Dungeon Delving with the Brute Squad (Inactive)

Game Master ThorGN

In the moment...

Dasiji approves of his new comrades' precautions. "Yes, let's take a couple of minutes to really examine this, since rubble like that can be dangerously unstable -- and the door to an invader's castle can hardly be expected to be inviting and safe. We're in no hurry here."

Taking 20 on Perception for 26. By default, please assume that Dasiji is taking 10 or 20 on passive skills whenever possible. He's adventurous, yet cautious; he likes to take risks, and he likes to control them.

"So. I think that I should go first, as the best-armed and -armored. I'm also pretty perceptive, for a human, from working as a guard watching for danger in Sargava." He pulls out his new miner's lantern and makes sure that it's full of oil, then puts it on his head. (Unlit for now.)

"We also need someone else to go last, in case of being ambushed from behind: someone dangerous and hard to hit, and not a spell-caster who might need some space." Dasiji looks between Zedril and Kehl. "Hmmm. Zedril, is it true about elves being able to see much better in poor light? Perhaps you should be right behind me, which would put Kehl guarding our rear."

Dasiji nods thoughtfully. "Then Irijaya in the middle, so that she can most easily reach any injured at either end. Which puts Quintus between Irijaya and Kehl -- I hope you don't mind being left for last." He winks at the versatile actor. Dasiji doesn't distinguish between a professional actor and one with talent and training.

Assuming for convenience that we discussed each other's abilities at some point during the party last night, and/or on the hike there.

As you approach the door, a figure scrambles down the rock face in front of you, muttering on her way, and lands on the rough slope about 30 feet from you. The crouching form looks the worse for wear, skin pale as death.

The woman regards the party, drool running down her chin. Her head jerks, as if clearing a fog, and she straightens up. Friends, it is I, Maurit Zergo, a Pathfinder as well, even in this horrid form. I can help you, if you will take the help of someone as damned as I. She almost seems normal and living for a second, but soon shambles back to her crooked slouch.

An exception to taking 10 or 20 on passive skills is that when I know the DC, it kind of feels like cheating. Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Dasiji recoils in horror, then collects himself and nods solemnly. "It would be a great help if you could tell us what happened to you. How to avoid it."

I was with the Pathfinder group that discovered this entrance. There was a Ghoul that got the drop on us. My compatriots retreated and left me for dead. I think they killed in eventually...

Zedril follows Dasiji's instructions and takes second position, blade drawn.

Did the ghoul do this to you, Pathfinder?

Quintus nods at Dasiji's thinking. "Though it's always nice to have a pretty, presentable face up front for a good first impression," at this he flashes a cheeky grin, "It's more important to keep said face pretty. You have no idea how long it took to clean up all the grime from my little nap in the street the other day."

As they approach the ruins, Quintus begins to cast detect magic to see if any lingering auras were around until he sees Irijaya do the same. Not used to having another caster with the group, he stands back and quirks an eyebrow at the oracle. Just as he's about to ask what she found, the sickly Pathfinder approaches the group, causing Quintus to recoil in fear of catching whatever seems to be afflicting her.

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 17

But after Zedril asks her what happened, Quintus reaches for his new whip and shouts to his companions, "Stay back! She's not what she seems... I heard her say she wants to... eat... us!"

(Oh my gods!!!)

Kehl draws his daggers at Quintus' outburst and starts scanning the surrounding area for any more.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

"We can help you. Or find someone who can. Barring that, Eat the Taldan first. He smells the best and probably tastes the best as well."

Dasiji doesn't hesitate. After all that they've already been through together, he trusts Quintus implicitly -- and he makes his own decisions. Drawing his lucerne hammer to keep some distance from the foul creature that used to be Maurit Zergo, Dasiji takes a step forward... and hesistates at Kehl's words. Would Quintus really taste better than me? Wait, why would I care?! Shaking his head free of the bizarre consideration, the Mwangi ranger charges wordlessly, his polearm's spearpoint aimed at the center of the hungry thing's mass.

Initiative
Dasiji 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Kehl 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Irijaya 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Quintus 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Zedril 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Maurit 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Oh my, bad news for Maurit. Everyone post your actions.

Round 1

Dasiji charges at the ghoulish Pathfinder, lucerne hammer held level with the ground, intent on stabbing her and keeping her at bay.

Charge attack w/lucerne hammer: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24
... for 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 damage.

Zedril takes his steps toward the "woman" deliberately, allowing him to assess the situation more clearly. He swings his Elven Curve Blade across her waist to limit her movement.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

If hit:
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Quintus steps back from this so-called Maurit, flicking his arm and sends his whip snapping at the woman/creature's legs.

Trip vs. Maurit 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"Can we still save her? She could be useful."

You all start about 30' away from her. Quintus, drawing your whip is a MA, and closing with the target is a MA, so the Trip attempt would need to wait until next round, right? Do you want to adust your actions at all?

Ah... thought I'd had time to draw it after making the Perception check. Rolling above a 10 should have tipped me off that I wasn't right.

Quintus draws his whip and approaches to within 15' of the woman.

Irijaya makes a rapid mental note about the possible trap on the door before turning to the problem at hand. Assessing the situation, and trying to keep her words to a minimum, she determines that Zedril could use the aid of the Master of Masters.

Hiwry ub Irori, woitel Zedril's ans!

Casting Guidance on our Pally. Make with the smashy-smashy, good sir.

"Can we still save her? She could be useful."

Dasiji looks at Quintus in exasperation. "All man-eaters must die, lest we become a prey animal. Think of the children!" Having grown up so close to nature, and in a place where predators would actually sometimes develop a taste for human flesh, the Mwangi ranger thinks that he's just repeating common wisdom that everyone knows.

Kehl watches his companions surge forward to attack, but remains behind, wary of an ambush.

Kehl will hold action

Dasiji and Zedril’s attacks both strike true, if but glancing blows to the ex-Pathfinder. Momentarily surprised by the sudden onslaught, Mauit recovers quickly to attack her assailants. Though weapons are visible on her person, she doesn’t bother drawing them but instead becomes a flurry of claws and teeth.

Maurit takes a 5-foot step to threaten both Dasiji and Zedril, and makes a full round attack.
Claw Attack on Zedril: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Bite Attack on Zedril: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Claw Attack on Dasiji: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Her Claws catch Dasiji off guard. He takes 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 damage, and (Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5) is Paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 rounds.

Khel, you don’t see anyone else in the area.

Round 2

Status, round 2
HP: 9/9
INIT: 8

"Oh, rot." Kehl curses, seeing Dasiji stricken by the 'woman.'

Kehl sheathes one of his daggers and palms a vial of holy water.

MA: Sheathe dagger. SA: Retrieve Holy Water.

Quintus takes a step back to keep his distance from the 'woman' before aiming his whip at her legs. With a flick of his arm, he tries to bring Maurit to the ground.

Trip vs. Maurit (for realz this time) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

"Hang in there, Dasiji..." Good thing we picked up those wands...

Unable to act, Dasiji thinks. Perhaps I should've come up with a better plan than "stab it with the pointy end."

Irijaya purses her lips as Dasiji freezes in place. She mutters something imprecatory under her breath with regards to the monstrous ex-Pathfinder, then approaches the creature and lays hands on her, showering her with positive energy. This looks like it would feel wonderful... if used on the living.

Natiacy hiwry yu vhelaclel isqoniyz, lricel bunyr! Vonel Hiwry Fuoctl!

Cure Light Wounds on Maurit, DC 15... she's not gonna like this. 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

MA: Move to Ghoul SA: Cast

Ah, it's been brought to my attention that I need to cast defensively to make this work out. I will do so, making the requisite DC 17 Concentration check. CHA mod +4, level 1:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Quintus' Whip catches Maurit's leg and upends her. She screams as the cleansing energy of Irijaya washes over her.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4. Yeah, that hurt.

Zedril!

Dopple...

Zedril swings at the crazed woman ghoul at his feet, Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, dealing 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.

The creature that once was the Pathfinder Maurit Zergo twitches, and lays still, taking the journey to her final resting place.

After several moments, Dasiji is able to roust himself and move again.

Combat End

That was an unpleasant surprise. Perhaps this may not be merely a recovery quest.

Zedril pokes at the now lifeless body with his blade, searching it for any clues to its origin and of course any loot.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

You find on Maurit a set of Masterwork Thieves Tools, Dagger, Shortbow with arrows, one Potion of Protection from Evil, and two Potions of Cure Light Wounds.

After standing motionless for almost half a minute, Dasiji suddenly flails about with an "Aaaugh!" He recovers with an expression of profound relief. "Oh thank goodness. I was afraid I was going to be stuck that way." Dammit, this is going to be one of *those* missions. I should've brought some bedsheets.

Kehl exhales in relief as the woman dies again, but still remains too wary to actually relax.

"You alright, Dasiji?" He asks, as he picks up the masterwork tools.

"These will probably be far too useful in there," Kehl grumbles. He gestures at the door, then goes to investigate it. "Onward, then."

Perception check on door 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

It's an iron bound wood door, slightly rotted. You detect no Traps, and it seems to be unlocked.

So, is someone going to claim those Potions?

"I wouldn't mind one of those healing potions, since I'll be in front. Also, it would be good for us to designate someone to carry any potions or scrolls that no has claimed, just so that we always know where they are. Maybe Quintus? Since he tends to stand back a bit from the fray, and Irijaya might be too busy keeping someone alive to get out a needed item."

"Seems reasonable enough to me. Since I'll likely be annhiliated in a fireball when trying t o open a trapped door. Speaking of which..."

Kehl opens the door.

Bam! Just kidding. :)

Sunlight floods into a dark hallway. Attached to the north wall at this corridor junction is the relief carving of a giant face. The relief is that of a Qadiran man with a billowing beard. His eyes are closed, and his lips are parted, as if he were blowing out a flame. His lips frame a deep hole in the wall. The paint once adorning the relief is chipped and faded, but traces of its brilliant blues and pristine whites are still visible here and there. On the man’s forehead is a single Kelish word, carved in a flowing script. “Air”

To the left the corridor takes a sharp right into what looks to be a room. To the right it disappears into shadows and cobwebs, but you spot a door on the left side of the hall about 20’ down.

Irijaya looks over the bas relief on the wall.

Hmm. This appears to be the source of a magical aura I sensed earlier. I wonder what it does?

She searches the relief for any indication of its use or purpose.

Perception at +0, but hey, it's in character of her to look. 1d20 ⇒ 5

You could cast Detect Magic again and then roll Spellcraft to attempt to figure it out, or you could just stare at the nice carving and then move on.

The skill check is not Spellcraft for Detect Magic in this case, it's Knowledge: Arcana, which I can't use because it's untrained. Hence my attempt to use a different skill. That's OK, I don't figure it out.

Hmmm. Actually, I guess that's sort of a fine line. If you would consider this to be "determining the properties of a magic item," then the check is Spellcraft. If, on the other hand, you would first expect me to "determine the school of magic involved," that's a Knowledge: Arcana check. It's kind of complicated. I'll go with your ruling.

Also, technically, I shouldn't know that this is an evocation aura in the first place, since I only concentrated for two rounds and did not make a skill check the first time I cast the spell. I'll fix that in my character post. Ye gods, this spell is messy.

Damn vague wording. Ok, never mind, I’m going with you don’t know what is does.

Fair enough.

Knowledge Religion?
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

I'll take the Shortbow if noone else wants it. I don't have a ranged weapon.

Well friends, the real journey begins now, tread lightly. And well done back there, a battle we all walk away from is a successful one.

Dasiji stares at the nice carving. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Then he lights his miner's lantern (unless he notices some indication that it would be a bad idea). Putting away his flint & steel and placing his lantern back on his head, Dasiji draws his new greatsword due to the narrower spaces inside the castle.

"I feel like exploring to the left first, not that it matters. If that's okay with everyone, let's go! But I also feel like I'm forgetting something... oh yeah. I should probably do something about this." The stoic ranger gestures at the rather nasty wound where the ghoul's claws raked him. HP: 6/12

Once everybody's ready, Dasiji leads the way, treading as quietly as he can with his pack stuffed to the gills. Taking 10 => 16 on Perception for passive checks. Stealth: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 3 = 14

After remembering his wound, Dasiji also remembers that he just recently got a wand to heal with. "Now, I've never used this before..." The magical novice points the wand of cure light wounds at himself and makes an act of will, triggering some of the magic contained in the little stick. 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 The Ijo's dusky skin knits together in moments, leaving only rent, blood-spattered clothing to mark where he had been injured. "Ooh, nice!" He puts the wand away. "Everybody ready?"

Ready, lead the way Dasiji.

Dasiji, you can't use that wand until level 4, so we'll assume you handed it to the oracle and she handed it back after use.

This large room is dank, and a strange draft flows through it carrying with it a foul odor. Rubble is strewn here and there. A strange, slimy slick glistens down the western wall. Near the slick is a wooden door. The only sound in this room is a faint drip echoing from deeper in the dungeon. A rubble strewn passage leads to another large room to the north.

So, this is how I do things: when I disagree, then I state my case once, but don't argue. Because I'm here for fun, and arguments aren't fun.

Dasiji examines the slimy slick and the wooden door. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12; Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"Let's check behind this door, then continue north if it's just a single room without any exits."

Zedril follows Dasiji and examines the wooden door.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

The odor in here is unpleasant, that is never a good sign.

Sorry... couldn't post much yesterday...

At the mention of a magical aura, Quintus tries himself to determine its properties. Reciting a Kelish verse, he casts detect magic.

Knowledge (Arcana) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Looking up, he notices that the others seem to have moved on, and the bard does a little jog to catch up.

Dasiji, this slimy thing looks somewhat unnatural, even more so when it peals itself off the wall and comes after you!

Slam Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6, and miss on the first swing.

Round 1

Initiative:
Dasiji 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Kehl 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Irijaya 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Quintus 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Zedril 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Ooze 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (7) - 5 = 2

Go Pathfinders!

Kehl recoils at the sight of the creature, drawing a dagger and a jar of alchemist's fire.

"Gods! What is that hideous thing?!"

Now I wish I was playing a character, just so I could respond to that question...