GM Ladile's TL;DR: A Pathfinder Society Campaign

Game Master Lady Ladile

Hepsubia dashes to the corner, without a word, being a good and obedient elf.

Unleashing a stream of Dwarven curses, Rumble quickly starts to backpedal, but not so quickly that he risks losing his footing. No leverage if I slip, I should be able to make it, come on, come on!
________
Gonna risk it. Instead of trying to hit a 10 with a -6 on the roll (armor + shield ACP), he's going to back it up and try to hide with Hepsubia and Parison. Takes an extra round (which he may or may not have), but if he fails the check to double move forward, he has no chance of making it to the alcove, catches the sewer disease, AND gets smacked by the boulder!

As the boulder barrels down the tunnel everyone makes a break for it; Maria and Effie dart forward and duck into nearby alcoves, Rumble falls back, and Hepsubia quickly moves up and steps around the corner. Zithembe, already in an alcove, wisely stays there and blesses himself with a small bit of guidance.

That just leaves Parison and Rumble out in the open...
______________

Round 3

Red
Blue + BOULDER
==============
Maria (-2; Alchemical Grease, Soothe Syrup)
Effie (Alchemical Grease)
Zithembe (-4; Antiplague, Guidance)
Parison
Hepsubia
Rumble (Alchemical Grease)

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: Normal Light (Yellow), Dim Light (Orange)

Parison is UP!

Sewers

Parison's jaw drops as he sees the boulder steamrolling right down the sewer tunnel toward him. Hearing Zithembe's shouts of instruction, the cleric turns around and makes his way back toward the corner as quickly as he can go without slipping.

"Please, blessed Dawnflower. Let me reach safety before this rock runs me down," he prays softly in hitched breaths.

Sorry for the long absence between posts. Have just really been lacking both energy and motivation in a lot of things, not just the PbP games.

As the boulder continues doing its' thing down the tunnel, the scrabbling of footsteps can be heard. Most of you aren't able to see it from your current positions but Effie does see that the Red Kobold ducks out of the alcove he'd ducked into and dash away to the east, disappearing into another alcove further up.

The boulder continues on past the two alcoves where Effie and Maria have taken shelter, still on a roll but beginning to slow down...
______________

Round 4

Red
Blue + BOULDER
==============
Maria (-2; Alchemical Grease, Soothe Syrup)
Effie (Alchemical Grease)
Zithembe (-4; Antiplague, Guidance)
Parison
Hepsubia
Rumble (Alchemical Grease)

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: Normal Light (Yellow), Dim Light (Orange)

Everyone is UP!

Sewers

Not sure what to expect and now well aware she is on the front lines, Maria whispers to Effie across the hall, "I'll flush them out.".

Stealth to Whisper?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

The nimble elf adopts a defensive posture and carefully moves forward to peek into the next alcove.

Total Defense, Move, Current AC/Tch/FF is 23/19/14.

Rumble cuts into the nearest hallway, back against the wall, breathing hard. Damn Kobolds. Lucky we're here for peace.

Leaning the side of his head against the wall near the corner, he shouts. "Any o' us get smushed?!"
________
GM, just double checking: Did you move the boulder on the map? From what I remember (which IS fuzzy and far from infallible) it looks like it is in the same place.

Zithembe frowns as the boulder turns out to be moving little faster than a slightly brisk walk.

Delay. Anticipate delaying until the boulder is past.

"Let's take 'em out Maria!" Effie cries as she nimbly scurries along the ledge, pistol drawn.

Parison looks over his shoulder and gives a sigh of relief when he sees that the boulder is still some distance behind him. He's not going to get flattened like a flapjack on a griddle, but he does see two problems. The first is that he's in complete darkness and can't see his hand in front of his face. Feeling his away along the wall, he turns the corner.

"If that boulder stops before it reaches us, the others will be alone with the kobolds," he says, surrounded in darkness and hoping that someone is close enough to hear him. "Lumos," he calls out, casting his cantrip on his holy symbol.

Parison moves around the corner and casts his Light cantrip.

Once the boulder has passed, Hepsubia dashes toward the kobolds, even running on the walls to dodge obstacles, but with a straight face and nothing of her usual enthusiasm

Double move if possible

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

With the danger of the boulder now past (at least for Maria and Effie), Maria adopts a defensive posture as she creeps forward to check the next alcove on her side...which is empty. Effie does much the same on her side, with a similar result - the next alcove is empty.

Meanwhile, Rumble continues to fall back and ducks around the nearby corner. Zithembe holds his position, waiting for the boulder to go by, and Parison does the same. The priest, now in darkness with Maria having moved much further ahead, conjures a light cantrip. Hepsubia also waits, ready to move ahead once the boulder rolls on by.

Yes, the boulder initially traveled 50 ft. from its starting position and then another 30 ft. on its next turn.

The boulder continues to roll down the tunnel but with much less speed now; it travels another 30 feet - passing by Zithembe's hiding spot - and then finally comes to a stop. Of the two kobolds, there's no sign or sound...
______________

Round 5

Red
Blue
==============
Maria (-2; Alchemical Grease, Soothe Syrup)
Effie (Alchemical Grease)
Zithembe (-4; Antiplague, Guidance)
Parison
Hepsubia
Rumble (Alchemical Grease)

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: Normal Light (Yellow), Dim Light (Orange)

Everyone is UP!

Sewers

The elf, knowing that she is both the light source for her allies and the scout, carefully moves up to the next alcove and continues looking for the kobolds.

Total Defense, Move

Still exercising much caution, Maria continues to inch her way forward in search of the kobolds. As she reaches the next alcove on her side and peers into it, she gets her answer - the grate in the floor of this alcove is broken and bears a small hole in its middle. Hanging from the grate and leading down into the hole is a rope.

Further back, Hepsubia decides to move forward as far as she can, nimbly leaping across the small gap at the sewer intersection as she does. But there's only so far she can go before she runs into the boulder that's currently blocking the way.

Hepsubia, shifted your last round action forward and moved you up; let me know if you'd rather do something else though. You also still have a Standard Action this round.
______________

Round 5

Red
Blue
==============
Maria (-2; Alchemical Grease, Soothe Syrup, Total Defense)
Effie (Alchemical Grease)
Zithembe (-4; Antiplague, Guidance)
Parison
Hepsubia
Rumble (Alchemical Grease)

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: Normal Light (Yellow), Dim Light (Orange)

Effie, Zithembe, Parison, Hepsubia (Standard Action) and Rumble are UP!

Sewers

"Does the tunnel continue around?" Zithembe calls to Maria as he emerges from the alcove. "Maybe we can meet up with the others if they take one of the side passages."

He walks along the ledge to the boulder and gives it a shove.

"Can you slide or swim under the rock through the muck?" he asks, calling through the narrow space at the bottom of the boulder.

Strength (Push): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

"Well, the kobolds have vanished. Maria, have they gone down a hole?"

Effie looks back over her shoulder, and sees that the rock has come to a standstill. "Hey, where is everyone? HELLO?"

Effie waits for more information. Delay for now - I could maybe use a Grease spell to help move the boulder?

Slowly, Parison makes his way back around the corner and up to where the boulder is. "Can we push it back?" he asks Rumble and Hepsubia. Placing both hands on the rock, he pushes with all the strength he has.

Athletics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Though the immediate threat of the kobolds seems to be past, Marie, Effie, and Zithembe now find themselves cut off from Rumble, Hepsubia, and Parison by the large boulder blocking the tunnel behind them.

Zithembe falls back and attempts see if he can push the boulder; it rocks a little as he does but otherwise doesn't budge. Effie calls out to the others and idly wonders if greasing up the boulder might help move it.

Yes, I'd absolutely allow a Grease spell to work here. Also, you guys can still hear each other despite being cut off.

From the other side, Parison also makes his way up to the boulder and tries to push it back up the tunnel from whence it came but doesn't budge it one iota. HepsubiaBot silently considers the situation as well - maybe she could blow the boulder up with a bomb or two?
______________

Round 5

Red
Blue
==============
Maria (-2; Alchemical Grease, Soothe Syrup, Total Defense)
Effie (Alchemical Grease)
Zithembe (-4; Antiplague, Guidance)
Parison
Hepsubia
Rumble (Alchemical Grease)

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: Normal Light (Yellow), Dim Light (Orange)

Effie and Rumble are UP!

Sewers

"Hang on there, guys and gals! Let me smooth the way there!"

Effie heads back to the boulder.

I don't have enough range on the Grease spell to target the boulder after a single move action - unless you'll allow a running jump to put me in range. Rules on action use for jumping seem a little vague: you can't travel more than your "maximum movement in a round" when you jump but it doesn't say if that's your Speed, twice your Speed, or the distance you could run in a round. I'm inclined to say it's twice your Speed as a maximum, and using one move action, which would mean Effie needs a 10' jump to bring her in range for Grease, and she can't fail that DC.

Rumble moves up behind Hepsubia. "If we cannae squeeze passed ih, Sledge an' aye'll smash ih down tah rubble," he offers.
________
Single move. Can't risk the acrobatics check, so that's it. Crafter's Wrath lasts a minute and ignores hardness, so he could break the boulder down if this proves difficult.

"Better we push it past you," Zithembe calls over.

Maria updates the crew, "Hole here with rope leading deeper undergrounds. It appears the Kobolds have retreated. I'll cover in case they come back, you all push that boulder out of the way or just squeeze past. Round shapes don't tend to fully block square tunnels."

With it clear that pursuing the escaped kobolds will have to wait a bit your attentions now turn to the task of getting the boulder blocking the tunnel out of the way - or at least past it.

Dropping us out of combat.

It would prove no trouble for Effie to grease the boulder up to help with getting it moving but it also looks like Maria is right - there's just enough space on either side, near the floor, to squeeze through. Not much fun for anyone that's claustrophobic but it's doable.

Swimming under the boulder via the sewer channel is also an option and probably wouldn't be that difficult...(Swim DC 10)...but it'd be pretty dang gross.

"Time is of the essence," Parison says from the other side of the massive rock. "If the kobolds are gone, it's a good bet they're telling the rest of their tribe that we're here."

Getting down on his hands and knees, the cleric does his best to squeeze past. He manages to get his head and upper chest past the boulder, but then finds himself stopped. And stuck. And feeling like a cork in a bottle.

"Hang on a second. Just give me a chance to inhale," he calls out before the others get alarmed. Taking in a deep breath, he tries to shift his frame toward the stone itself. He feels a release of pressure, realizing that his armor had been caught on the wall. Using his arms, Parison pulls himself through to the other side.

"No cracking wise about laying off cookies and sweetbread," he says to his companions on the other side as he stands up and beings to brush off what dirt and grime he can.

Rumble sighs in resignation. Wrong side to push, I'm not swimming through Kobold s@##, and we don't have the time to break the boulder. Undignified squirming and flailing it is.

He makes sure everything he owns is strapped in, then points two fingers at his eyes, then to the boulder. "Ye lucked ouh tahday," he grumbles as he wiggles through the greased spot.

By the time the Dwarf makes it past, he is sweating freely from the effort. "Ahrigh', leh's geh tah tha peacemakin' parh o' this. An' then tha bath takin' parh," he suggests as he draws Sledge and his shield.

He gives Parison a playful nudge with his elbow. "On tha otha 'and, if ye 'ad more o' 'em, we'd be forced tah break it tah bits, haha!"

Only Rumble would give a boulder the evil eye XD

It takes a little bit of time and effort - mostly to avoid getting stuck - but Parison, Rumble, and then Hepsubia all manage to squeeze and wriggle their way around the boulder to rejoin the rest of the group. There'll still likely be the matter of getting back out later but at least everyone should be on the same side then, which'll make pushing it out of the way much easier.

Once you're all reunited you can finally take the time to investigate the escape route that the kobolds took - a broken grate and a rope dangling down into darkness. Application of a light source for anyone peering down the hole can see that it looks to drop about 20 feet before opening up into a large chamber below; filled with trash and other debris, it seems to be an overflow chamber from the sewers.

While it might be possible to simply squeeze through the broken grate as-is, the jagged metal ends would likely cause some damage unless a person happened to be moderately dexterous. Probably easiest to see if the whole thing can simply be picked up and removed before heading down.

Sewers

Once he has finished helping pull his comrades through the narrow squeeze, he heads carefully along the ledge to meet with the others.

"That looks like a proper otyugh lair," Zithembe comments darkly. "Let us see if we can get this grate out of the way."

Maria notices the trouble fitting through the gap, "You all could join me for my morning run if you wanted, really keeps the body toned."

She tries to help Zith pull the grate off.

Aid Str: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Str, Manytools: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 1 + 2 = 21

Ressourceful as ever, silent as never, Hepsubia quickly puts her traveler's omnitool as a crowbar, and pushes away the jagged ends on the bars to give some more way.

Oy, ye Elves are all lanky cause yer Elves! Us Dwarves are not, cause we're Dwarves! There ain't enough runnin' in tha world that'll make a Dwarf as skinny as an Elf, haha!" Rumble boasts proudly. Not that any real Dwarf would want to be that skinny, mind. "Aye expected jokes from Hepsubia, not ye Maria!" he comments.

"Aye agree, ah buncha rubbish is surely tha 'ome o' an Otyugh. Does anybody know sumthin' abouh them?"
________
Str (Aid) vs Hepsubia: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Hey, they called me 'big Effie' 'cus I got stuck in a sprite's underwater library, remember?" Effie laughs.

"Wait, do we have to go down there?! Is it time to drink the anti-plague?"

Zithembe backs away from the grate to allow room for Hepsubia and her multitool to do their work.

"Once the way is free, shall I descend to be otyugh bait?" he asks. He takes the moment to draw a wand and seal the wound on his arm as well. "I had forgotten about that scratch."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Oof, yer righ' Big Effie, toss ih back if ye 'aven't!" Rumble agrees, drinking both his antiplague and his antitoxin. He stares at the empty bottles, his face warped with consternation. "Is ih litterin' if yer in tha sewers? Does ih mattah if ih is a Kobold's lair?" he asks earnestly.
________
Normally, I think a rearguard would have merit. However, I think with the current situation, Rumble going in right after Zithembe might be the better tactical choice. Zithembe has nice AC, Rumble's covered in grease. Should make us annoying targets for the others to come down "safely."

Maria also closes up the small scratch she received, "If you all wish to lead, no issues here. Likely past most of the trap stuff anyway."

1 charge will heal her 2 damage, 43 charges left on CLW wand

"These are kobolds we are dealing with," Parison says as he moves up to join the rest of the group. "There will probably be more traps. Keep a close eye out."

The cleric smirks at Maria's words of physical fitness. "To only have your metabolism," he says in wistful tone of regret bordering on sarcasm. Seeing the others down their protection from diseases and poisons, Parison follows suit and downs his antiplague. "I'd feel better with Zithembe taking the lead, or if Rumble takes lead," he advises. "I'll admit I know nothing about otyughs."

Parison moves up and chugs his antiplague. Can someone move me up with the others? I can't seem to move my token for some reason.

With a bit of work and the aid of Hepsubia's multitool it proves little trouble for the broken grate to be removed, allowing for safe passage down the hole - or at least as safe as such things can be. Certain that more trouble lies below, everyone that hasn't already done so downs their antiplagues as Zithembe prepares to head down first with Rumble following second.

In terms of time, it takes a full-round action to descend the rope to the room below. The rope is a knotted rope (DC 5 Climb) so, in theory, no one should have trouble climbing down.

In no need of a light, the shabti makes his way down the rope to the chamber below. The majority of the room is filled with trash and debris that has fallen into the room from above. The water is two to three feet deep on the outer edges of the room and the mound of trash peaks in the center of the room are a full five feet over the water line. Looking up, Zithembe can see that there are eight large openings in the ceiling covered in filth and slime, that would seem to correspond to the rest of the grates above. Two other grates lead to large drainpipes on the east and west sides of the chamber but both grates appear secured.

Think of the trash compactor scene from Star Wars Episode IV; lots of trash and other garbage piled high in the center sections of the room with what amounts to knee/hip-high water for most of you as you get near the walls. Note: this entire chamber is difficult terrain.

Sewers

"Ewwwww, that's so gross! Hep, looks like we'll need that tool of yours again. Zith, can you tell which way the kobolds went?"

Effie draws her pistol again, careful to keep it above the waterline.

Is all of the 'Sewer Dragons' lair like this? Why did I sign up for this again?

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
DD, Msw tools: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 = 26

Hepsubia moves slowly but quietly among the filth toward the nearest grate, her senses alert for an ambush.

IF she manages to reach the grate she starts to try to open it

Maria waits for the others to head down, providing her light as they climb. She then takes her time to make sure she doesn't fall into the trash and get any in her mouth.

Going Last

Climb Take 10: 10 + 4 = 14

Waiting to see if Zith and Rumble (who is presumably next down the rope after Zith) wish to do anything in particular before I post my next update.

Zithembe moves out of the way of the others' descent and looks for signs of the kobolds' passage (or danger). "I am not sure which way they went," he says as Rumble climbs down the rope.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13

Climb-Take Ten: 10 + 1 = 11

Parison takes the rope and slowly climbs down into the trash filled room. Having already taken a plunge into sewage, the priest isn't sure if the smell in the room is emanating from him or the garbage. Or both.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," he says, looking around at the surroundings. The fact that the kobolds are nowhere in sight does nothing to take the edge off of the cleric's uneasiness after the experience of being on the wrong end of a crude but effective booby trap. "How's everyone else holding up?" he asks as he looks around the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Sorry, end of year reports were due and I had some last minute grading to do!

Rumble slides down the rope, his gauntlets taking the bulk of the heat from the friction. With a foul *plop!* the Dwarf lands and moves out of the way for anyone else. "Aye dunno either, buh leh's make sure tha place is safer fer tha othas first," he says, Sledge and his shield in hand.
________
Survival for Tracks?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Zithembe silently reaches to his face to carefully wipe away a bit of muck that landed there after Rumble’s descent and resultant splash, nearly stabbing is eye out with the knife in his hand.

As Rumble begins his descent down the rope Zithembe takes the opportunity to peer around for any signs of the kobolds or any other trouble that might await. About the time the dwarf plops down into the trash and water and debris next to him, Zithembe hears a sound from the east - and there he can see the two kobolds behind the eastern grate, smiling widely.

Then, the trash pile in the center of the room lurches and bulges upward as a three-legged, three-tentacled creature emerges, licking its large mouth in anticipation.

"MMMMM! LIVE MORSELS! GURVA EAT GOOD TODAY!"

Since you were all expecting trouble and the kobolds were expecting pursuit, there's no surprise from either side regarding these developments.

Round 1

Effie (Alchemical Grease)
==============
Kobold Green
Kobold Red
==============
Rumble (Alchemical Grease, Antiplague, Antitoxin)
==============
Gurva
==============
Parison (Antiplague)
Hepsubia
Maria (Alchemical Grease, Soothe Syrup)
Zithembe (Antiplague)

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: Difficult Terrain - Entire Room

Effie is UP!

Sewers
______________

I noted this on the map as well but remember that it's a full round action to descend the rope and the entire room below is considered difficult terrain.

"Otyugh can speak?" Zithembe remarks. So flabbergasted that he forgets what he should be doing for a moment.

"I don't care if it can speak, it plans to eat you!"

Effie ducks her head down the hole to the trash heap, and without dropping into the midden she aims her gun and shoots!

bang! vs Gurva, pbs, deadly aim, vs touch: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 20damage, pbs, da, focused aim: 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 + 4 = 12

Actions: move, and a standard to shoot, swift and 1 grit for focused aim. I plan to reload and start Inspire Courage next round.

Rather than waste time climbing down while her friends are in trouble Effie simply steps up to the hole and ducks her head down into it, nailing the otyugh Gurva with a bullet to the midsection!

"OW! HEY. STOP THAT."

From beyond the eastern grate the sound of crossbows being locked and loaded can be heard...
______________

Round 1

Effie (Alchemical Grease)
==============
Kobold Green
Kobold Red
==============
Rumble (Alchemical Grease, Antiplague, Antitoxin)
==============
Gurva (-12)
==============
Parison (Antiplague)
Hepsubia
Maria (Alchemical Grease, Soothe Syrup)
Zithembe (Antiplague)

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: Difficult Terrain - Entire Room

Rumble is UP!

Sewers

"NOBODY EATS MY FRIENDS UNLESS THEY ASK TO BE EATEN, YA HEAR ME?!"

Rumble smiles. "Effie, aye always knew thah yer prior-ah-ties were in ordah!" he shouts back up the hole. And now to business.

"In tha name o' all thah is holy," he begins, smashing Sledge against his shield. It begins to thrum with glowing energy. "Yield er aye'll cleanse ye from tha realm!" He shouts as he shuffles forward and swings Sledge at the Otyugh.
________
Sledge (PA, FF, DF) vs Gurva: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 = 211d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 12
That was spectacular Effie! XD Fervor a Divine Favor, move or 5ft (pending discussion tab), swing Sledge.