DM Alexander Kilcoynes Serpents Skull PbP- Chapter 1, Souls for the Smugglers Shiv (Inactive)

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

Marcus feels the doll shudder and go limp about a split second before gravity re-asserts itself. Right arm extended he manages to catch the edge of the pit as he falls. The impact nearly dislocates his shoulder and he grunts in pain but manages to cling to the side.

...little...help...please

Reflex 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

So 1d6?

Gwen claps frantically and jumps up and down, laughing.

Oh, Yay! See, prayers really DO get answered! Here, Marcus...

She moves over to assist Marcus in pulling himself up.

1d6 ⇒ 2 Falling Damage for Marcus

Thanks Gwen. Have I mentioned how much I hate this island.

Marcus gets to his feet and retrieves his falcata and shield and looks sadly at his rope, make that two ropes.

Any loot on the dolls? If we are going to rest I'd like to find a way back around to the entrance room. Mawj still has to traverse the pit.

And Ambroze still has to get out of the pit...

BTW, thanks for the hp Gwen!

Tun'ada retrieves the rope from his pack and lowers it down for Ambroze...

"Alright now, enough fun...out of the pit with you."

Watching Marcus fall from the air and grab the lip of the pit, Chi lets out another gasp. "I'm coming, com'on Tun'ada help Marcus before he falls." With horror on her face, she kneels on one knee by the pit edge, reaching down to grab Marcus, as he grabs her slender but strong and sinewy forearms. Clamped together like limpets, she attempts to haul Marcus up, sweat pouring from every pore, she groans with the effort.

Strength check 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Chi pulls Marcus up and a rope is lowered for Ambroze.

I may actually level you when you rest. Been thinking it over and the advancement track can actually be read in one of two different ways.

200XP each.

Yay level! Ahem... don't let us influence your decision. I'd take over Mawj but the idea of him working cohesively with Marcus seems totally wrong. I will do if noone else wants to though.

As soon as the combat has ended, Gwen severs her life link with Ambroze. As always, she is nearly overcome by the coldness and emptiness left by the termination of her strange ability, and goes down to one knee, taking a deep, ragged breath in as she does so.

Don't worry, I'll be alright. I need to heal, though. Who's injured?

Channel Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6
Channel Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

I can do that one more time - I can feel that energy reserve as being almost empty, and my spell strength isn't any better off. I don't have any answers as to what to do, but - it's something to be aware of.

"Thanks!" Ambroze calls out as Tun'ada lowers a rope for him.

As the gnome scholar ties the rope around his waist, he pauses when he spots the glint of a red gem in each of the battered and broken bodies of the soulbound dolls. "Hello, what have we here?" he asks quietly as he bends down to retrieve the gems.

"Hey guys and gals? I think I just found the bound souls that were animating these dolls. They're in these gems here." Ambroze announces to his friends as he holds up the red gems. "We should probably destroy these things so they can't be used to create any more of these tiny constructs."

Ambroze clambers up the side of the pit with the assistance of his friends. "Thanks again for the healing Gwen. I've still got a couple of spells left if anyone else needs any more healing," he offers.

"We've had a pretty busy day so far. Maybe we should rest up and recover some of our resources before tackling Ieana. But where should we camp? Back in the entrance chamber?" Ambroze asks, heaving a sigh of resignation as he looks back at the pit separating most of the party from Mawj and the passage back to the entrance chamber.

I'll volunteer to run Mawj if that works for everyone.

Spurring Uli on, Mawj's steed makes a strong leap for the other side, easily clearing the gap.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Please run him for combat Ambroze.

Chi panting with the exertion of pulling up Marcus, then Amroze from the pit, rests as Gwen's healing washes over her, sealing the gashes, soothing the bruises and mending the broken bones. Contented she leans her back against the wall, as Ambroze speaks, "Ambroze, going back to the entrance hall, doesn't seem the best solution, having to cross back over the pit again! We need to find somewhere safe and where we might defend ourselves. At least here we have that pit to provide some defense against any intruders, if we can find a safe place somewhere around here, that would be my preference, but to do that we might run into something, who knows."

Well it is DM AK, bound to be something we run into... :)

Marcus looks at the gems with a combination of avarice and revulsion.

Well lets worry about that later. As much as I dislike the idea of resting here, I think we're going to have to. Lets see if we can work our way back or at least find a reasonable spot.

He leads the way down the corridor with his lit shield, staring into the shadows as if more creepy doll things might jump out at any second.

Lets space out the order in case of more traps.

Chi looks around he friends, "Does anyone have a javelin I could use, it would help me find any more of these damn traps?"

I know we have some, not sure if anyone bought any with them, assuming they did and Chi can use it....

Chi takes some scraps of cloth and wraps it round the tip of the javelin, before testing the sound of hitting it against the floor. Once satisfied a grin appears, "That should do it, and it doesn't make too much sound either!" She starts to tap the ground in front of her, trying to trigger the pit traps, like the one they encountered. A muffled sound tries to echo down the hall, as she attempts to make their passage through the temple less troublesome.

Marcus and Chi leading the way in a slightly more staggered formation, you find yourself rounding the corner and heading up some more stairs. You reach a T junction, with a door visible to the north and a corridor leading to the west. Your fairlu sure the corridor to the west will lead to the bridge.

Link

Unless there are any objections, Marcus heads west.

Lets secure our exit route.

Marcus and Chi, please make a perception roll VS TRAP!

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Chi pulls at Marcus' arm to stop him moving forward, "Wait, I think it's a trap!"

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
To seed things up, if its a real trap, Chi tries to disable it.
Disable Device 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

I should note that you don't get a passive perception roll to spot traps unless you take the Trap Spotter talent. You got a roll on this one because you were specifying you were looking for them.

Spotting another pit trap by the tell-tale indent in the floor where it is ever so slightly lowered, Chi manages to use one of her tools in the tiny gap between the floor and pit trap, severing the pulley mechanism that caused the floor to lower. The floor appears to be safe to walk on now and to the west, a door looms. Searching it carefully and opening it, you find yourselves upon the bridge in the initial chamber.

50XP each.

If you do rest here please boost yourselves to level 4. You've earnt it.

Map Update

"This seems to be as defensible a spot as we are likely to find in here. I'll take the first watch if you want to rest."

You have room to lay out bedrolls etc on the bridge- please inform me of any watch pattern and defensive measures you take. The doors cannot be locked, but you could feasibly prop items against the doors on the bridge to give you a few moments warning before they opened.

Gwen channels energy one final time and treats Ambroze and Tun'ada for disease before falling asleep uneasily.

2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7
Ambroze disease (guidance aided): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Tun'ada disease (guidance aided): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8

Edit: Defense, I'm leaving that up to the military-types. :-)

Gwen channels energy one final time and treats Ambroze and Tun'ada for disease before falling asleep uneasily.

2d6
Ambroze disease (guidance aided): 1d20+6+1
Tun'ada disease (guidance aided): 1d20+6+1

Edit: Defense, I'm leaving that up to the military-types. :-)

Success on Ambroze, failure on Tun'ada. Please make your checks both of you.

Marcus mutters to himself about dolls with knives as he sets about doing what he can to secure the campsite.

If the doors open out he will do his best to tie them to the bridge with his rope. He'll bar them as best he can. He props his shield up to project light against anything coming through the eastern door. He ties another rope on the bridge to provide a quick escape route to the ground should that be needed. He'll take the first watch.

Success on Ambroze, failure on Tun'ada. Please make your checks both of you.

Is this check in the morning or at night? Fort save for Tun'ada will change upon leveling.

I usually ask for it as you rest for the evening. I'm feeling generous- raise your level before making the save.

Fort Save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Well...that passes at least :)

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 4 = 22

Whooo-hooo!

Does that allow Ambroze to heal the Dex and Con damage from which he currently suffers?

As you have both made 2 consecutive saves you both finally shake off Ghoul Fever and may heal ability damage overnight as per the normal rules.

Ok i'm back- has anyone not posted level up changes yet?

Edit: Looks like we're waiting on Marcus and Chi?

Ambroze is leveled up. Here's all the information summarized in one spot:

4th Level Bard (Archivist)

+1 Ability Score Increase (DEX increase from 15 to 16)
Hit Points: 1d8 + 2 = 8 (total 33)
+1 to BAB
+1 to Reflex
+1 to Will
Bardic Performance: +2 rounds
+2 2nd Level Spells: Gallant Inspiration, Heroism
+9 total Skill Points to be allocated:
1 - Acrobatics (total bonus +8)
1 - Diplomacy (total bonus +10)
2 - Know (history) (total bonus +10, +11 regarding Mwangi Expanse history)
1 - Linguistics (total bonus +9; new languages - Auran, Terran)
1 - Perception (total bonus +7)
2 - Spellcraft (total bonus +8, +10 to ID magic items)
1 - Swim (total bonus +3)

Let's go get Ieana!

Marcus' sleep is uneasy. He dreams again of the raft, although this time he tries desperately to hold on as a doll with a demon's face and red eyes saws at his fingers.....

He wakes, Gah!! Damn, cursed island. He strokes forlorny at the several days of beard growth on his face. First thing I'm going to do when we get back is have a hot bath and a shave. Gods it feels like forever.

He chews on some dry rations while running over his sword with his whetstone.

Updated.

Waiting on Chi's level up before I update.

Waiting on Chi's level up before I update.

Waiting for you to post before I post. :-p

Waiting on Chi's level up before I update.

Chi upgraded to Witch 2/Rogue 2...sorry I'm late, but went to a festival at the weekend...Judas Priest, Slash, Thin Lizzy Saturday and Dream Theater, Black Country Communion Sunday...piggin good, especially Sunday...Oh yeah, Monday spent with hangover and being tired...back as usual, until the next festival. At least it will be local in Wickham.

No worries I figured it was festival fatigue. Glad you had a good time.

You have an uneasy sleep, not truly sure how long you end up resting for without daylight. Within about five few hours the stone doors slam shut and you can faintly hear the tide roll back over them once more. Nothing disturbs your rest except a profound sense of unease, not truly shaken off even by the well-deserved rest you take.

Heal 4HP each for the rest and renew resources.

???, Day 18.

Gwen's sleep is troubled by dreams of running from the restless dead. When she is finally cornered, she cries out to the gods in a panic for succor. When her dream-self opens her eyes, the undead are standing over her, close enough to touch. But oddly, they do not reach out, but stand there, swaying, swaying...

I think I've figured something out! Gwen exclaims, as she bolts up from her sleep. She looks up sheepishly. But maybe it's nothing. How will we...how will we get out of here? Even if we can open those doors...can we stop the tide?

She shakes her head to clear her doubts away.

Let's stop Ieana. Then we'll stop the tide. One thing at a time.

Where to?

Well once everyone is ready to go Marcus will at least try the western door and look through. Assuming it ends up in a big loop.

Chi please ensure you have spells memorised, everyone else is spontaneous I believe. I'm going to continue to assume you use dancing lights to illuminate your way.

Marcus throws open the western door and Ambroze sends his lights hurtling into the darkness beyond. Seeing no immediate threat, you enter the room and discover that it does indeed loop round, stairs leading down just like the other side. Bits of bone and fragments of wood lie scattered through this room. The walls are carved with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of strange runes interspersed with the periodic image of a stylized rune that looks like a fanged skull.

Map Update

I'm going to continue to assume you use dancing lights to illuminate your way.

And a light spell on Marcus's shield, please.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

With the map, AK - are those doors in that chamber with us?

Gwen stares at the runes on the wall, but is left scratching her head.

I have so much to learn...

Which way now?

She fidgets nervously, nearly hopping from one foot to the next.

Yes, those are both doors. Sorry my vision blocking wasn't great on this room.

Tries the closest door.

Chi, a hand on Marcus' shoulder, pulls him back slightly. "More patience, let me look at the door."

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 to spot a trap.

Tun'ada waits at Marcus's side, longspear in hand...

As per the map I have Chi in the front row in your marching order anyway, so with trap spotter you won't need to worry about declaring a roll for them (note- Trap Spotter doesn't allow you two checks to find a trap).

The door creaks open after Chi gives it a once over and Marcus opens it- leading into a narrow corridor heading north. Bare alcoves line the walls of this hallway, each containing a scattering of wood and cloth fragments.

Map Link

As per the map I have Chi in the front row in your marching order anyway, so with trap spotter you won't need to worry about declaring a roll for them (note- Trap Spotter doesn't allow you two checks to find a trap).

Ok, wasn't expecting 2 rolls, just if she calls out she's looking for traps, then she rolls, otherwise with trappspotter you roll. I guess it will be easier for you to use the trap spotter from a mechanics point of view, you may as well roll disable and reflex, when he does find/fail a trap. If that's OK with you.

Chi peers through the darkness, past Marcus looking for trouble.
Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28