Kreig dashes towards the left most in the row where Telman’s spell had blinded the drow...
Josef flies over to the drow nearest the exit from the room and smashes it with his greatsword. Telman wounds the next two drow in line, one with an arrow and both with the blinding light that his arrows gives off. Kreig, with Misha providing backstop takes out two more of the drow. Between Rikar, Latys and Therena, the remaining four drow, all but one wounded are destroyed as the ranger and his cat take them out with Therena help.
The four svirfneblin prisoners, that were being used as target and torture practice, remain slumped against the posts that they are tied to.
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"I apologize for my spell's failure. I should have checked to see if the area was warded against teleportation before suggesting the plan. Better to learn on the way in than if we tried to run away, I suppose."
Josef sheathes his greatsword after cleaning it on the clothing of a drow corpse.
Casting detect magic, he scans the fallen, as well as the area itself.
"I wouldn't expect future fights to be quite so one-sided, unfortunately. We caught this group unawares, and capitalized on the surprise. No guarantee that luck will last, sadly."
spellcraft
"It was a good plan, Josef. These things happen, and we'll know better next time."
Misha leans by one of the svirfneblin, checking to see if they are breathing. If they seem alive, she begins to work to unshackle then, slowly and carefully.
"Such a dark view you take of things, Jo!" Rikar says, exulting just a bit in how swiftly they've defeated the dark elves. "We popped in and took them out, and rescued these, um, little guys. Well, I think we rescued them. Therena, are they still alive?"
He slips his scythe over his shoulder and approaches the nearest of the prisoners, taking a look at the poor thing's condition and patching up the worst of his injuries.
Josef casts detect magic and discovers that drow commander has a magical rapier and a magical mithral chain shirt.
Searching the rest of the room, you find that each drow warrior has a spell book, a masterwork hand crossbow, masterwork rapier, masterwork chain shirt, and a masterwork light shield. The commander, besides the two magical items also has a masterwork hand crossbow, a masterwork heavy steel shield, and 2 potions of cure moderate wounds.
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"Well, they were certainly well equipped. Spellbooks and high quality weapons all around, this is interesting to say the least."
Josef takes a few swings with the rapier to test its balance.
"I don't know, I think I prefer a heavier blade here."
Sheathing the drow's blade, he pats the longsword on his hip and stacks the remainder of the gear in a pile.
"Anyone need an upgrade to their light armor? Or some silly little crossbows? Kreig, maybe you can use these things?"
Therena, once she finally gets down the stairs, comes over and channels healing for the prisoners.
"I could use the magic armor if no one else needs it. But what about you, Josef? Would it be easier for you to cast spells in this? I might carry the lighter shield as backup if no one else wants it as well. The sword's a beauty, but I'm better versed in slashy-slashy than pokey-pokey. If no one wants it, it might have great value to a collector of things from the Darklands. And I'm no good with the fussy mechanisms on the little crossbows." She looks over the other material. "Anyone use up their healing potions? I can always toss them in the haversack, or someone who can't cast their own healing spells--I think that's Josef, Krieg, and Telman--should carry one."
She looks up at the group. "What about the deep gnomes? Do we wait for them to come to, or just make sure they're comfortable and go on? They probably have useful information about the area... if they haven't been tortured past sanity."
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"I'll take a potion, sure."
Shaking out the shimmering chain shirt, Josef appraises its weight and obvious quality against his own.
"It'd be an upgrade to my own armor, but I'm hardly in the fight up close anyways. As to it messing around with my spells, that's not a worry. I learned how to deal with slightly inhibited somatic components a while back. This old thing isn't a bother, not in the least."
He taps his chain shirt, which jingles and jangle slightly.
"It seems wrong to just leave them here, right? They could very well give us a lot of intelligence about this place. Of course, they may be mad and incredibly hostile, after their mistreatment. I'd say wake them up if we can."
"This armor is very pretty but it WOULD mess with my spells so I'd better not. And Kreig has more trouble not getting hit than I do, so maybe he should take the potion?" the archer quips.
"As for the gnomes? Seems wrong to leave them here but where will they go? Pretty long walk back the way we came, especially in their condition. Can't have them coming with us either.....although I'd bet if they were healthy enough they'd want some payback."
Telman crosses the room to take up a sentry position by the exit. He grabs a handcrossbow and bolts along the way, testing the draw before tucking the weapon into his belt with a shrug. "Never know..."
After Rikar and Misha ministrations, and Therena channeling her deity energy into the gnomes, and Rikar, the three gnomes wake up, and realizing that they are not shackled, they look around and see the dead drow, and a dwarf, a human female and a large human male standing next to them, as well as others, including a large cat in the room.
One of them, speaks to you in what seems to be two different languages:
"Ki vagy te? Maga ölte meg a drow? Mit akarsz?"
"Cò th 'annad? Robh sibh a mharbhadh drow? Dè tha thu ag iarraidh?"
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Undercommon:
Common: "I don't know if they speak common, but they are asking about us and what we want. If you don't speak Undercommon, I can translate for more talented speakers and diplomats" Josef looks towards Misha as he says that last bit.
"Thanks, but I'll just cast the translation spell. As skilled a scholar you are, the spell will save time and help avoid misunderstandings."
Misha casts tongues on herself and replies to the svirfneblin. "Yes, we killed them--we saw them torturing you. We are members of the Pathfinder Society, my name is Misha Keroun. We are trying to go deeper into the mountain. Do you know the area?"
Looking at each other for a moment, two of them nod there heads towards the one that had spoken, as they see no drow left alive. He replies to Josef and Misha, "I am Jorner. Your healers have repaired all the damage, however we could use some help getting back to our city, Ogginnogg. It is to the southeast of here, but we have to travel thru the drow in order to reach it. We have been captured and tortured by these infernal creatures. All we wish is to be left alone and conduct business in the Darklands. The drow have left a force in our city, but have not quite taken it over yet. If we get there, I am sure that our leaders will help you in your quest. And if you can take out the drow high priestess K’lbana, they will surely reward you. But we must go quickly. Drow patrol these halls at all times. You must be prepared for anything." He and his two men stand and looking at the group walk over to the pile of armor and arms. "We can defend ourselves, and would rather die than be captured again, so we will take an armor shield and a rapier to help, if you have no objections."
Rikar nods in agreement as Josef accepts the gnomes' proposal, commenting, "I guess the enemy of our enemy is our friend, and those drow sure are not our friends. Let's help these guys get home, maybe tip the balance against the drow a bit."
"Indeed. I'd also like to see their city anyway." If the party is in agreement, Misha will indeed indicate they will accompany them. She also has no issue with them equipping themselves from the drow's spare equipment.
"What can you tell us about this K'lbana?"
"Reckon it can't hurt ta give 'em a hand." Kreig nods as the group gears up to move on. "These here fellers got a nice accent to their gnomish. I ain't heard that language done proper since Fergen Brassenflap swindled me outta 250 gold in Cassomir."
Kreig shoulders his pack and scoots to the south passage. "Wait'll I tell Uncle Jasper n' my Pappy I been offin' spider-humpin' drow." He checks the entryway and if it's clear he looks back to get instructions on which way to go.
+2 Traps
Misha rummages in the pile and with the groups ok, puts on the chain shirt that the leader wore, and gives the chain shirt she was wearing to Josef.
Jorner responds to Misha, "all we really know is the name, and that she is the high priestess of these drow. Our leaders may know more. She must be some kinda big wig though." And then to Josef, "other than a sword in the guts, the only thing that really upsets them is light. Blinds them somewhat."
With Kreig in the lead, he and Rikar head down the stairs, and seeing an opening to the right he quickly sneaks into the room, finding it a dead end. This areas looks to be where most dark elves live and pass the time. It is well furnished, with several extravagant yet uncomfortable beds, a very small armoire, some dark stone chairs, a table and a separate sanitary section. In all, this room seems to be a mix of recreation area, living quarters and guard barracks. As it is empty, the guards must be somewhere else.
"Maybe your daylight will come in handy, Therena. I doubt a typical drow could deal with the light of pure joy."
Misha follows along.
Telman makes note of the gnome's words, remembering how effective his spell had been during his opening volley. "But they seem to resist magic more than most."
The archer takes up his normal guard position as the group checks the barracks.
Therena looks for lock boxes, papers, or anything of value. She also checks out the armoire, looking for something that could make good disguises.
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"I believe speed is our ally here. Like the earlier fight, if we capitalize on a rapid strike and eliminate the drow's ability to strike back, we stand the best chance of reaching the gnomes' city. I'd suggest we grab what we can while on the hoof, the longer we delay, the more likely another patrol or three will walk straight into us."
Josef keeps his dancing lights close by and tries to avoid casting light out of the current room if possible.
He stands at the ready with bow in hand.
"Right, a blade in the gut it is, " Rikar says in reply to the gnome's observation, giving Josef a nod as well. Rikar gestures to Kreig to move with him along the curved hallway ahead.
Kreig shrugs and spits to the side, a glob of phlegm landing square upon one of the bed's pillows. "Knife in the dark. Yeah, I reckon that'll do."
He slips into the passage along with Rikar and Latys. As the big Ranger keeps an eye out for drow, Kreig focuses on potential traps in their path.
traps
Checking the room, you do not find anything useful. The armoire is empty, apparently these drow only had limited clothing and armor. There is nothing worth salvaging in the room.
Moving on, down the hall way, you come to a set of stairs that leads down into what looks like another barracks room and further along the hallway, you see another set of stairs, and a continuation of the circular hallway.
At the intersection, there are non magical designs on the walls, similar to the designs in the spider statue room. Rikar hears noises coming from both down the stairs, and further along the hallway. He thinks there are several of the dark elves moving in this direction. The svirfneblin whisper to you "we was barely conscious when they brought us through the hallways. The only thing I remember is there is a heavily fortified guard post near here."
Rikar whispers to the others that someone is coming, adding, "This is a decent spot for an ambush, we wait on either side of the hall and wait for them to get between us." He gestures for Latys to join Kreig on his side of the hallway, then stands quietly, waiting to see who or what appears.
Kreig draws his daggers a day nods readiness.
Therena casts message, including all the party and some of their friends.
"If there are more than four of them, I'll open up a pit in the middle of them," she whispers along the spell.
Telman also nocks a bow and gets into position to set up the pincer maneuver.
Rikar hears noises coming from both down the stairs, and further along the hallway.
Rikar hears noises coming from both down the stairs, and further along the hallway.
Are any of the sounds getting louder (I.e., closer) and others not?
"Don't want to get pinned. Charge the one group and hope we drop them fast 'n quiet before the other group gets here?" The archer knows its not a great plan, but neither is getting caught between the groups. Especially if the party is not able to contain the drow; all it takes is a single one escaping the melee to run off and sound an alarm.........
Rikar nods at Josef , then gestures that he's going to head down the hallway they're standing next to. As Kreig and Latys move into position next to him, he keeps all senses attuned to the threat of ambush. What little he knows of the drow suggests they'd like nothing better than to sneak up on his friends in the darkness - so Rikar's intent on sneaking up on the drow first.