Expedition to Tharkad-Kûl

Game Master Patrick Curtin

Still cursing, Eldon puts away his crossbow, and pulls out his rapier. *grumble grumble grumble*

After pushing the burning zombie of the cliff, Borondon turns to the rest of the party.

"I'm catching up." He sees Eldon pull out his rapier and chuckles.

"He he, that's not gonna work neither, little guy."

Sondergang looks to Ingrahild...

"Lets see if your god's power has better luck Lass..I'm nearly spent for today"

"Let them return...they will fall as quickly as the last"

He casts his last spell on Svetla..Spontaneous casting..lose bless for CLW on Svetla 1d8+1=4

Sondergang's sonorous chanting in Dwarven echoes over the canyon walls, taking on a spectral sound as the deep voiced dwarf prays to Torag. Svetla feels a wash of relief as the deep stabbing pain in her side receeds. The puncture wounds pucker and close, leaving faded almost-healed scabs in their wake.

The zombie pieces on the ramp still twitch with residual necromantic energy. The two turned zombies have outlasted the effects of Sondergang's banishing and are now once again shuffling out to the ramp.

Posts actions on zombies. There will be time for 1 rd of actions before they arrive.

Ingra casts Guidance (+1 to att, skill, or ST on next roll) on Borondon for this round and next round will use her Sheild Maiden ability on him (-2 AC to Ingra, +2 AC to Borondon)

I am sure SOndergang wants to wait for a larger group of undead than 2 for Ingra to use her Channel energy on

"Let them return...they will fall as quickly as the last"

"Aye, that they will." Borondon says as he puts his spear back and draws his axe, waiting for his next victim.

Merzhan walks toward the frontline with a seer of disgust for the mindless persistance of the undead.

"Burn in the ever-cleansing purity of Fire!"

1d20+2=20
1d6+1=7

Divel draws his sword and waits, in case the last two reach him.

Navorn steps back to allow anyone who can hurt the beast forward while keeping himself between them and the less protected party members

Calling on the power of earth Sondergang fires off an acid bolt at the first zombie to come into range. It sails past the undead and impacts on the ground hissing as it eats at the rock

1d20 =4, 1d6+1=7

Sondergang mutters under his breath

If either of the zombies come within reach of Borondon, he swings:

melee attack (1d20+7=10)

and misses.

>>MAP<<

Actions rd 1:

Svetla: 23 [Swinging]
Navorn: 22 [stepping back, defending]
Divel: 21 [sword at the ready]
Eldon: 20 [grumbling/pending]
Ingrahild: 18 [shielding Borondon]
Merzhan: 18 [firebolt!]
Borondon: 18 [attack readied]
Sondergang: 16 [acid bolt]
Death's Head Zombies: 10 [attacking]

For convenience I am just keeping the initiatives as they were

Svetla awaits the first zombie poised to attack

ATK: 1d20+3=16, DAM: 1d8+3=10

As the first zombie approaches her she roundhouse cuts and takes the undead horror's head off. The rotted creature flops and falls down the crevasse, its head following swiftly after.

Merzhan's firebolt hits the other zombie, causing it to burst into flame. Its hair goes up like a torch, causing weird shadows to dance along the dark ramp.

The flaming undead approaches, whereupon Borondon attemps to decapitate it. A misjudged foot placement makes his swing go wide, missing the beast.

Sondergang chants loundly and gestures at the flaming corpse. A greenish spray erupts from his outstretched palm, missing the zombie and hissing against the rock face.

The zombie at C32 is gone, the other one has advanced to C28 to face Borondon. Post up any actions.

Actions rd 1:

Svetla: 23 [Swinging]
Navorn: 22 [stepping back, defending]
Divel: 21 [sword at the ready]
Eldon: 20 [JUGGLING]
Ingrahild: 18 [shielding Borondon]
Merzhan: 18 [firebolt!]
Borondon: 18 [attack readied]
Sondergang: 16 [acid bolt]
Death's Head Zombies: 10 [attacking]

In lack of productive things to do, Eldon has been taught how to act: Juggle!

Natural 1

Eldon remembers he can't juggle...

If it is still standing when it's his turn, Borondon swings at the zombie in front of him.

melee attack (1d20+6=22)
damage (1d10+4=14)

DM

Eldon pulls out some items from his pack and attempts to juggle them. He ends up spilling them across the ramp just as Divel explodes into action, tumbling towards the burning zombie and slashing it with his dagger.

Something goes terribly wrong. Divel's footing is comprimised by an item rolling under his foot. His slash goes way wide, overbalancing him sharply, his tumble turns into an awkward fall towards the open crevasse on the ramp.

Divel roll me another Reflex please.

Borondon manages to end the undead existence of the last zombie with an ecomomical slash of his axe

Into the dungeon! (Once we figure out Divel's fate)

Oh, shit

I hate my dice. Second Reflex save 6+7=13. Oops.

The group watches, frozen in a moment of horror, as Divel tumbles into the gaping crack that fissures the ramp.

I am open to any sort of saving measures anyone can come up with. Divel, if your dice can stop hating you a DC 20 Reflex will allow you to stop from falling to your death (for now)

Anyone close to him, who has the rope? If no on has it any chance one of us can get to it and throw it to him?

Hmm... its seems thats Eldon is the closest to Divel. Despite my small size, you think I could make a reflex to try and grab him for a few seconds, allowing the stronger people in the group to sidle over and to help him up? Eldon is pretty speedy.

Borondon is next to the edge and still tied into the rope, and Svelta is tied to him. How far away is Divel? If he is close enough Borondon could leap and try to grab him. I guess Svelta would have to make a Strength check to avoid being pulled off with them?

Divel knows exactly where his short rope is. In his backpack.

Unable to stop himself falling off the ledge, he jumps into the air, and performs a somersault, reaching out with dagger in hand for the first convenient crack in the folding rock.

My wife is going to make this roll. Reflex save 11+7=18. She asked if she could do best of three!

EDIT: I'm not sure if you will allow this but can I make a tumble (acrobatics) check to get a +2 bonus. Don't worry I rolled a 1.

Borondon is next to the edge and still tied into the rope, and Svelta is tied to him. How far away is Divel? If he is close enough Borondon could leap and try to grab him. I guess Svelta would have to make a Strength check to avoid being pulled off with them?

OK, this is how it's gotta go down. Last chance, then the dice hath spoken.

Borondon you are close enough to grab at Divel. You need to roll a touch attack to grab him. Then you need to roll a Strength check (DC15) to avoid slipping down with him. You will get a +2 aid another from Svetla, since she will aid in bracing you via the rope as you leap. If by some chance you fumble as you try to grab Divel I will need a Reflex Check.

Eldon, unfortunately your mass would make it a lot harder to stop Divel from swan diving. If you want, you can grab the rope that ties Borondon. Let's say it's an AC 14 for purposes of grabbing. This will give Borondon another +2 on his Strength check. I will need a Reflex Check as well if you do this. A low roll would portend bad things for you. Also I will need a second Reflex Check if you should fumble while grabbing the rope.

Eldon, unfortunately your mass would make it a lot harder to stop Divel from swan diving. If you want, you can grab the rope that ties Borondon. Let's say it's an AC 14 for purposes of grabbing. This will give Borondon another +2 on his Strength check. I will need a Reflex Check as well if you do this. A low roll would portend bad things for you. Also I will need a second Reflex Check if you should fumble while grabbing the rope.

I'll do it! But first I have to go to school. See ya'll tonight.

Borondon grabs Divel as he is slipping off the edge.

touch attack to grab Divel (1d20+5=25)

I'll wait for the results of Eldon's roll before I do the Strength check.

DAMN IT!!
13

This is not good

Strength check (1d20+6=9)

A 3....

Not good at all.

Shit...

Divel smiles at Borondon as he slips through the dwarf's grasp.

"Shame," he whispers.

Just for future reference, Eldon - did you include your size bonus to your roll? Patrick I don't mind. The dice have most definitely spoken.

Borondon leaps and grabs Divel tightly as the elf pitches over the side. He almost maintains his balance, but the crumbling edge cannot hold their weight. They both tumble off the side, the silk rope whizzing behind them as the group looks on, horrified.

Well as I read the situation ATM, Borondon has latched on tightly to Divel (he did roll a nat 20 to hit), but the elf's momentum has carried him over the edge (failed STR check.) Now Svetla will have to roll a DC 20 STR check to keep the two from falling to their deaths, and dragging her as well (since she is still tied to Borondon.) Due to the importance of this roll I am going to see if KMD wants to roll for Svetla. I know I usually do, but this is important. Everyone else: You can either try to grab Svetla (touch atk success) or the rope (AC 14 for purposes of grabbing). Every success will give a +2 bonus to Svetla's STR check. If Svetla fails in this endeavor she will be going over the side as well.

Alternately, if it comes to it, someone can slice the rope to save Svetla. They will have to give up the option of grabbing the rope or her and concentrate on slicing the rope if grabbing Svetla fails. The rope will be as above an AC 14 to hit. Slicing the rope will save Svetla, but will of course doom Borondon and Divel.

Divel stares up at Svetla and the rapidly fizzing silk rope.

"Shame again."

How far a fall are we looking at here? 10d6 might be survivable, depending on the roll. An average of 35 would render Borondon unconscious but not dead yet.

ROLLS.... 1d20 + 2 = 20. woot.

Sondergang watches aghast as first Divel and thenBorondon goes over the edge. He throws his arms around Svetlas waist adding his not inconsiderable bulk to help anchor his comrades.

touch attack 1d20=14...which makes Svetla's roll a 22

Watching as the others are dragged over navorn leaps for the rope adding his strength to sondergangs

18 that makes her roll 24

We could pull this off! It looks like they already have Divel, but might as well help....

Eldon Enjoys Saving Lives: 14

Or we all die together and make new pc's. Either or go team.

Ingra attemps to grab the rope, she rolls an 11.....

At the first opportunity, Divel reaches out for the rockface. "Let go."

He then starts climbing away from Borondon.

DM

Bornodon lets go of Divel.

"Pull me up!" he yells to the group above.

After a moment of horrified paralysis, the party springs into action. Svetla sets herself, gripping a large boulder resting on the ramp's surface. Sondergang bearhugs her and plants his feet solidly. Navorn and Eldon grab for the rapidly descending rope. Ingrahild attempts to help, but just misses the wildly-twitching rope.

The rope tightens, creaking Svetla's ribs, producing an involuntary groan from her lips as it compresses her torso cruelly 1 hp damage for the massive Indian Rope Burn. Divel and Borondon are jerked to a halt, smashing against the rockface (2 hp ea in damage). After recovering their bearings, Divel ascends the cliff face and the rest of the party pulls on the silk rope. Borondon is slowly but surely hauled up to the ramp.

Nice work all. I had thoughts of three folks going over the edge, glad you guys pulled it off.

Panting on the ramp, the group takes a minute to recover then they turn to face the giant carven dwarf head leading into Tharkad-Kûl.

Post any actions and a party conga line. It's finally dungeon time! :)

Navorn looks around and helps the others away from the edge. " well my friends that was a hairing experience" With a grin he looks toward the entrance and back to the group and walks over to help Divel up from the cliff facing" You taunted fate my friend,It will make a fine tale"

"Right..let's not ever haver to do that again"

Sondergang turns in fury on the halfling....

"Either concentrate on your function here or leave...this is your final warning. You very nearly caused three deaths through your stupidity"

Borondon lays on his back on the ledge for a minute, gasping.

"By Torag's hammer, that was close."

"We face danger enough without endangering each other."

Ingra sheilds little Eldon behind her Mother's hips and gives a protective glare at Sondergang, "Its not as if he planned for it to work that way" She lightens her glare, "Sondergang is right though, let this be a lesson to us all these Halls are not a forgiving place, lets keep our wits about us." She turns to Eldon and offers a piece of Licorace, "Good for you Master tindertwig, this dark place can use some brevity and laughter, lets just be more careful With a worried look at Borondon, "I am glad you made it out of that

Divel pushes up onto the ledge and steps away. He slowly looks around at the rest, finishes with Eldon.

"Aranosifiel."

For those who speak elven

He returns to the tail and his fallen bow.

Eldon/DM