DM Rah's Thornkeep - "Part 4 - The Dark Menagerie" (Inactive)

Game Master Kobash

Google maps is hating my iPad again, so I can't view the map until tomorrow, but if Pai has line of sight, and Madie is far enough away that the silence effect is outside range of her, Pai will pull her wand of magic missiles and start chipping away at the monster. If neither of these is true, Pai will continue to wait.

Damage 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5

Pai is not within the silenced area and doesn't need to see more than a glimpse of the creature to target it with magic missiles, so feel cast away.

Silence only lasts 5 rounds, so it should no longer be active.

Maddie will delay unless healing is needed.

Ayaki maintains his action.

The last of the mites standing between the group returns to the First World and the Mouther advances.

László puts another arrow in it and Pai injures it with magic, but neither Barlor nor Ayaki manage solid hits with their weapons.

The mouther spits goo into Barlor's face and snaps at him with its teeth!

Random Target 1-Barlor 2-Ayaki: 1d2 ⇒ 1
spittle ranged touch at Barlor: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 DC 18 fort save or blinded 1d4 rounds.
Bite at Barlor: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Turg still has 2 mites to direct behind the mouther.

ALL PCs are UP!

The mite with flanks takes advantage of the situation and ensures that it's identified at a possible threat!

Mite Dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 71d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The other is instructed to ready to step into a position to give Ayaki flanks if mite 1 dies!

mite 2 ready: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 161d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Probably not poison...
fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Barlor, with spittle in his eyes that is not his own, swings his club wildly.
Club: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 10, Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 3 + 1 = 8
Miss %: 1d100 ⇒ 31
Would have missed either way. Hah! Suck on that, mouther.
Blind Duration: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The Varisian tries to shoot down at the creature over Barlor's head, but his arrow goes skittering down to the edge of the pool.

DA Arrow to mouther, incl. cover and PBS: 1d20 + 8 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 4 + 1 = 11

Delay for now.

Pai uses her trusty wand and fires another magic missile at teh hardy monster.

Damage 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

Used two charges since I updated teh total.

Just as the mouther rises up to surge at Barlor with a half-dozen teeth Pai's magic slams into it. The mouther shakes and burbles and succumbs to the many wounds it has suffered.

COMBAT OVER.

26 charges left.

"Well, that thing was awful," Pai calls out over teh loud machinery still grinding away.

"I can't see!" Barlor exclaims as he rubs at his eyes. "I'm blind!"
A few seconds later he opens his eyes and looks around. "Ah, nope, I'm good."

Barring any major complaints, Turg orders the mites to examine the inside of the creature for loot. If there is none (or once it's removed), she'll have them chuck the body into some gears (or other appropriate machinery) somewhere to give it as grisly a death as possible "for making the birdbrain kill the only good bird in this damnable cave."

"That was quite terrible, yes." Maddie says in agreement with the group as she moves over to the dead owl and examines it, "I'm afraid there isn't anything I can do now. Perhaps it's for the best, that owl probably lived long past it's normal span of life. It's free of the burden placed upon it by this place."

Searching the Mouther and the chamber you find only one item of interest. Laying at the bottom of the center pool is a glowing longsword. The water is mostly clean, and retrieving it is easily done, either through half-drowning a mite or by someone who doesn't mind getting wet. Pulled from the water, Maddie is able to determine it to be a +1 ghost touch longsword, and Ayaki soon discovers a detachable pommel. Inside the hollow hilt is a badly weathered but still functional scroll of hold monster.

"Oh, that's some good take right there. That is a powerful scroll. I could probably use it, however."

"In this place, I'm sure you will make good use of that scroll." Maddie says with a nod, "I hope we won't have to need to use the ghost-touched sword, but it would not be the first time we discovered undead present in here." She adds with a weary sigh.

"There are but two of us who are trained in such weapons, and I believe that Ayaki is the better of the two."

"I do not deserve such a blade after my dishonorable actions. But you are correct Lashlo-San, I believe I could use the sword if the situation arises."

Ayaki grasps the sword in his Talons and checks the balance of the blade.

"Once we are all healed, let us retrace our steps--there is a door at the north end of the magical water tunnel that we have not yet explored."

"I believe we are ready. It's probably not wise to tarry here, unless someone can determine the purpose of this machine. I have not studied such things myself."

"Lets get out of here! This noise is maddening," Pai yells over the machinery.

"WHAT?"...no, wrong character.

Moving back through the water tunnels, the group passes through the northern door and finds a rough corridor with another door 30 feet ahead and a second door in a hallway that branches off to the right about halfway down.

MAP UPDATED

László points to the righthand door, which Ayaki happens to already be in front of. "That one first, yes?"

"That one seems as good as any," Pai tells the others.

Ayaki listens and inspects the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23 +4 for human, +2 for undead

Ayaki is unable to find any danger on the door or hear anything beyond it. Opening it, you discover purple desert shrubs and a small oasis within a sandy valley. Bordered on all sides by impossibly tall barriers of solid sand, the crimson sky above shows the sun at its highest point, and the valley’s intense heat creates a rippling haze in the distance. Running from north to south, a large dune makes up the floor of the valley, sloping gradually downward toward a narrow passage through the eastern wall. Meandering about and examining the shrubbery are four large scorpions that turn and begin to scuttle towards the door!

Personal Opinion: this room is way too small for 4 large anythings. Poor Scorpions are wedged in like sardines!

INITIATIVE - Round 1
Ayaki <=UP
Turg <=UP
László <=UP
Maddie <=UP
Pai <=UP
Barlor <=UP
Scorpions

MAP UPDATED

Staying where she is, Maddie uses her wand to cast Bless on the group.

34 charges remaining on wand.

Bless in effect. +1 to attack rolls and fear saves

"Friend Ayaki, perhaps we should simply close the door for the moment?"

Ayaki closes the door.

Didn't want to throw a couple of pellet grenades in first?
Someone brought pellet grenades, right?

I think I had some at creation, though I've used them since.

Turg gestures the mites forward, closer to the door.

"Keep that door shut! Perhaps we can mark it for the Society, and let them know to be prepared for scorpions when they come back!"

"Now what?"

"The next door, and then perhaps return here."

Ayaki approaches the next door and inspects and listens.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30 +4 humans, +2 undead

Ayaki gives the door a once-over for danger, feels it is safe, then opens it to look inside.

Beyond is a bare stone room containing four beds, a work table, and a small shelf of ancient books. Dominating the north side of the room is a massive mechanical apparatus. Its main feature, a single stone block the size of a horse, hangs fifteen feet above a carpet of shattered bones, rock dust, and other debris. A chain as thick as a human thigh runs up from the block into a small, dark cavity in the ceiling. Two short stone ledges situated on either side of the stone block form a shallow container for whatever happens to get crushed beneath the smashing device. Flush against the device is a large wooden wheel with numerous pegs. The wheel is attached to a crank fitted to a chain that runs parallel to the one attached to the stone block.

"Maybe we should stay out of this room as well. Those whole floor seems like nothing but trouble," Pai pouts, as she looks at the obvious trap.

"This looks real dangerous." Barlor comments.

"Any ideas about this device?" Maddie inquires, looking to László and Ayaki.

"Pai, are we not explorers?"

"Friend Pai, would you care to examine the books? They may be of interest. Barlor, perhaps you might find something recognizable among the bones, but do not go under the block." The Varisian begins to look over the apparatus in more detail, paying particular attention to whether it's rigged to drop in response to any other triggers in the room.

Perception check, including trapfinding bonus: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 2 = 31

Turg notes in Taldane, "You know, we could just send the mites in, if you're worried about things dying."

The mites look eager to follow Turg's instructions, even though they have no idea she just suggested sending them to their deaths - or back to the first world - or both. No one's really sure what happens to a summoned creature upon death.

Meanwhile, László points out an obvious "falling block" trap in the way the room is set up.

Ayaki Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Ayaki notices something a little less obvious. The trap is no ordinary mechanical device, but rather a type of shapechanger called a deathtrap ooze, which can take the form of a single type of trap. Once it has done so it waits until someone springs it, and in this case crushes them. If that doesn't kill their prey they shift back into an ooze-like form and finish them off.

"Are we going to spring the trap and deal with this creature? Might be good to get the drop on it," she whispers to the others.

Get the "drop" on it?! Rimshot please!

Anyone bring an alkali flask?

Ayaki also knows that the death trap ooze produces acid that only affects flesh.

Ayaki shares the information,

Does AYAKI know if it has any DR?