GM Parrot's The Ferry and the Depths: Rappan Athuk (Inactive)

Game Master parrot familiar

Anzath stops just short of the door and peeks into the room. A weight is lifted from her chest, her comrades came out victorious, but the halfling looks a bit beat down.

She takes a deep breath then steps into the sarcophagus room, holding her chin up to hide her loss of pride. She tries to smile, but it manifests as a twitch at the corner of her mouth. ”It iz good to see you’ve remained alive. I... am sorry.”

I have updated the map, see "demon's gullet masked 2" for Talathel's odyssey through room 33, the fire room, with the portcullis to its left. You are currently in room 29. Edit: I determined both Tal's and Anzath's path by flipping coins at crossroads. Tal would have caught glimpses of things like the staircase at 1 and several doors on his way. Anzath pretty much retraced already-seen stuff.

Aurora takes a few deep breaths to steady herself, then moves on over to Brand to brush her fingers over his shoulder and discharge the Cure spell. "That... was a very unfortunate incident...

"Hold still," she adds, before setting into another incantation, fingers tracing through the air as she prays.

Lesser Restoration — Lesser restoration dispels any magical effects reducing one of the subject’s ability scores or cures 1d4 points of temporary ability damage to one of the subject’s ability scores. It also eliminates any fatigue suffered by the character, and improves an exhausted condition to fatigued. It does not restore permanent ability drain.
1d4 ⇒ 1

She rests a hand over her eye as if fending off a migraine and sighs. "We need to find our allies and go back to the camp... rest for a few hours. I will try to reinvigor you further when I have more spells," the cleric says as she rises back to her feet. She retrieves a stick of chalk from her belongings and moves over to mark each sarcophagus lid; the opened ones with what they had contained, and the unopened one with a large question mark.

"Agreed. We came very close to deaths this time and another fught like that before rest would guarantee them. Let us withdraw, restore ourselves, and push deeper afterwards."

Feeling really responsible, Anzath offers to carry Brand’s extra gear for him.

Brand looks up at Aurora, and with deeply honest eyes and a soft tone shares his gratitude. "Tank ye, lady Aurora. Me bones still be feelin' offaly weak, but I tink I can at least manage teh get teh me feet now."

Slowly, Brand places one hand on the side of the empty sarcophagus and the other atop his mace-cane, then pulls himself unsteadily up onto his feet. "When I was a lad, I took wit de gray fever. Most terrible, ye see. Felt weak fer days, cud barely lift me 'and. Kinda feel like dat agin now, ye see? So yes, I tink de camp wud be a gud idea."

As they make their way out of the chamber, Brand smiles up at Talathel and Anzath. His tone is weak but genuine and playful, lacking any resentment or malice. "Now, weered ye two get off teh in such a 'urry? I mean, ye boat gut yer pale, almost gray skin an' pointy ears. An' course, Tal, yer a lad, an' Anzath, well, yer a lass, so I understan'. An' danger, it gets de passion pumpin'. Juust, next time cud ye save yer lovers' trist fer a moment when we ain't facin' down a demon-possessed skeletal 'orror? Tanks. "

Current Stats:
AC 16, tch 12, flt 15 (+4 armor, +1 dex, +1 size)
Str 3 (normal: 12)
Speed 20
Skill Check Pen -6

Somewhat confused, Anzath looks quickly to Talathel. So he ran too...

Suddenly catching on to Brand’s implications, the half-Drow stands suddenly rigid, her face twitching. Is that a smile of embarrassment? A scowl of disgust? It’s hard to tell.

Turning her back sharply to the elf, she pulls her hood over her head. “Ve shouldn’t vaste time. De path out iz clear, I believe. But perhapz not for long, yez?”

Brand's heroic banter echoes into the darkness...

Wandering Monster: 1d20 ⇒ 7

...and nobody is listening. This time.

The party reaches the shaft up to the fountain room. You're now confronted with a bit of a puzzle: How will you get the overencumbered housecat-equivalent up a ladder with a broken rung?

Bedlam gathers as much gear as needed, leading the way back.

Brand looks at the others as they start to fret about him and getting him up the ladder. "Look, I can climb a'right, if'n someone cud just 'aul up me bag." Unshouldering his pack, you'd swear the halfling had just unloaded a dwarf off his back the way he sighs in relaxation. Spitting into his hands, he rubs them and begins climbing.

Encumbrance is as follows for strength 3, small: light load 7.5#, medium 15#, heavy 22.5#. My armor is 10# and my two swords 1# each (total 12#), so if I hand off my pack with the rest of my gear, I am reduced to medium load and only a -3 on the skill check. I will activate a use of my halfling adaptable luck to grant me a +3 to offset the penalty.

climb: 1d20 + 5 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 3 + 3 = 13

Anzath eyeballs Brand. The halfling must weigh, what? 75 lbs?

"If ve go up first, ve can pull you up vid rope."

The darn lucky halfling scrambles up the ladder... I figure everyone else can get up in good time. From there, it's a hop skip and a jump to camp.

Has the camp been visited while you were gone?: 1d10 ⇒ 6 Nope.

Elma, Sarge, and the Private all grin as you approach. There's a bunch of new shallow graves at the base of the opening of the dungeon--they've buried Jack and his bandits.

After the initial jubilation wears off, they look suspiciously at Anzath, but accept the party's explanations. After all, you found Tal down there, and he seems alright.

Elma proudly flashes a gold ring on her finger. "I gambled this ring off of Lolly before he went back into his woods. Boy, he seemed shaken up, but I guess he lives here, and he'll be alright. This ring! He found it at a Gambling God temple or something! It's magic! Anyone want to bet 100 gold on a coin flip for it?"

Much of her story is old news to the delvers, and she quickly quiets down and listens to the tales of the party's adventures. Do you show your business partners your loot?

Bedlam marches into the fortified camp. The dwarf drops the sacks of treasure at her feet.
We be need'n to resr, recover and reflect. Any restoration magicks be much 'ppreciated. We settle up in da morning.

He goes into a tent and collapses on a bunk.

What time of day is it when we reach camp?

Anzath keeps her hood drawn as they exit the dungeon, lugging Brand's gear as well as her own. She keeps her distance from Elma and her men unless they address her directly. She doesn't have that kind of coin to gamble away, so she busies herself organizing her share of the loot.

"Vhen ve are rested, ve vill go to town, yez?"

Talathel does the rare. The unheard of. He...

...chuckles.

"Oh very good, Brand! I appreciate your efforts to raise morale, but the only spear I have wielded this day is the one I just picked up."

A smile lingers on his usually dead pan face for a little longer, as if thinking about something pleasant.

****************

Back at the camp, he greets those present.

"I am glad that the camp has not suffered another reverse in our absence. And that Lolly made it to the surface. I can hardly blame him for fleeing. The Black Skeleton panicked even myself.", he says, matter-of-factly.

"I would take first watch, rest, and then assess our situation. But a trip to town sounds provisionally a fine idea.", he says, glancing at Anzath.

"Yes. I think restocking would be a fine idea, and we might actually have enough worthwhile goods to sell..." She rubs at her face and settles down by the fire ring. "I'm sure Elma can appraise the value of the goods."

She looks to Anzath and gestures for the half-drow to come sit by her, and even attempts to entice her with a story, "Did we ever tell you about the time we charged at a small army..?"

Anzath joins Aurora, keeping her gaze averted from Talathel's, for the time being.

"Yez, I believe you did mention someding... koboldz, yez?"

Elma's eyes reflect the glow of the golden skull... or is it merely avarice on her part?

"This is... this is excellent. I can sell some of these to collectors and I can use the rest as collateral to outfit my next expedition! And I'd be honored to work with you again when the time came... if you turn these things over to me I bet I could get you each raw coin of... thousands... several thousands. I'll understand if you've grown attached to any of it... She lifts Yaza's Skeletal Champion's helm and flips the visor open and shut a few times. ...that'd take a chunk out of your own share, but it could be arranged. The important thing is to show my creditors that there's real wealth down there, it's not just stories."

Visitors while you rest?: 1d10 ⇒ 41d10 ⇒ 81d10 ⇒ 101d10 ⇒ 5

No visitors. Feel free to chat with each other and/or the NPCs, hang around, explore backstories, pop spells before resting, etc. When you're ready (and I'd be especially glad if Tragershen returns first), we'll begin...

DAY SEVEN

of Nethys' Investigation

"I think we got a good sampling of what the depths have to offer us."

After a moment, he adds "Perhaps we should accompany Elma back. More hands on the roads around here would probably be prudent. Also, we could do some shopping with the proceeds and perhaps better prepare ourselves for the next delve."

Looking to Elma specifically, he asks "How long do you think it would take to make such a journey?"

Brand is tired and weak, and most looking forward to a long night's sleep. That desire is put on pause though as he listens to Elma seemingly refer to their findings as her loot and them as some kind of hired hand. Brand slowly walks over to her, placing his hand atop the skull. "Elma, p'rhaps ye missed de part where we delved in teh de depths o' Rappan Athuk an' faced de 'orrors wit'in. Where I disarmed a multitude o' insideous traps teh recover dis skull. An' where an accursed corpse nearly tore de life from me body. Now, ye said ye'd work as our broker, an' keep a camp fer ease at de entrance, fer dat I tank ye, an' it earns ye a cut. But we did already save ye twice, an' we are de ones taken on de risk, so we'll be seein' de lion's share. So, p'rhaps a bit o' negotiatin' is in order..."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Talathel seizes upon what Brand is up to, and attempts to assist.

"As my talented colleague has stated, we have endangered ourselves repeatedly during this expedition. A larger share of the proceeds seems only fair. We can provide extra security on your route to improve the deal."

Aid another on Brand's diplomacy to persuade Elma: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Brand then smirks widely at Elma. "All dat said, I'll gladly take ye up on yer wager o'er de ring! But who will we get teh flip said coin?"

Elma smiles at Brand. "As if I could ever forget how you saved me! Oh, adventurers--so street smart, so bad at business. But I guess it stands to reason that if the monsters find you unmanageable, I will, too! Here are your options: you can return to the city and sell your (our) treasures to dealers. You'll make a pretty penny. Ten to fifteen, somewhere in there. Everyone gets a few thousand, gets some solid secondhand equipment, and then you all go back in for more, six-vs.-the-darkness. And I have to settle for less when I try to raise capital. OR: You can let me do my thing. We'll form a company in Riddleport, hire some bards to talk us up, attract investors, take out loans, and shop high-class from custom smiths and enchanters. We’ll hire support staff. We’ll talk to politicians, get exclusive concessions, legal monopolies, naval escort…” Realizing she’s getting ahead of herself, she flushes slightly. “Well, we’ll see about the navy, maybe. We have to get out of here first.”

Hearing that Brand wants to flip for the ring, she says, "Mr. Talathel: flip a coin for us? I'll call heads."

Tal, do us a favor: Roll d2. If 1, Elma wins 100 GP from Brand. If 2, Brand wins the Ring of Double or Nothing.

Hmmm. She does make a reasonable point. But I am not swayed enough to say so.

"I will indeed flip the coin, Elma."

1d2 ⇒ 2

Hurrah!

Elma looks just a little relieved to be handing over the ring. "Makes me feel reckless."

Quick reminder, Brand: the ring allows you to reroll a melee miss once a day. If it is a threat, it automatically confirms. If it is a hit, you miss. If you miss, you provoke an AOO--if there's nobody to take an AOO for some reason, you fall prone.

During the negotiations, Tragershen listens on, but works on the side. He pulls out his writing supplies and organizes his thoughts. He thinks back to the first part of their delve and begins to write. Taking his time, he starts to write their story. In his writing he is honest and descriptive. When they move between places in the narration, he sketches the floor plan of the area. When they encounter people or monsters, he sketches them as well and makes more esoteric notes that may aid someone encountering something similar. It will take him some time to catch up with their adventures, but his keen intellect and wizardly training gives his extraordinary recall to record their growing history with great accuracy.

He raises an eyebrow when Elma tips her hand at her grand plans, but doesn't react any more than that.

"Mhm. After all our planning, we were finally ready to come out to this island from Riddleport, and we made quite some excellent time... and then we arrived to Zelkor's Ferry under siege from an army of kobolds led by ogres, allied with the fabled Mistress of Wolves..." Aurora's legendary tale falls into a brief lull as the conversations with Elma spring up, and she watches with a lofted brow, but when it is over her attention returns to Anzath.

"We disembarked behind their lines, and fought our way into position to charge the ogre leading the attack. A dizzyingly dangerous notion, but we had come for the Dungeon of Graves and we would not be denied. And, as they say, fortune favours the bold. We struck down the ogre victoriously, and the rest fled. And if that plan hadn't worked... well, we'd be quite hideously dead."

Zzz zzz...me think her plan be a good'un...zzz zzz.....

Bedlam supports her plan, provided that the delvers receive enough to be properly equipped for further delving.

Anzath's attention too is distracted by the negotiations with Elma. It all sounds like a long game to her, which is fine. She knows there is a financial reward waiting for them back in Riddleport, now that they've taken care of Yaza. She decides to keep this fact from the money hungry merchant and returns her attention to Aurora's tale.

"Soundz like you've made namez in Zelkor'z Ferry. Perhapz our money vill go furder dere."

"There's not much in Zelkor's Ferry. Very small town. You won't find much in the way of enchanted goods there, though I think they've a small apothecary of sorts."

Anzath has no way of knowing that she's just touched a raw nerve. Elma's grin vanishes as she whirls on the half-drow, "IF you think that one-horse, cut-rate, redneck village is a better market than Riddleport, by all means, go! Sell your share to Rasmus Pye for a fraction of its value! Geeze, do you live under a rock..." Her eye lingers for a moment on Anzath... "Uh, sorry, that was probably more offensive than I meant it to be. But take my advice. DON'T sell treasures in the Ferry. It's a waste."

I call that a 'Verbal Sneak Attack'.

Anzath raises a brow at Elma's sudden outburst, a twitch on her face pulling up the corner of her mouth. She has to chuckle a little at the slight, though. Having been mostly raised by dwarves, she's proud to have lived under a rock.

"Vell den. Riddleport it iz."

This, of course, is the moment when Elma also notices Critfisher. "Wait, where'd you get that? The dwarf... where's the dwarf?"

When the party explains Joden's exit, she sighs. "And you gave it to... Anzath? Anzath, right? Well, Anzath, if you want to sell it in Riddleport we can get more than it's worth, easy."

Elma rattles on, until everyone is asleep (with plans for staggered watches as prudent). The party rises early and hits the road, unless someone has another idea.

Ok folks, here we go! Please update your stats for one night's full rest. You may take whatever actions you'd like before setting out--Lesser Rester, HP healing, etc.

Talathel takes first watch, then finds a private spot to meditate.

Before turning in, Anzath wipes down and oils Critfisher, along with her other blades.

I'm full up after a rest, no magic needed.

In the morning light, though, Anzath seems agitated and uncomfortable. She shields herself from the sun using her hood, but it doesn't help much.

Dazzled in sunlight.

Bedlam wakes up refreshed and reloaded.
So, how long be dis trip ta Riddleport? We don't be want'n ta waste our progress down dere.

Elma explains, "It's two days to Zelkor's Ferry, and then we've got to wait until the Laughing Dolphin comes back. I told them to return in a week or two, but I couldn't pony up enough cash to get them to commit to a schedule. Then, a day or two on the sea to Riddleport--you fight the winds heading back to port, so it will be longer than the ride in was. If you really must stay here and dabble underground without me, I could--I guess--take the treasures back, gather supplies, and return."

As a player, I support this deal. I just need to justify the trust in her as our agent.

As the newcomers, Talathel and Anzath, both get rather brash with Elma, Brand chuckles and shakes his head. "Ah, de lovers are concerned, ye see. Day be needin' a hearty share teh build dere castle o' romance! Tal and Anzath, don't ye worry. Elma an' I spoke at lengt 'fore we 'eaded out 'ere. Elma 'ere, she was just gettin' a lil too excited, an' I needed teh remin' her dat we aren't just som 'ired muscle she sent in teh recover loot fer 'er." Turning toward the merchant, Brand continues. "Right Elma, we understand each other soundly, yes? An' as fer deh Ferry, day is roight friendly folk, an' our rescue o' deh town has given us sum pull... but it's small, not a proper market fer 'igh end goods, so Riddleport makes sense."

Following the end of the discussion, Brand beds down and sleeps very heavily, not offering to take a watch in his debilitated state.

I heal 1 strength overnight... 4!!!

In the morn, Brand rises after the others, and though he is smiling still looks incredibly weak. After she finishes her prayers, Brand approaches Aurora and offers her a glance. "Ye 'ad mentioned bein' able teh do more fer me wounds once we got a bit o' rest. Any chance dat wud be now?"

She would gladly explain that she both owes you her life and sees you as her best route to future prosperity. While Elma may change as the weeks roll by, you don't need to roll sense motive to tell that she's currently quite trustworthy (if reckless, if opinionated, if domineering).

Elma pats the halfling's shriveled frame. "Much more than hired muscle. You all have saved me several times over. If we can get back to Riddleport with this stuff intact, it's going to clear my debts and open up whole new lines of credit. We are all going to get so rich that the price of a blade like that purple one will be chump change."

In the morning, Tragershen sits next to Anzath as she wards off the sunlight.

"It was hard to tell underground. But here, your skin, your eyes. If you don't mind my saying, your heritage shows. There are things I might be able to do to help. There is a spell I have heard of that can help with it. Not just when we are out of Rappan Athuk, but also when we have to use daylight spells to ward off undead. I am reasonably sure we can find the spell I need in Riddleport."

"There's another option too. I can craft lenses that would fit over your eyes that would give you the same protection on an ongoing basis without interfering with your sight. But the expense... We should still consider it when we have the means."

Before turning in for the night, Aurora will burn through her last channels to heal up the group.

Channel Energy (Heal): 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7
Channel Energy (Heal): 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

---------

In the morning, after praying for her spells, Aurora nods to the halfling that has approached her. "Yes, just hold still for a few moments." Her fingers trace esoteric designs through the air and across Brand's skin as she incants.

Lesser Restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Lesser Restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

"Better?"

As Aurora's magic courses into Brand's body, his pallid complexion warms, he stands up straighter, and his gaunt near skeletal frame returns to something of it's former self. "Tank ye, Lady Aurora. We're ye not cursed with such 'eight, I moight 'ave teh we'd ye fer such aid. Trust dat me blades 'ill keep ye safe!"

str now only reduced by 3, to 9!

Anzath nods to Tragershen, “It iz only inkonvenience. I don’t mean to hog up all resourcez. Perhapz Elma kan find vand of such spell.” Leaning in a little closer, she whispers, “I am not danger to party. Janderhoff iz my home, Gladstone iz my family.”

She gives no indication of wanting to sell off Critfisher. She wields it openly on the road back to Zelkar’s Ferry, ever alert for danger waiting in the woods.

@Tragershen: that's one expensive pair of sunglasses!

The party takes the road back to Zelkor's Ferry

Day 10

Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 9
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 9
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 7
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 1
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 6

Day 11

Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 9
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 2
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 2
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 10
Travel: 1d10 ⇒ 8

What approaches?: 1d10 ⇒ 8
How many minions?: 6d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 1, 1, 4) = 13

Ok folks, I'm going to need to think about that result for a bit... it's gonna be a really hard encounter if I run it as-rolled. Stay tuned, and feel free to keep conversing about the pleasures of the road through the forest and whatnot.

Anzath nods to Tragershen, “It iz only inkonvenience. I don’t mean to hog up all resourcez. Perhapz Elma kan find vand of such spell.” Leaning in a little closer, she whispers, “I am not danger to party. Janderhoff iz my home, Gladstone iz my family.”

"I'll look to add the spell to my repertoire. Just in case."

Tragershen seems surprised when she claims Janderhoff as her home. He replies quietly "Interesting, indeed. We'll have to talk more later. But I have no concerns about you. After all, the church saw fit to hire you for your mission. I only hope you will return with us after Riddleport now that your job is done."

This is RAPPAN ATHUK! You will experience the encounter as the book dictates and as the dice desire! Remember: if you character dies, death is not always the end...

As the party pushes onwards, they spot what is obviously an ambush ahead. Each whispers details of what they see to Anzath, who processes all the information into a picture of the situation--a large party of humanoids lurks on both sides of the path, in particular just under the shadow of an enormous oak tree.

Do we know why kind of humanoids? Or at least what size they are? Is there forest on both sides of the road?

When they piece together the pending ambush, Tragershen says "Do we backtrack, or press forward? If we retreat, they may pursue."

Talathel has spent considerable time pondering his time in Rappan Athuk thus far. Combat maneuvers, tactics, stratagems.

He ignores Brand's commentary on his relationship status. Mostly.

He does nod approval at Tragershens' statement to Anzath, and interjects.

"In the interim, you may be able to obtain goggles with smoked glass. Not a heavy burden on resources, considering the alternatives."

*******

At the ambush site, he spends a moment trying to work out what the humanoids could be, from the evidence.

Knowledge Local for information on humanoids: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"I believe that we should strike first. Anzath and Brand can move behind one half of the ambush, ready to strike. The rest of us charge that half, and our entire strength pincers that half. With good fortune, we can eliminate them swiftly before we all strike at the second half. Thoughts?"