DM Kaavek’s Scales of War (Inactive)

Game Master Kaavek

"Είμαι νάνος των βαθιών φυλών και υπηρέτης του Moradin. Προστατεύεται από αίμα, πίστη και σίδηρο. Αν κάποιος θα επιβιώσει, είναι εγώ."

Morgrym shrugs in his armour and continues.

"Είμαι εκτός θεραπείας - τελευταίο πράγμα που χρειάζομαι είναι ένας από αυτούς τους γυαλί-ανθρώπους να πάρει σπασμένα και να πρέπει να παρακολουθήσουν τους πεθαίνουν."

Morgrym concentrates for a second, and is bathed in the guiding light of Moradin.

"Joyful?" he asks Rhona.

COMBAT ROUND 1
Battle Map

As Morgrym and Rhona waltz confidently into the crypt, keeping their eyes peeled for any undead, they fail to notice a colony of centipedes slide out of the alcoves behind them and creep towards their feet.

Crawling up the dwarves' boots unnoticed, it isn't until tiny pincers pierce their flesh that the two realize the danger around them.

Rhona takes 1 damage from the bite, while both dwarves take 2 damage to their dexterity as their dwarven blood fails to combat the centipede's poison.

Active Effects:
The floor runes glow faintly, providing dim blue light out to the walls of the chamber, while Cecilia's Dancing Lights flood the room with normal light.

Can Aelion take his readied attack before we begin?

If so:
MW longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1

On his turn, he attacks any centipedes:

MW longbow flurry 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
dmg 1: 1d8 ⇒ 1

MW longbow flurry 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
dmg 2: 1d8 ⇒ 8

"Owl fodder," he said with disgust, eyeing the vermin.

Knowledge: Arcana: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Cecilia cries out in alarm as the centipedes swarm ahead of the party. After a few moments, however, she begins to laugh, apparently seeing little danger.

"Goblins, undead, and now bugs?" The bard says, her words filled with amusement. "What a day this has been!"

With a crack of her crimson whip, Cecilia attempts to squash one of centipedes with a single well aimed strike.

Attack Roll Vs Centipede (Black): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage Roll: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Enhanced with her magic, the bard succeeds in wounding the centipede, but fails to kill it. Looking to her left and right, Cecilia sees that there isn't much room for the party to manoeuvre. Not a problem for herself, perhaps, but certainly something to consider for those who favoured swords or shields.

"You think those runes are safe to walk on?" She asks, directing the question to no one in particular. "Because it's going to be difficult to kill these vermin if half of you can't even reach them."

Swift Action: Arcane Strike , Standard Action: Successfully Attack Centipede (Black) with Whip

I don't think Centipedes have enough Natural Armour to make them immune to a whip, but let me know if they do.

Rhona growls and lashes out at the nearest centipede (thinking pink/purple)

Axe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Morgrym grunts, but does his best to avoid looking as if the shooting pain of the venom is affecting him. 'Tactically we need more space. I wonder if those runes are safe?'
Reversing his grip on his hammer he does his best to flick one of the centipedes onto the runes.
Not 100% on whether reposition can be used, or whether I need to do the whole grab thing. If the square is dangerous it won't go there, which I guess shows these guys think they're dangerous!
Hoping they are small enough they don't have the reach for an AoO. What size are they, please?
reposition: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10+1 for guidance if not already used.

if this is too complicated, then he'll 5' step onto the runes and just make that an attack roll

"I doubt they'll explode and kill us all," Dayana offers to Cecilia. "But don't quote me on that."

She flexes her fingers, eyeing the fray, but is too far from any centipedes to attack unless someone moves up. Nor can she really see most of the bugs.

The centipedes are tiny sized. I also realise I’ve made a typo in their statblocks, HP should read 2/2, so enjoy squishier bugs.

Zalindra tries to move up through her party and past the centipedes using acrobatics, twisting and turning and leaping with incredible timing.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

She then turns and takes a shot at a centipede.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2 Heh.

Taking careful aim Jathal shot at one of the vermin, muttering something under her breath in Elvish regarding those who rush in.

Ingra had simply been listening and following thus far. While she was proud of her strength, she hadn't accounted for so much climbing and additional activity and all her armour plus her greatsword were beginning to be heavier than they'd every been.

So she'd decided against engaging anyone, least her irritation get the best of her.

She takes aim at the centipedes attacking Rhona and brings Tempest down into the wriggling mass.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 = 13

She lets out a few explicitly Dwarven insults to relieve some of her pent up frustration as the greatsword is swung.

COMBAT ROUND 2
Battle Map

With a flick of his boot, Morgrym sends the yellow centipede flying over to the middle of the chamber. The light in the chamber grows brighter and a sharp crack sounds as lightning surges up from the runes below the unfortunate critter, which explodes into a cloud of sticky green vapour.

Meanwhile, the sharp crack of Cecilia’s whip splits the black centipede’s carapace open, and its body curls up on the cold stone floor. Aelion quickly severs the orange bug’s head before it can inflict any damage on his companions. Rhona attempts to cut the pink bug but it quickly slithers up her arm, then Jathal expertly sends an arrow whizzing past her ear, pinning the bug to the rear wall of the chamber.

Zalindra squeezes past Rhona and leaps over the centipedes swarming the dwarf, spinning around, she takes a shot at the shiny gold bug, leaving a bright smear of guts across the flagstones. Ingra swings her sword through the writhing mass in vain, unable to land a solid hit as the creatures twist and turn.

Morgrym and Rhona are once again subject to a barrage of small bites from the remaining insects, but fortunately none manage to sink their fangs too deep, and the dwarves hardy nature protects them from any additional after effects of the poison.

Active Effects:
The floor runes glow faintly, providing dim blue light out to the walls of the chamber, while Cecilia's Dancing Lights flood the room with normal light.

"Damn bugs!" She spats swinging her axe down to strike one of those damned bugs.

Axe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"I hope these things don't stain." The bard says as her whip dances in her hands. "I'd hate to be known as Cecilia of the Crimson Lash with Centipede Entrails on it."

Attack Roll Vs Centipede (Green): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Unfortunately Cecilia wasn't paying nearly as much attention to her attack as she should have been. Writhing on the floor, the centipede twisted out of the way of her whip, completely untouched.

Standard Action: Unsuccessfully Attack Centipede (Green) with Whip.

Morgrym recoils a little from the crack as the centipede explodes. Carefully he checks his footing then does his best to strike the next centipede directly on the head.
attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 str dam should kill it

attack with bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

"I'll say this, these things are good target practice!" Jathal says, happy she's not in there with them.

Zalindra shoots at another centipede.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Behind everyone else, Aelion hadn't seen the fate of the centipede that was tossed onto the runes, but he heard the snap and crackle clearly enough. Drawing a bead on the vermin he could see, he wondered aloud, "There must be some source of food for those things to be lurking here - and somehow I don't think it's the undead. What else could have preceded us down here?"

*Bryn would have feasted on these... but then, if she was alive, I wouldn't be down here,* he thought morosely, missing the open air.

MW longbow flurry 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
dmg 1: 1d8 ⇒ 2

MW longbow flurry 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
dmg 2: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Dayana has never known an insect to care much about her hexes, and is still feeling rather boxed in in the confines of the thoroughly-filled hallway. And the others seem to have it well in-hand. She opts to avoid getting in the way.

Not seeing a whole lot more she can do, she attacks the centipedes again.

"If at first yer don't succeed..."

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

As she swings once again Tempest catches on the stone roof, staying her strike.

"Вы находите то место, где вы слишком высоки, и размахиваете мечом против врага, побежденного туфлями!"

Rhona and Morgrym defend themselves against the onslaught of vicious bugs, crushing two more centipedes at their feet.

Picking out the last stragglers, Jathal and Aelion show off their ability to target the small, squirming targets. Each of the elven scouts skewers a bug with their arrows, while Zalindra shows that she can hold her own, taking out the last of the vermin.

Combat over.

Once the bugs are dead, Zalindra moves over to examine the runes in the floor.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Morgrym stows his shield, and stoops to gather the dead bugs.

Electing to study the runes herself, Zalindra confirms what Dayana had been able to translate with her knowledge of the arcane languages of old. The inscription reads "Von Jallach, Magister Emeritus."
The rogue can only assume they refer to a powerful matriarch or patriarch of the Von Jallach house.

Aelion watches Morgrym with surprise. "What's he doing that for?"

Shaking his head, he joined Zalindra and Dayana by the runes. "Do the runes have some occult purpose, beyond frying bugs and naming their maker? Strange, to have them all over the floor down here."

'In a pinch, these bugs could make a decent snack" She says looking at Aelion with a wink.

"Morygrym, τι κάνεις με αυτά τα σαρανταποδαρούσες?,"Rhona asks her Dwarven client, quizecly as well.

Zalindra responds to Aelion.

Yes, seems strange. You don't think that this is the cover of his Crypt or something, do you?

Cecilia makes a disgusted noise at the the thought of eating centipedes. Give her some cheese, bread, and a good inn any day.

Still controlling her Dancing Lights spell, the bard slowly walks around the room, being careful not to touch the glowing runes. She examines the walls, checking to see if there are any more alcoves or transcriptions carved into the stone

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Finding very little of interest, she stops in front of the doors leading to the East. "Could someone check this door for traps?" She asks, looking back at the party.

Morgrym looks confused "Εγχέστε τα με ξύδι, βραδεία μαγειρέψτε για 2 ώρες, φέρετέ τα και σερβίρετε με μια σάλτσα βανίλιας με μανιτάρια και καρότα."

Aelion laughed weakly at Rhona's joke... it was a joke, surely?

Realizing he didn't know that much about the underground people, Aelion studiously examined the runes, careful not to step onto them or to look at the bugs Morgrym was gathering.

Some of them were twitching in his peripheral vision.

He swallowed a few times before answering Zalindra and Cecilia. "Ah... it's as good a theory as any, I think. Unfortunately, traps are not my specialty."

Ingra stows her blade. Frustrated she was of no help battling such a simple obstacle, she looks intently at the runes and the surrounding room, racking her brain for anything she could contribute.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 +2 if stonecunning applies
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
K.Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
K.Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
K.Engineering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

She had to admit, she was fascinated by the magic lightning. Kord was the God of storms after all, so anything that reminded her of her God was always of interest.

""Πραγματικά; Είναι μια παλιά οικογενειακή συνταγή; Ήμουν περισσότερο από το κυνήγι και το μικρό παιχνίδι με μια ποικιλία από δασικά λαχανικά! Ακόμα δεν θα το γράψω εντελώς μέχρι να το δοκιμάσω" Rhona responds with as she then looks to the others.

"He is gonna cook them, but the recipe seems sound. Well for dwarven recipes." Rhona says more used to the mixed fair of her own hunted meat and fish alongside elvish fair.

Morgrym ties some twine around the centipedes and throws them - still twitching - into his bag.
Culinary responsibilities absolved he stumps over to help Rhona.
"Ναί. Βαθιά σπήλαια. Το κρέας όπως εσείς περιγράφει ήταν σπάνιο. Τα τρόφιμα δεν έπρεπε να απορριφθούν. Το αδύναμο-stomached δεν ζούσε πολύ στο βαθύ σκοτάδι. Το φαγητό Lightside είναι αδύναμο, επιλεκτικό. Αυτό είπε ... "Milk". Υπάρχει κάποιο πρόβλημα στην κατανάλωση γάλακτος από ένα ζώο. Τι στριμμένο μυαλό αποφάσισε πρώτα ότι θα ήταν μια καλή ιδέα!"

Rhona nods and speaks again to the Cleric her face alight with the possibilities."Θυμηθείτε να επεκτείνω τον ουρανίσκο σας. Περιμένετε έτσι, αν δεν είχατε πολλά τέτοια πρωτότυπα, και ήταν υπόγεια, τι χρησιμοποιούσατε για το αλκοόλ; Γιατί έχω πολλά και εννοώ πολλά πράγματα για να δοκιμάσετε "

"Hmmm I kinda saw the whole bug zapper thing while fending the little buggers off. I assume this is a trap, but to guard what?" She wonders and begins to look about the edge of the tiles.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11+2 if Stonecunning applies

Responding to Cecilia's request, Zalindra walks over to the eastern doors and checks them for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Rhona and Ingra take a look around the room, examining the stone work closely. Following Zalindra's hunch, the two dwarves conclude that it could be possible that the rune-marked tiles cover the tomb of the old Magister. It certainly doesn't appear that anyone was ever interred in the alcoves lining the walls.

Meanwhile, Zalindra checks the eastern doors for Aelion and determines that they should be safe to continue through.

Assuming Zalindra shares this information with her, Cecilia takes a few steps back. The bard then turns to face the rest of the party.

"I see no easy way to disrupt these runes, so we should press onwards. We can discover the secrets of this place later."

With a casual wave of her hand, Cecilia opens the door with a single use of her Open/Close cantrip. Recasting her Dancing Lights spell, she then begins moving into the next room.

Aelion didn't like leaving potential dangers behind them, but it was true that the hostages had to come first. He followed Cecilia, alert for trouble.

This time, he also checked the ceiling as he went in.

Zalindra does share the information, and then follows Cecelia and Aelion into the next room.

Rhona heads in after as she knows the others will follow so she slips in alongside Zalindra her shield on one arm and her axe resting over one shoulder yet in hand.

Cautiously moving into the next chamber, your lights illuminate an L-shaped extension of the Von Jallach crypt. Again, the room is eerily devoid of any bodies, or the telltale stench of decay. Instead, the sweet smell of fresh water fills the air as it erupts forty and splashes back down over a stone fountain in the eastern section of the chamber.

As you explore the room further, the dancing light falls on the badly bruised face of a dwarven man, shackled to the southern wall.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Adronsius!

Zalindra goes over to see if she can unlock the shackles.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Dayana looks over the alchemist with a grimace, trailing after Zalindra like a shadow.

"Είσαι καλά φίλος; Έχουμε έρθει να σας ελευθερώσουμε;" Rhona says in dwarven hoping as a fellow dwarf he would be more willing to talk in his native tongue while weakened instead of common.

The shackles slide from Adronsius' wrists as Zalindra disables the mechanism holding them closed. The alchemist looks up, bleary eyed and weary, searching for the source of the dwarven speech.

Focusing in on Rhona, he answers "Το βρώμικο κακό, χτύπησε με αιματηρή. Δεν θα τολμούσα να με δοκιμάσω χωρίς αυτές τις αλυσίδες." He pauses, turning to Zalindra. "Thank you."

Zalindra says Of course. Have you seen any other prisoners?

Morgrym's face looks as if he has bitten one of the centipedes and found it rotten. "Λυπάμαι, φίλε. Δεν έχω καμία θεραπεία για σένα."
He turns to Rhona "Δεν υπήρχε ραβδί"

Ίδια, χτυπήθηκαν και κρατήθηκαν φυλακισμένοι. Αυτοί οι φίλοι με απελευθέρωσαν και τον Morgrym. Με έκανα αξιόπιστο τσεκούρι πίσω και τώρα έχουμε χωρίσει εκεί τα κρανία. Ακούσαμε περισσότερα να είναι έτσι και να επιστρέψουμε για να σας βρούμε. Ξέρετε ότι άλλοι έφεραν αυτόν τον τρόπο; She says as she looks him over and then looks back to the others.

"We should get him out to the others and get him some healing" Rhona says as she begins to look and see if any more doors.

"Ναι, υπάρχει κάπου"She says to Morgrym.

Perception/Stonecunning: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Rhona searches but finds no other ways out of the the fountain chamber.

The dwarf answers her and Zalindra's question, speaking in common for the rogue's benefit.

"I have seen one other. A priestess of some sort. I caught a glimpse of her on the upper level when those runts brought me to meet their chieftain."

Adronsius pauses for a moment.

"I believe from here, it's up the stairs, straight across the entry chamber, left out of the goblin's bed chamber, then left again through a room with some awful wailing sound, around two right corners, then through a room that smelled of the dead. From there we took some stairs up from a bitterly cold room, right and up another set of stairs. Finally, we went through a dusty room, and took a left through one last door. That any help to ya?"

Ingra stares hard in focus, backtracking in her mind through the dungeon. Though they hadn't come the route he was describing, she attempted to visualise it from what was being said and the rooms, stairs, and doors they had taken.

Knowledge Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

After thinking it over she addresses the bruised alchemist.

"Some of our comrades have taken to escorting other injured prisoners out of the dungeon not too long ago. If you can, you may be able to catch up with them. If you don't think you are able to venture that far alone, we'll take you to them. Or, you can stay and fight. It's up to you. Anything you can tell us about their chieftain would be helpful."

I haven't been here a lot of this dungeon, so I'm not sure what rooms we've been and which are just visible on the map. So if she can't figure this out in general then all good.