DM Irthos Master of the Fallen Fortress PbP

Game Master OmniChaos

Well, we should keep moving, wherever that relic is, we have to find it and return it for Scar's memory says Deslin drying the tears from his eyes with his sleeve.

"Right! Lets keep moving." Colyne agrees

So just to confirm, the room to the south only had a trapped spear of Lizardman Paladin slaying it it, correct?
.
Also, want to confirm that we have cleared and checked this level.

Deslin crosses Scar's arms over his chest a makes sure his eyes are closed and then starts walking toward the stairs Time to go up a level

Time to go up a level

Lol, if only.

Colyne still on point?

Indeo will mutter a quick religious rite over the Lizardman as the others file out the door, then get spooked as he realizes he is alone and hurry to catch up with the others.

"Indeed I will!, Colyne says has he approches the stairs going up and begins to climb them to the next level, taking care to keep his eyes open for any further traps or signs of danger.
Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 19

When Colyne reaches the door to the 3rd floor of the tower upon the stair he finds it locked. He hears nothing and the door shows no signs of being trapped.

The door can be opened with a key.

Time to start searching rooms.

Searching the room at the bottom of the stairs.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Unless I am mistaken Nngara your trying to go down which you cant due to the stairs being blocked from below the tower all the way to the 2nd floor. You have cleared the 1st floor and 2nd while the 3rd is locked, unless you have the key which you dont. You can go to the 4th or 5th floor.

Well, we could try to break the door, but knowing our luck we would break our arms and make every monster in this tower aware of our presence, or we could go up another level and look for the key. says Deslin This is the kind of situation where a rogue or a thief would come handy

Didn't realize the the stairway continued - 4th floor it is.

I say we continue up, maybe the key is with the Trog, we know the one of them escaped up. We need to go slowly, I am guessing he will have warned someone or be preparing a surprise for us.

Once more our lady's mind is as sharp as his face is beautiful. We should pay attention to our noses in case more of those troga are waiting for us
Colyne, will you take the lead?

"Indeed I shall", Colyne says. He readies his axes and steps up to the landing and door. Once there he will move out of the way so that Deslin can check the door.

As always Deslin thoroughly inspects the door for any traps.
Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

The door is trapless as it stands before you looking dark and forboding hinting at your painful doomed future.

Ok that was a bit much, so sue me. XD

Considering how much the Trogs stunk below, does anyone have any cloth we could use over our mouths and noses so that we are not overwhelmed? I have met skunks that stunk less.

Once we wrap some cloth over our faces, we open the door.

Hope nobody minds, I say Colyne first, Indeo second with me and Deslin behind with our bows/crossbows readied.

Marching/attack order

Colyne first
Indeo second
Deslin third with bow drawn
Nngara last with crossbow drawn

Sounds good to me

With a cloth over his face, Colyne opens the door and peers into the room beyond.

Crude bunks line the wall of this room, which is filled with a nauseating stench that overcomes the party's makeshaft mask. Yet a strange sight meets Colyne as he opens the door. A man in scarves is being surrounded by more of the lizard like creatures. Only Colynes timing grants him a reprieve. One of the creatures lets loose a flurry of claws and bites but the nimble man keeps out of reach from every blow.

Deslin is up. Byron and Colyne must make a fort save vs the stench DC 13. Only Colyne and Indeo have line of sight, Deslin and Nngara are both halfway between floors on the stairs so can not attack until they move into the room.

Deslin moves into the room and recognizing the monsters as troglodytes Knowledge (local) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Deslin decides it's time to use some magic Cast Sleep (Will Save DC 15) catching as many troglodytes in the AoE as possible, if I can catch 3 or more without affecting the surrounded man I do it, if not I catch as many as I can even if the man is affected. Sweet dreams, lizardboys

Troglodyte 2 is sleeping. Deslin you have to make a fort save vs DC 13 or be sickened. Byron is up.

Round 1:

10/10 hp, AC 16/12/14, CMD 16

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10.

Swaying slightly on his feet, as he does his best to keep his lunch down, Byron nonetheless takes a powerful swing at one of the creatures!

Elven Curve Blade, Sickened: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 - 2 = 21... threat.

Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 2 = 20, for 2d10 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (5, 9) + 12 - 4 = 22 Slashing damage.

Round 1: 22 Slashing damage.

Yeah, I think that'll do; that'll do nicely.

Watching the elf make mince meat of the foul lizards Indeo will kiss his holy symbol and mutter a blessing under his breath.

"I sure hope that guy is friendly."

The surrounded man makes an impressive arc with his blade cutting clean thru one of his attackers in half. Yet if this effected the troglodytes they did not let it on. One of the lizard beast attacks the man leaving a trail of bloody marks. Another turns on Deslin striking a blow upon the bard. While yet another makes a break for the southern door which it shuts upon escape.

Troglodyte 4 is dead, Troglodyte 3 has left the battle. Both Byron and Deslin take 2 dmg each. Nngara, Indeo, Colyne, Deslin, and Byron your up in that order. Troglodyte 2 skips its turn due to sleep.

I move up the steps to where I can see the fight. Then I use Telekinetic Fist at the remaining Trog.

Attack(Telekinetic Fist): 1d20 ⇒ 5
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Was waiting for Indeo, but I will post to keep things moving along (and there are no beasties between our inititives!!)

Save-Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

With the cloth firmly placed over his nose and mouth, the stench from the Trogs does not seem to effect Colyne's attacks.

Attack-Melee: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Indeo will channel and undo the evil work the trogs have bestowed upon the party.1d6 ⇒ 3

Edit - I had posted 2 hours ago but forgot to hit submit, derp

Fort Save 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Deslin takes a step back and shoot his bow at the troglodyte that just attacked him.
Bow 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Critical conf. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage 3d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 2) = 6
Cough, darned smell!

Round 2:

10/10 hp, Sickened, AC 16/12/14, CMD 16

Byron attempts to tumble over for a flank on the beast that Colyne has damaged...

Acrobatics (if necessary): 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 2 = 12.

...and takes a swing!

Elven Curve Blade: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 + 2 = 18, for 1d10 + 6 - 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 + (5) = 14 Slashing damage.

Between Deslin and Colyne the troglodyte falls under the barrage of axe and arrow. The stranger takes down another on his own with his curved blade. All that remains is the sleeping troglodyte at their feet.

Troglodyte 2 is sleeping but will wake up soon. Combat is over.

Does anybody speak draconic or have a spell ready so we can interrogate this pile of... says Deslin or should we give it a fast and clean (as much as it's possible) death?

Holding my nose - I can converse in Draconic. Why? Is that the language this hideous thing speaks?

"I can't *cough* imagine *gag* trying to interrogate this foul *cough* creature with this stench!"

As far as I know this creatures don't have a language of their own, so they use that of the mighty dragons says Deslin breathing through his mouth *cough* But Indeo is right, maybe we should take it back to the stairs where the stench isn't so strong...

"I do not think you will be able to remove it from the stench; as far as I can tell, it is they that cause it..."

Byron turns to the others.

"Not that I did not appreciate the assistance, because I really, really did, but who are you guys?"

'take 10' search of the room = 15.

Deslin looks at the stranger as if seeing him for the first time I... we... I mean... Sorry, I think we've got used to thinking too much about the job and too little about the reasonable and polite things to do he smiles earnestly at the man and offers him his hand I am Deslin, the man is Colyne, the dwarf is Indeo and the beautiful lady is Nngara, my friends and I are adventurers as you surely already suspected. You'll have to excuse us if we aren't the most talkative people for we have just recently lost one of our party to a devious trap most certainly set up by these foul creatures he seems to contain a few expletives about the trogs as he continues And who would you happen to be good sir? From what I see I guess you're an experienced warrior isn't it so?

Byron smiles at Deslin.

"I guess you could call me that; I prefer to think of myself as an 'extraction expert', though. My name is Byron Radanavich."

He then frowns.

"I am sorry to hear that you recently lost a companion; tell me, did you lose him to these lizard-creatures? I will admit that I have had a devil of a time sneaking around in here with them about!"

Byron then replies to Nngara:

He then turns to regard the unconscious Troglodyte.

"I would prefer to work out where that last 'Lizard' went, rather than interrogating this one first; I am happy to render him unconscious, though..."

If there are no objections...

He then smacks the unconscious Troglodyte with the flat of his blade...

Elven Curve Blade, Blade of Mercy: 1d10 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 7 + (5) = 20 Non-lethal damage.

While the others are preparing to tie up the trog, Colyne will take a quick look around the room, as well as check the dead bodies.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 12

The troglodytes do not carry anything or true value. Mostly just javalins and clubs with bits of leather they use as clothing.

Turning to the newest member of the group, Colyne extends his hand. "A pleasure to meet you. I'm sorry I do not think I got your name? I am Colyne. You sure are good with that blade...dont think I have ever seen one like that before."

Is anyone that badly injured? If not we have two options, continue heading up - we know that they know we are here as one ran up the steps. Or, move down and rest and prepare to continue moving up tomorrow. I would hate to have them follow us, but we can probably secure one of the doors on the lower levels and then set up a guard shift.

I also recover my bolts from the trogs I shot.

Not being entirely trusting of this newcomer found in this dangerous place Indeo chooses to withhold the details of the business the group has here, but this suspicion is not evident in his warm demeanor

"Well met Byron, you do seem quite capable with a blade" Indeo makes a slight shift in order to keep the rogue squarely in front of him "We have been commissioned to rid this derelict tower of the vermin that inhabits it and secure anything of value or particular interest that we come across. You are welcome to accompany us especially due our dear departed companion (Irori guide him) we could make good use of your blade in exchange for his share of the findings."

Upon receiving a favorable response from Byron he will smile warmly and welcome him cheerily but as the group starts to move on to the next task something will occur to the cleric suddenly and he will take the rogues arm gently but firmly:

"New friend, you haven't happened to have come across anything strange or of indeterminate use in your searches thus far have you?"

Sense motive just because I like rolling dice 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Indeo does not actually believe Byron is untrustworthy but he has learned to be cautious of rogues especially when loot is involved. Also the question is to see if he has come across anything like an artifact without actually letting him on to the fact that this is their quest. Also @Byron, don't worry, Indeo will warm up to you soon enough.

Is anyone that badly injured? If not we have two options, continue heading up - we know that they know we are here as one ran up the steps. Or, move down and rest and prepare to continue moving up tomorrow. I would hate to have them follow us, but we can probably secure one of the doors on the lower levels and then set up a guard shift.

I also recover my bolts from the trogs I shot.

By my count everyone is at full HP but please speak up if you are down any points, thanks

Good Sir! You wound me! Byron looks more like a steroid-popping fighter than a Thief :-P

"The only strange things that I have encountered thus far are the lizard-kin."

Bluff (because I believe in responding when someone does not believe me): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14.

Molified by the man's response Indeo nods thoughtfully then grins big and smacks him firmly on the back.

"Yer alright friend!"

He then turns away and follows the group out the door without another word.

"Right then, let's go find where that last one got to..."

Colyne looks down at his hand, then at the new comer who simply turned his back on him. Shaking his head and withdrawing the gesture, Colyne grips his axes and stares at the back of this newest addition to their group.

Realising a few moments too late, Byron spins, bows in a self-deprecating fashion, and smiles at Colyne.

"No slight was intended; I was a little too distracted by your traveling companions' questions. Allow me to remedy my faux pas."

He then extends his hand to shake.

Colyne looks at the offered hand, then smiles and shakes. Glad to have you along!