DM Fflash's Shackled City Campaign

Game Master DM Fflash

Epik nods at Dalamus, "Yes, perhaps you're right. This may be the most defensible place that we will find to rest."

Epik turns back to the giant, "It will take us some time to free you. What can you tell us of the remaining complex? What additional denizens should we fear? Who is running the operation here? Have you seen or heard word of a human paladin name Alex Tercival?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

Nowzai listens intently to Magma's conversation with Dugobras.

Smithy

The party's dogged work at the giant slowly pays off and he begins to open up more to Epik. "I don't know much about the complex ... the simians came here once I was imprisoned and made requests. I don't know what other denizens you are looking for. It seems you've chased off all the ape-men, as they seemed to live and run this place. Once the angels lured me here and trapped me, I've yet to see them again. Anything else that has happened beyond the walls of this forge, I'm unaware of," the giant pauses listening for a moment at the door behind him.

"Of course, with the apes and their patron gone, it won't take long for this place to be overrun by the demons again. Do you intend to release me? If not, I need to get back to work to find a way to do it myself before those beasts of chaos spoil my efforts." He picks up his hammer as if to accentuate his haste to start working again.

craft
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

perception
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

lord Dugobras may i assist in what you are making?

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Epik will address Dugobras again, "As I told you, we cannot free you now. We will do so if we find the means.

Epik turns to the others, "I'll take the first watch"

He then settles in for the night.

Dalamus will look for a spot in the room that is well out of Dugobras reach, still untrusting of the situation.

"I can take the second watch"

So, are you now letting Dugobras know that you intend to rest in his room? The conversation has been out of his earshot until now

-Posted with Wayfinder

So, are you now letting Dugobras know that you intend to rest in his room? The conversation has been out of his earshot until now

-Posted with Wayfinder

Yes, let's go back in and let him know that we'll work to free him if we can, and that we most likely need time to work on the bonds that hold him. I'll be of little help to free him, but I'll take a watch and am happy for the rest.

Once we setup a small camp I'll pull out my supplies and work on crafting arrows in plain view of the giant. If he notices or has a pause in his labors I'll see if I can also strike up a conversation.

Are the double doors opposite of where we came in blocked by rubble on the other side or is that just shading?

He didn't reply to me saying I was willing to look at the machine but that I am not 100% sure what will happen if I get it wrong

"This may not be a terrible place to rest but we have several doors right near us that we have not looked into, there could be any number of enemies still here and we are even closer to them now then we were before."

"Dugobras do you know what the liquid is in the fountain in the SW corner of this complex is? I understand you most likely don't get to wander around, I just was not sure if you had heard anything about it and what it does."

I have crafting weapons, I am not sure if I needed to specialize that much or if I could have just said blacksmithing. Let me know if that would be ok to roll on the spoiler

Sam, both weapons and armor fall under smithing so yes

As you approach the giant with your proposition to rest, he sighs heavily. "You may stay if you attempt to free me and if you don't disturb my work. I don't take apprentices and I'm not interested in your help with my craft"

Depending on what you do, Dugobras turns his attention back to the forge hammering so hard that the anvil shudders (making the stack of broken anvils in the corner make more sense). The heat and the hammering quickly make it apparent that while this room may be safe, getting rest may prove to be difficult.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Are the double doors opposite of where we came in blocked by rubble on the other side or is that just shading?

I'll have to double check

"Dugobras do you know what the liquid is in the fountain in the SW corner of this complex is? I understand you most likely don't get to wander around, I just was not sure if you had heard anything about it and what it does."

"I know nothing of it, I kept my communications with the simians to a bare minimum"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sam, both weapons and armor fall under smithing so yes

As you approach the giant with your proposition to rest, he sighs heavily. "You may stay if you attempt to free me and if you don't disturb my work. I don't take apprentices and I'm not interested in your help with my craft"

Depending on what you do, Dugobras turns his attention back to the forge hammering so hard that the anvil shudders (making the stack of broken anvils in the corner make more sense). The heat and the hammering quickly make it apparent that while this room may be safe, getting rest may prove to be difficult.

-Posted with Wayfinder

As you wish Lord Dugobras but if you require any assistance please just ask

Epik scowls at the giant's hammering. "We can't rest here with this noise. The fountain room may be better."

Epik will open each door in the fountain room.

The Fountain

Epik stalks over to the fountain room and yanks on each of the doors finding them both still locked. With a grumble and some fumbling he comes up with the celestial key, which opens both doors.

The southern celestial marked door sparks as it opens and small puffs of flame float through the air and a gaseous smell enters the paladin's nostrils, but Dalamus' earlier work on the door prevents anything harmful. The area beyond is a short hallway that ends in rubble. There is nothing apparently useful here.

The northern wooden door swings wide and leads into a hallway as well ending in another door.

Epik turns and calls out to the others, "Let's clear this hall and the room beyond before we settle to rest."

He moves into the hall to the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"I guess we better now that the doors are unlocked" Dalamus shakes his head.

"Epik, you know we could have waited until we were rested before we dove into the unknown, I kind of thought that was the plan"

I will go and get Epik.

Brother we need to rest. Why don't we rest in the Girrallon cave. It will be less noisy and easier to set up our watches.

Works for me, do we want to re-lock those doors?

"I believe he means to just check that nothing nefarious lurks beyond the next door. If clear, we can camp at this position."

Epik looks puzzled, "Dalamus, why would we rest here without checking what dangers lurk on the other side of the door? What plan are you referring to? The one where we were going to rest with the giants? This room seems the safest place to rest, but would be fools to not secure the surrounding vicinity. "

I had asked the giant if he had any idea what could happen if we don't succeed in our attempt to release him. Will it just cause pain? Kill him? And no mater what happens, is he willing to accept our best efforts no matter the results.

He didn't answer you directly, but his answers are implied

Need some consensus on rest vs explore ... again

Also, I never adjudicated Sam's UMD roll.

After study and a few cantrips, Sam attempts to manipulate the device. He gets response from it, but is unable to get it to release the giant.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Epik, the doors were locked and had been trapped. If you had not unlocked them, someone else would have to. That tends to make noise. We know we are not alone, we just need to make the most of this opportunity. If we start venturing down those passages, we could be in for a long night of combat. I say we lock the doors and barricade them, then rest."

-Posted with Wayfinder

We're not exploring. Just rest, FFS!

We're not exploring. Just rest, FFS!

I almost want to argue for exploring just to be that guy, but I agree, sleeping in the room where the apes set up wouldn't be a bad idea at this point in time.

As the party tugs Epik back from the hallway to find somewhere to rest, the paladin feels a slight breeze, warm and gentle on his cheek as he turns. He glances back

Assuming Epik's compliance ... if not, we'll play out his actions first

Resting in the fountain room or the girralon cave? Either way, a DC14 Con check is necessary to be able to sleep enough to recover resources, given the noise of the hammering, the stress of the hostile environment ... and I'll need some lucky guy to roll a d100 for the party ... first one I see counts

And finally, assuming a successful rest, you all have gained enough XP to make 9th level. Post your level ups in the Discussion tab

con Check
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

1d100 ⇒ 50

Epik turns to the others, "There is someone calling me from the far door. They say they are trapped and require our assistance. It may be a trap ... or it may be real."

Epik will cautiously walk up to the far door and will detect evil.

Which door is Epik at, the one that was magically trapped?

If he is at that door, then Dalamus will say
"Epik, don't go any farther! That was a magically trapped door, and I am sure you will be walking into a dangerous situation."

Con Check
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Negative, it was the northern door which wasn't trapped. He already explored the trapped hallway

Epik detects no evil and doesn't hear or see anything more.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Epik returns to the group. "We can investigate further after resting."

Con Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Arrrr....this noise is driving me crazy! I need to find someplace quieter. Dugobras can you take a break for a bit, if we can get some rest we will be more likely to figure out the trap that is holding you here." Dalamus takes a much softer tone that that what he had earlier, clearing pleading with the Giant dwarf.

Ridiculous Con Check: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Nowzai stuffs cotton into his ears, then rolls over and falls asleep.

Sorry, should be a Fort Save. Gimme your updated number. Every point you're short is an hour of rest you are short of 8 hours rest

In response to Dalamus, Dugobras snorts, "You want me to quit, then free me, but I'm not wasting 8 hours of work so you can laze about uselessly. Who knows how long it will be before the demons realize this place is no longer occupied but the monkey tribe?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Fort Save - 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

7+3=10... so I'll be short 4 hours.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

I think we also had a few suggestions to go rest in the girralon cave, which I'm fine with.

What did you hear Epik? Did they say anything specific? I didn't hear anything, did anyone else?

Fort save would have been 5+16=21

Resting in Girralon Cave

Sleeping in a room that smells of unwashed apes and is ripe with rotten foodstuffs and buzzing flies, the party settles in for the night, setting watch. For most the night passes uneventfully. Others have dreams and nightmares that are mostly lost to memory by the time they awaken, leaving shivers and a cold, unsettled feeling in the pit of their stomach.

Eventually, dawn comes. Nowzai and Dalamus get a fitful night of sleep and are both fatigued and unable to regain spells/resources (other than those from those on magic items that reset in the morning). If they can continue to rest until they get 8 hours total they will be OK (4 hours for Nowzai, and something less I believe for Dalamus).

Actions immediately upon waking are necessary (regardless if you can read either spoiler above or not

Jenya Fort Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

perception
1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

i wake everyone up. something with hooves is marching towards us speaking a foul language i don't understand.

Perception
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Dalamus wakes up from Magmas aid. Is the language anything that is familiar to Dalamus, or can I not hear it?

After the interruption, if possible Dalamus will attempt to get more rest.

Dalamus cannot hear it

-Posted with Wayfinder

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Epik dons his armor as his first action after waking.

Round * / AC 23 (27 Shield Spell) (28 Hasted/Shield) (30 Evil) / HP 92/92 / Init *

Active Spells - Ablative Barrier 50/50 HP

Perception - 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Initiative - 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 (if needed)

Can I understand the language?

Sam will cast Ablative Barrier and with his tail get his wand of shield ready

Dalamus will draw his weapon and step behind the warriors of the party.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sam whispers to the party, "We got demons coming in, they are heading to the smith. Let's ambush them."

I don't remember if you answered if those double doors with the shadows was blocked or just shading.

Yes, let's say it is blocked

-Posted with Wayfinder