DM PatheticWretch presents Emerald Spire (Level 3: Splinterden) (Inactive)

Game Master PatheticWretch

What about a Summon Swarm of bats to attack the arrow slot instead?

Chortles is a little frustrated that the door hasn't buckled. He takes a few steps back out of range, untethers his Axe, and begins inspiring the door breakers to greater effectiveness, "Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door..."

Inspire Courage: +1 charm/fear; +1 attack/damage

Not able to do anything, since he can't see the archers, Osiris withdraws around the corner.

Chortles begins an inspiring ditty while Osiris delays.

Chortles, I'd allow swarms, though be careful with it. It seems to attack the nearest creatures, regardless of being enemies or not...

ROUND 2 (bold may act!)

Chortles
Selethe
Stonetree
Baddies
Osiris
Dragos

SELETHE, STONETREE, AND DRAGOS ARE UP!

Stonetree behinds at the waste to avoid Selethe's clumsy attack at the door.

[b]"WOW! Lets not have the Chortles talk about what end of a weapon goes where."[b] Stonetree booms with a laugh in his voice. Than Quickly pictures the Bard's face on the door and punches it some more.

flurry: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 91d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 91d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

With the added flurry of blows from Stonetree, the door falls off one of the hinges.

Beyond, Stonetree sees a large corridor and two leather-clad men with crossbows.

ROUND 2 (bold may act!)

Chortles
Selethe
Stonetree
Baddies
Osiris
Dragos

SELETHE AND DRAGOS ARE UP!

Swarm on stone tree? What's to be careful about?! HA! Ooo, didn't notice that the swarm lasts 2 rounds past when you stop concentrating on it...

"Well done big man! All you needed was a little encouragement!" Chortles dances a little jig as he continues to strum a gallantly inspiring tune.

Looks like Dragos is still here and will post soon, but I haven't seen anything from Selethe. I'll give another few days and we'll then reconsider our options (i.e. either go forward with fewer players or recruit some more).

As the door bursts inwards, Dragos lets out a giggle in reaction to Stonetree's display of awesome power. Flicking his wrist, Dragos pulls forth a slender yew wand shaped like a Dragon's fang. Calling upon its magic, the Druid taps Tarantio's fangs and bids him sink his teeth into the enemy.

The Undertaker then rushes forwards and places his back to the wall.

Swift to draw wand of Magic fang, cast magic fang then Move

"I would say this is exactly our kind of fun!" he chuckles.

Grumbling from atop the Wizard's shoulder, Tarantio hops off his business' partner and darts between Stonetree's legs to leap upon the archer to the big man's right. With his fangs glowing softly from enhancement, the Drake bites down on the thugs leg as he scales them.

Bite, piranha: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 for Magic, PBS damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Dragos buffs his draconic companion, and Tarantio takes advantage of the fact that the enemy is only holding a crossbow. The vicious creature takes a large bite out of the man's face, eliciting a scream of agony.

The unwounded bandit shoots at Stonetree point blank, but it ricochets off the big man's armor.

The other steps back from Tarantio, draws a short sword, and attacks the drake. The blood from Tarantio's attack leaves him partially blinded, and he misses badly.

ROUND 3 (bold may act!)

Chortles
Selethe
Stonetree
Baddies
Osiris
Dragos

EVERYONE IS UP!

crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 201d8 ⇒ 5
short sword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

I still haven't heard from Selethe, but the site was truly atrocious last week. I'm going to go ahead and proceed with the four and not recruit, and hopefully Selethe will be back soon. If not, I think you can handle it.

Stonetree steps thru the doorway and punches things.

"See Osiris, fun!" booms the brawler.

flurry: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 131d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Stuck with Stonetree's 'broad frame' blocking the door, Dragos activates his dragon fang shaped wand once more and taps it against Stonetree's back as he speaks the incantation. Suddenly, Stonetree's fists begin to glow softly as they are enhanced by the Druid..

"Go get them my friend!" he cheers gleefully in encouragement.

Magic Fang on Stonetree, +1 enhancement to attack and damage

Keeping low to avoid the Man's probing attack, Tarantio leaps forwards once more hoping to twist round the stabbing Short blade as he does so. Hissing a curse in the tongue of dragons, the Drake snaps their jaws once again, the man's blood already flowing freely through his maw.

bite, Piranha: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 for Magic damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Chortles untangles his gear as he rushes forward. Once his bow is restrung and an arrow unsnagged from his armor, he shouts, "You may want to duck!" and fires a shaft in to Stone Tree's man.

bow attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 for damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Stonetree feels Chortles arrow come uncomfortable close once more.

"CAN WE PLEASE JUST TAKE THAT BLISTERING BOW FROM HIM! He does more bloody harm with it than good."

Dragos bursts out laughing at Chortle's unplanned comedy routine, with Stonetree his unwitting 'straight man'. "At least his singing is better than his bow work!" he says between fits of laughter. "Though that's not difficult!"

One of the bandit guards crumples from a powerful blow from Stonetree, while Tarantio proves a viable combatant by killing the other.

Each of the enemy carries a short sword, dagger, padded armor, and light crossbows with a handful of remaining bolts. Each also carries a potion. I hate to make the group identify CLW, since I assume they are all blue and easily identified. ;P

Combat over!

AoO on Tarantio: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"Huzzah! And Well struck friends!" Drahos chants as he slots his wand away and holds his arm out for Tarantio to clamber up, Wincing as the Drake's claws cut into him. Smiling at his business partner, Dragos calls forth his druidic magics to protect Tarantio before they move on, causing the latter's scaly skin to harden like bark.

"Hmm, we have people this far down eh? Maybe we can finally start getting some answers to this place?"

Chortles throws his bow across his shoulder, not noticing the frayed looseness of its string. "Well done, friends! This reminds me of the tail of the brash donkey and the wounded lass." Chortles dives in to a promising story of a donkey breaking through barn doors, yet falling pray to the wiles of the lass.

He strides towards the North East door as his story concludes.

Chortles looks down the hallway to the east and sees several options. A statue of a woman with a water urn stands in the hallway.

There are also double doors to the north and a single door to the south. All of the doors are shut.

Examining the chamber, Dragos smiles broadly and claps Stonetree on the shoulder with the light of laughter in his eyes. "Well, back to the search of ancient ruins! Hmm, on our last jaunt there were aecrets within secrets. Perhaps we should search?"

Doing just that, Dragos begins to search the room, before examining the statue closely. He also calls upon his nature magic to bring any magical auras in his search.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Detext Magic

Osiris waits patiently to see what the next horrible thing to happen to Dragos is...

"Hey! I can hear that look!" Dragos calls back Osiris as he searches, though his eyes stray to the ceiling as if it may collapse at any moment.

Despite the banter, Dragos holds up a hand suddenly as the group nears the statue of the woman with a water urn.

He points out what appears to be a trap. Dragos, it looks like it releases some kind of gas from the urn if you step in certain areas near the statue.

"Well well! A gas potent enough to fell even Stoneheart I gather!" he states, halting the others. "Now we have no trickster here. Shall we toss one of the fallen foes upon it. And by 'we' I obviously mean our muscle man" he suggests, looking at Stonetree.

"Me? Get Chortles to do it. I don't want to be to useful. Something he'll never have to worry about. Plus there is the option of ignoring it."

Osiris shrugs.

"We could always go back and go one of the other ways, if we don't want to risk triggering the trap..."

It looks like some resistance to setting off the trap. There are also doors to the south. I'll mark the trap, but looking for Rule of 2 for direction please.

Stonetree glances between his comrades as they shuffle their feet and make non committal gestures. "Bloody hell, guess I will be too useful" Stonetree announces and grabs the nearest corpses and drops it on the trap and dives out of the way.

What you want me to roll here?

"No smell can be as bad as you, Stoneree. When was the last time you bathed?"

Chortles casts detect magic on the statue to see if there is anything of interest that the trap may be guarding.

Stonetree manhandles one of the corpses and throws it toward the floor in front of the statue.

Very subtly, a nearly invisible mist sprays from the urn the statuesque woman is holding. Had they not been watching for it, they probably would have missed it.

The group stays clear of the effect for a few minutes, but then feel the trap would be safe to pass.

Trap effectively disarmed. You have the northeast and south door in the hallway to your east. You could also go back past the entry to this level and go south.

'Don't suppose the'll be any volunteers to open the next door now?" asks Stonetree making his way to the northeast doors.

"Didn't think so." booms Stonetree as he throws open the door.

Dragos follows their powerful companion as he easily deals with the trap and makes their way deeper into this level of the Spire. He laughs softly at Chortle's remark and titters in response to Stonetree's grumbling. "But my friend, you make such an elegant remover of obstacles, why would we deprive you of your calling?" he replies with a bow to the man's skills.

Gripping his scythe, the Undertaker takes a moment to listen to the echoing caverns.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Chortles strums his Axe, "Dragos, you couldn't have put it better. Once you've learned your calling in life you have no other choice but to be the best at it that you can be."

Stonetree opens the double doors to the north.

This large natural cave has been widened by excavation. Masonry walls enclose structures within the cave, including what looks like a temple to the north and a crypt to the west. In the eastern end, a low stone wall encloses a large pool of water.

What light sources does the party have presently?

low-light vision and a torch

Chortles continues his Detect Magic on the room to check for areas of concern and loot.

"I haven't seen a door opened so well in a long time! Bravo good chap!" Chortles slaps The Tree heartily on the back. "Reminds me of the story of the Hairy Chicken Leg Soup.."

"See! If Chortles agrees with me then I must be right!" Dragos laughs as they make their way into the next room. Moving to get a clearer view of both sides of the chamber, Dragos scans around with his planar eyes, easily able to pierce the gloom.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

"Hmm, what do we have here..."

Stonetree has his wayfinder

"Not sure that is helping your argument as much as you think it is Dragos."

Alright...lighting sounds okay. If you look at the map, you will see several doors to the north and east, as well as some passages leaving he cavern. Let me know (2 votes please) how you would like to proceed.

How about the single door closest to the party?

Stonetree walks to the door just north of the one they entered and throws it open. "No need to stand, we will see ourselves in!" booms the brawler

Chortles continues singing:
Bravely bold Sir Tree
Rode forth to the door.
He was not afraid to die,
Oh brave Sir Tree.
He was not at all afraid
To be killed in nasty ways.
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Tree.

Rows of pews and a stone altar on a low dais show that this room is a shrine. A large statue of a mysterious, hooded figure stands solemn vigil at the east end. Paintings on the walls depict a grayhooded man in a variety of exploits and triumphs, culminating in his ascension to godhood, when he begins aiding lesser thieves.

A female dressed in a chain shirt and vestments of a cleric seems to be instructing two initiates.

She turns toward the door with a scowl.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

Stonetree pauses a moment to ponder the question than turns to Chortles "What are we doing here? You and Dragos still peddling dresses for men? Or was that last weeks get rich scheme?"

Chortles mutters under his breath to Stonetree, "Would've worked if you weren't so blasted bloated! Ripped all our goods with your gut!"

Chortles bows low to the woman with a flourish of his hat, "Gracious lady, my friends and I have been absconded and abandoned in this abysmal darkness. We are seeking aid and to aid any we find. Please point us in the direction of greatest need and we will perform to our best."

Chortles untethers his Axe and strums a note.

"My colleagues are the insatiable Dragos and his business partner Tarantio who have capitulated the largest monetary take overs known to this region. Never a finer pair you will find. The great and powerful Osiris Neter-iry, who single handedly stopped the revolts and pillaging of the greatest empire known to man. And lastly is this lump of withering inhumanity." Chortles points to the lump of withering inhumanity.

"I am the utterly humble and unobtrusive Susanoo-no-Mikoto of the Kitsune villages of the high lands. I come from far distance to be here today solely for your entertainment. Let me detail to you the journey and hardships so that we can more strongly begin a friendship that will never burn out."

Again Chortles strums a note of love and unity.

"Open your ears! and unblind your eyes! For I will now tell you the tale of our journeys through goblin infested towers, and trap laden paths that led us to the presence of you, our fair maiden in distress..."

Chortles launches in to the greatest performance of the day, detailing the great spiders and other atrocities the party has encountered, plying his trade to make a friend of a stranger.

perform: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Can I get a bluff check on that?

uhh.... maybe more like a truth check? lol. Chortles has Versatile Performance and can use his Perform (Act) check (+13) in place of bluff/disguise. So the roll in the post would be his bluff check. Sorry I didn't spell that out better.

Chortles slashes at the air with his axe as he fells the giant spider and shouts a victory ostinato!

"Such lovely fuschia silk too..." Dragos whispers to Chortles as he frowns. Letting Chortles begin, the Undertaker joins his flamboyant companion and gives a deep bow of his own.

"Beyond my entrepreneurial flair I am somewhat of a historian of the Ancient Azlanti Empire. We have been through this spire here and come across some hints and were merely documenting it." he explains with a cheery smile upon his face. "Say, what fine deeds would you be getting up to?"

"This lump of withering inhumanity is the only bloody thing that keeps your starving adolescent girl body from becoming a large pile of bloody pulp." grumbles the brawler, knowing the bard got the best of him once more

Just go ahead and roll a bluff check (using your performance score)...perform is more for entertaining people and earning $.

sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"Who brought you here?" the cleric asks, apparently buying most of the story. "Have the Splinters brought you in to dealt with Klarkosh?"