even a bite, the violence of which likely even impresses Enko. Though Ava dodges and parries with skill, several devastating blows surely would have landed except an odd shiver seemed to overcome the monster just when it seemed a blow would land, allowing Ava the time she needed to get her defenses in the way. The thing howls its fury at not being able to hit the dwarf before him, filling the cavernous chamber with its powerful howl. Clearly the creature is unused to the damage its being dealt, and also unused to having it's attempt to crush and rend defended so well. It's tentacles lash the muck as it prepares readies itself to attack once more.

Please post for Round 3!

Init

• The Group

• The Outcast King

Round 3
Although frustrated by the creature's failure to succumb to the slumber hex, Sabinus cracks a small smile in quiet satisfaction at seeing the telltale signs of his misfortune hex at work. He cackles to maintain the misfortune and directs his evil eye hex in the direction of the monstrosity. The creature and the witch lock eyes as the evil eye hex worms into way past the will of the creature, the misfortune hex further unnerving it. Sabinus also takes one more five foot step back, this one elevating him slightly up the stairs near the entrance to the room. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Enko smoothly loads another silver coated sling stone and hurls it at the beast, this one again finding it's mark and leaving an ugly welt upon the creature. "Can anyone tell if this thing requires silver weaponry? Ava, beware its attacks!" he asks, then intones.

Caladius shrugs as no one seems to be able to identify the creature before them. "Ok - I'll just keep shooting at it then." The tiefling sends another pair of arrows streaking through the air toward the giant beast. The first is deflected by it's natural armor, but the second arrow manages to land, sticking into the creatures spiky torso like it's a pin-cushion.

Hunkering behind his shield and pushing his way through the muck, Lucon hurls himself into the mass of tentacles. His hammer is pushed aside by a tentacle that seems to have a mind of its own.

Corneleous suddenly delves into a pouch and retrieves a wand, holding it aloft for a moment before releasing a streaking projectile at the monster. It weaves through it's defenses and thuds home with a crackle of magical energy. The monsters eyes go black as night, and its roars in anger and futility even as it falls forward into the murk, the roar turning into a blubbering of ooze-bubbles, and then all is silent. The monster floats on the surface, face down in the muck, it's tentacles spread all around it like giant green noodles.

Combat is over!

You have beaten the Asmodean Knot and now just need to get the Crux. You are now at 5th level! Congratulations :). Go ahead and start leveling up, but we'll treat your return home through one of the dimensional portals as though the travel itself imbues you with your 5th level powers, similar to when you entered. Now, finish your bizniz!

Caladius glowers at the fallen monster, disgust plain in face. "Everyone ok?"

"Ava was hit, but I think we are otherwise well," says Enko.

He approaches the chests carefully, looking for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Enko is unable to locate any traps about the two stone chests.

"No traps, although there could be magic, or some sort of beast ready to strike from within," says Enko, rubbing his chin.

"A small cut. I am hoping not deep enough to cause a bout of filth fever." Ava quickly wraps her wound, her brow still slick with moisture from the battle. "I'm curious to see our prize, and glad to see we're almost through."

"Oh! The imp said there were prizes that lay in the muck... Viscount, do you think you could search for any traces of magic in there?" The dwarf seems to not mind the idea of pushing through the filth, if there was treasure involved.

Of course, m'lady.

The Viscount sends his unseen servant to dredge the muck, and casts detect magic to aid the search.

Perception? 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

With the help of detect magic, several magic items are quickly located and retrieved.

The two swords the Outcast King wielded