I myself am a specialist in the lore of the lower planes of existence and in the darker aspects of magic...
Naia nods to Quartle.
"Well met Quartle. May your war-spirits come in handy."
"Ealasaid, it is said that a black druid once laired in these ruins, but that he fell to heroes long ago. My people face similar evils and I would learn what I can of how these heroes defeated him."
Fair enough, the same we have heard. Have you seen any sign of drow presence ?
Perhaps the new folks deserve an explanation of why you are all down here?
"We have not. We hadn't figured out how we were going to get past the goblins yet until you came along."
Haven't seen the obsidian devils, but I can tell you a bit about them...
Knowledge (religion) check
Knowledge (the planes) check
there was a Drow attack on the surface, froggy. We are here to find proof to return with it to the mayor of the town so he will act. I need to explore these ruins as well.. Rameth says as he examines how plump quarrels legs are.
Well, then I give you the bad news that those evil bastards seems to infest this place
EDIT: Damn, forufold nijaded here.
"We are here ostensibly on behalf of the Mayor of Oakhurst - drow activity on the surface has the burghers worried for their shiny. The goblin chief Ird also hates the black-elves, and the goblins have some myth about an orb or similar relic they wish returned. Roland promised them we would root out the drow-filth and return the orb to Ird."
I don't understand o.0
Naia smiles at Roland's clarification.
Nice.
Are we being followed by goblins?
Rameth/Naia
Namon
Roland
Ealasiad/Quartle
[off to cut grass. DMPC me if necessary Dajellyman - she will brood, smile without smile reaching eyes, be unfailingly polite, moody, and dread. And rip things to shreds.]
(Favored Target (Ex): At 1st level, a slayer can as a move action study an opponent. The slayer then gains a +1 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks against that opponent, and a +1 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against it. These bonuses remain in effect until either the opponent is dead or the slayer studies a new target,)
then engage next round where she can.
If she doesn't need to move she use Favored Target then will strike with longsword only as TWF is full-round):
Longsword +4, 1d8+3 (19-20 x2)
then TWF:
Longsword +2, 1d8+3 (19-20 x2)
Shortsword +2 1d6 +3 (19-20 x2)
Power Atk:
Longsword +1, 1d8+5 (19-20 x2)
Shortsword +1, 1d6 +4 (19-20 x2)
Completely sucks for that ability to be a move action. Hopefully they will change it.
"Drow on the surface? I know little of the creatures, but are they not supposed to despise the light?"
Ealasaid answer Quartle question Yeah, it is weird but that seem to be the case
"Very well then. I think Namon and I are quite willing to help you with these drow if it means getting to the bottom of things in the ruin. Is there anything else to discuss before we venture below?"
At the edge of sight, a fortress top emerges from the darkness. The subterranean citadel, though impressive, seems long forgotten, if the lightless windows, cracked crenellations, and leaning towers are any indication. All is quiet, though a cold breeze blows up from below, bringing with it the scent of dust and a faint trace of rot.
The ravine leads to a small courtyard, apparently the top of what was once a crenelated battlement. The buried citadel had sunk so far into the earth that the battlement is now level with the surrounding cavern floor. The floor stretches away to the north and south, and it is apparently composed of a layer of treacherous, crumbled masonry, which reaches to an unknown depth. To the west looks the surviving structure of what must be the Sunless Citadel. A tower stands on the west side of the courtyard, large double doors set in the side.
Quartle looks around for any movement or means of ingress other than the doors.
No goblins appear to be following you, though they all certainly kept a defensive stance as you all walked past. Whatever you had all seen earlier by the dropped torch likely stood down after negotiations.
Recalling your knowledge of the drow...
- the drow have long lived in the deep parts of the world, commonly known as the underdark.
- they are know me to use hand crossbows with poison that causes sleeping. They can also see in the dark and use some innate spells like darkness and dancing lights.
- drow society is ruled by powerful drow women, usually spell casters or clerics of their dark gods. They have a dedicated and harsh class system and noble families.
- they are known for their sick interest in flesh crafting and creating monster hybrids. In light of this, most drow worship the evil goddess lamashtu, though some ancient cults still worship the ancient goddess lolth.
Nice perception crit! You can positivley confirm that there are no another entrances from this courtyard. You could maybe move aside the large amount of rubble and get somewhere but it would take weeks.
Naia approaches the double doors and inspects the ground before the doors. Any tracks Naia might recognize as similar to those she found on the surface (i.e.light booted humanoids?)
And if any tracks are found:
Before we continue it is best that I enlighten you as to the abilities of our foes, listen closely for I won't be saying this twice.
Naia notices some faint, light boot prints across the courtyard. It does not appear anyone has gone through these doors in a while, but it does seem someone with similar (drow) tracks d&d walk through this area in the past few days. Not recent enough to be the same tracks, but perhaps a scouting party?
Naia and Quartle notice a barely covered pit in front of the door a few feet. Seems to be an old trap left over from long ago.
Is the trap "live"? If so, does Naia think she can trip it safely?
It's just some boards over a pit. You could easily avoid it simply by walking around it. It is easily visible if you are looking for it.
Naia clears away the debris to make it visible for the rest of the party. She looks in the pit to see if any unfortunates met their demise within...
A few large rat skeletons are down there, but it Does not look like anything has fallen in for a long time.
Naia will walk along the boards and attempt to open the doors.
Rameth skirts the trap, prepared for anything
The door opens inwards to the remains of this tower with a loud creak and a little effort. This circular room is floored with ancient crumbling granite, and bones lay about the floor from creatures slain years and years ago. Its appears a stair once circled up the wayy to the top, but it has long been caved in, nothing but some crumbled ledges of the upper floors and a 30' high pile of rubble remain. Three wooden doors lead out of the room. To the east is the doors you came through, while two more are in the corners of the western wall.
So one in the northwest corner, one in the southwest corner?
Correct.
Naia will check both doors and floor/approaches to each:
Northwest:
Southwest:
Quartle/Rameth - you want to search too?
Any preference for doors folks?
northwest
add one vs traps
southwest
add one vs traps
Rameth scowls as someone else checking for traps
Neither of the doors are locked or appear trapped. You hear nothing but silence in the other sides.
Rameth, while you don't find anything unusual about the south west door, you do find a secret door hidden in the southern part of the wall. It appears to be stone, but the cracks outline the entry way and reveal this could be slid aside.
There is a secret door here. Shall we try that first?
Allow me to examine it for traps of a magical nature...
speaking a brief invocation in infernal to the lord of the eighth Namon let his eyes perceive things as they truly were...
You detect faint traces of magic on the other side of the door, though it is hard to tell if it is a unique aura or just residue amongst the ruins. A spellcraft check would tell ya more.
Rameth passes on any information he has gleaned about traps and magic to aid
spellcraft to aid another
Namon focus his now fiery eyes upon the aura and lets the knowledge of the eighth fill his thoughts and mind.
spellcraft to identify,
Rameth scowls as someone else checking for traps
Quartle's +11 to Perception might cramp your style Rameth! ;)