Our Mysterious Benefactor |
Hoshiko, in this module, well... We'll get to that. :) /evil GM grin
Divvying up the dragon's modest hoard, you make your way across the bridge in speedy fashion as the oppressive heat of the river of gold chokes the air from you.
The building ahead stands about 30 feet tall and is topped by a peaked, goldtiled roof. The building has one door in the south wall and no windows. The outside of the tabernacle is covered in ancient, gold-inlaid runes from the ground to the roof.
The great door, the only way inside, is locked! Mikail marvels at the craftsmanship of the lock, as it seems to be nearly the work of a master. Still, with the work of the better part of a half hour, he is finally able to master it and the door opens with a click.
The door opens to reveal a small, 10-foot-by-15-foot ledge high above a pit filled with gold coins. A similarly sized platform lies across the pit to the north. A door stands partially open in the northern wall on the far platform. A rope stretches across the pit, secured by pitons to the walls next to the doors in the north and south walls. The ceiling ends in high arches above the platforms. The platforms are in dim light from some light seeping in from the door to the north, but below the pit is in darkness. As you open the door, you hear a soft POP from the pit below.
Ferabras |
How about Mikail, Soran and Hoshiko each take a CMW potion? Zolarus and Ferabras are pretty good at healing themselves if needed.
Fera grins and give Mikail a nod at his whispered request, joining the others as they make their way across the bridge. When the little kitsune patiently and skillfully gets the door unlocked, Ferabras lays a strong, clawed hand on his friend's small shoulder and says, "It is fortunate each of us brings such useful skills to this mission. This place has tested us all."
Glancing down into the gold-filled pit, his infernal vision easily able to pierce the darkness, Fera then studies the rope arrangement before remarking, "Now that, getting across on the rope, that will be a test for me. I'm not so nimble as some of you."
Darkvision tell me anything about the pit and the POP?
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
So far no one can see anything in the pit aside from mounds of golden coins and a few small gemstones mixed in.
Ferabras |
"Well, friends, how do we get across the pit of gold?" Fera asks, adding, "Seems a little trickier and more hazardous than the pits filled with pillows where this whole thing started, eh, Soran?"
Would using the rope be more like climbing (and thus a Climb check) or something more acrobatic? I suppose it might depend on how one tried to use it, I'm just trying to gauge how impossible it will be for Fera.
Mikail the Nimble |
Sounds good to me.. One more potion for Mikail.
Mikail is seriously sweating by the time that he is able to get through the lock on door.. he is alternately cursing the maker and praising his ingenuity and skill.
Turning to Ferabras' worry, he replies "Don't worry! We can always just tie you to a loop on the rope and pull you across! Makes it so much easier!" He steps close to the edge and peers all about.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Hopefully someone can beat that.. I don't think its going to be high enough..
Hoshiko Masaru Kodo |
"I am not a terrible climber, but then again it is not my forte. We could throw Mikail across...tied to a rope of course" Hoshiko says adding some levity to the situation.
Soran Fletcher |
Soran lets out a rare laugh at Fera's mention of the pillow filled pits, and the time the paladin fell in.
Ah Fera, the look on your face was priceless! Would that this pit was filled with pillows as well...
The hunter looks out into the room, trying to find anything to aid the group.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
He ponders for a moment, and then draws an arrows from his quiver. It has a wickedly sharp, barbed set of books where the arrowhead should be. After a second, you realize it's a grappling hook of sorts, attached to an arrow and a length of rope!
I have five of these. Do you think they would help if I could cluster them into the far wall enough that everyone could hold onto more than one and shimmy across the rope?
Arrow, Grappling
Price 1 gp; Weight 1/2 lb.
This small grappling hook is designed to be tied to a silk rope and fired from a bow. When fired, it has a range increment of 30 feet. An equivalent item exists for crossbows.
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
Soran Fletcher |
Soran breaks off his musing about crossing the gap by drawing two flaming arrows and aiming them into the pit.
That'll have to wait. More company. Some kind of snake with a person's head. Anyone want to try to talk to it before we attack it?
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
The shape suddenly disappears with a whisper of arcane words!
Ferabras: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Hoshiko: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Mikail: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Zolarus: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Soran: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Serpent-Dude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Round 1:
Serpent-Dude!
Heroes!
There is a sudden sound as coins shift below you!
Heroes are up!
Ferabras |
Zolarus draws his blade and calls on his inner strength, which has helped him to resist his infernal blood for so many years - his sword glows with a golden light and its edge glints sharply!
"Where did you go?" he cries out, "We need not fight!"
Move action to draw sword, standard to activate Divine Bond to make sword keen for 1 minute.
Mikail the Nimble |
At Sorans warning, Mikail slips back into the shadows, drawing his bow.
Readied attack if it goes hostile: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29
Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4
Mikail begins calling out in every language that he knows. Common, Sylvan, Celestial, Elven
"Please! Don't attack! We are not here to steal anything! We are actually hunting the thieves!"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
A hissing voice echoes through the room, "Bound by the Master, none shall pass without the key..."
Zolarus blesses while Ferabras and Mikail readies themselves!
Soran and Hoshiko are up!
Mikail the Nimble |
Yea, I'm at a loss here. That's two creatures in a row asking about a key.. I don't think we have anything of the sort, and no clue what the Razmirians are carrying.. Any suggestions?
Mikail the Nimble |
He ponders for a moment, and then draws an arrows from his quiver. It has a wickedly sharp, barbed set of books where the arrowhead should be. After a second, you realize it's a grappling hook of sorts, attached to an arrow and a length of rope!
I have five of these. Do you think they would help if I could cluster them into the far wall enough that everyone could hold onto more than one and shimmy across the rope?
Hey Soran, I just noticed this and the GM post above it.. the pit already has a rope stretching across it.
Ferabras |
Yea, I'm at a loss here. That's two creatures in a row asking about a key.. I don't think we have anything of the sort, and no clue what the Razmirians are carrying.. Any suggestions?
"Hmm, now that I think of it," Fera offers, "Reginar did say we need to get the amulet from Iramine because it might serve as a key. Which means she has it and can get past all these foes, and we must fight through them."
Did I get that about right, GM? Sometimes this longer-term stuff is tricky to keep straight in PbP.
Mikail the Nimble |
Ah yes, I had forgotten about that. Thanks, Fera!
Crestfallen, Mikail's shoulders slump for a moment before looking up and finding his courage once more. "Well.. then lets get on with it then. There's only one way this can go then."
GM: If you would allow a standard action this late (since I only readied an action and 5 ft stepped) Mikail would like to cast dancing lights and send it into the pit to help illuminate the area. If not, I understand and will do that next turn.
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
You are correct, Sir Ferabras! The amulet does indeed serve as the key to the city of gold!
Mikail sends lights down into the pit, illuminating many, many coins but nothing with a voice!
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
Soran delays while the others talk. I need a Will save from everyone!
There is a word of magic and the sudden smell of ozone as a lightning bolt shoots from below to hit Ferabras and Mikail! Electricity: 7d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3, 3, 3, 6, 6) = 30 damage, Reflex DC 16 for half! And suddenly there is something visible in the dancing lights below, a creature! A sharp-featured humanoid head crowns the powerful, sinuous body of this snake-like monstrosity.
Heroes are up!
Ferabras |
Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Failed, take 25 damage due to resist electricity 5.
"What is that thing?" Fera calls out.
Will delay for now. How deep is the pit? The only description I could find is that the ledge is 'high above' the pit. Trying to decide if jumping down to fight is crazy.
Status: 20/46 hp
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
It's thirty feet to the coins from the top. From where Ferabras is he can see handholds in the stone wall that would make climbing in and out of the pit relatively easy.
Hoshiko Masaru Kodo |
WIL: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17...
and Hoshiko seems lost in thought as Ferabrs and Mihkail are in danger...
Mikail the Nimble |
Will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Evasion, so no damage to Mikail!!! GM, considering the saves, does my readied action kick in, or did that get changed with the casting of Dancing Lights?
Mikail easily shakes off the mental intrusion, then dives out of the way as a lighting bolt strikes right where he had been standing. He gets back to his feet, cursing and glaring at the creature "That was just RUDE!!" he scolds it!
With this, he launches an arrow at the creature.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17
Dmg?: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
Mikail's nimble dodge sends him to the side, while his readied attack hits, but his subsequent attack misses!
Soran, Zolarus and Ferabras are up! Hoshiko, failing the Will Save doesn't consume your round; it's only a brief flash that you see. You can still act as normal.
Zolarus |
Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Zolarus casts Sound Burst on the foe. Fort DC 16 or stunned: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Misfortune on base rolls
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ferabras |
Fera is kind of waiting to see if Soran fills it full of holes before switching to using his bow, since he's got his sword all divine bonded up and stuff. I'll give him a bit longer, then take action!
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 A bell-tone rings out in the pit, dislodging some coins and the snake-man seems to waver, looking momentarily stunned!
Soran for Round 2, and everyone for Round 3, as the foe is all discombobulated.
Hoshiko Masaru Kodo |
well that stinks
Hoshiko enchants her blackblade as a swift action and then moves to the edge of the pit to strike the creature...
BB ADS+WE: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33...
DMG: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15...
Crit?: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 = 23...
DMG: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15
"Lets bring it down!"
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
Sure! You can make me an acrobatics check to negate 10' of the 30' fall damage. But, unless you have some magic to negate this, if you take any damage you fall prone and must spend this round getting back up. I'll let you spend Round 2 jumping down and use the attack for Round 3.
Falling damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 5) = 12 A successful DC 15 Acrobatics check negates 6 pts for a total of 6 pts damage.
Our Mysterious Benefactor |
Hoshiko drops into the pit and lands hard, slipping into the coins a few inches. She gets up and delivers a vicious slash to the snake-man!
Ferabras |
Fera looks down into the pit, weighing the risk of leaping down to aid Hoshiko. He searches the soul of the snake-man for the presence of evil which he suspects lurks there. Then, taking a deep breath, he lays a hand at his side and heals some of his injuries before leaping down!
Swift action to Lay on Hands, move action to detect evil on snake-man, move action to jump.
LoH : 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6
Acrobatics: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (17) - 3 = 14
Falling damage : 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) = 8
Status: 18/46 hp
Round 3 post in a few minutes!
Ferabras |
Fera scrambles to his feet and attacks the snake-man! Feeling a twinge of pain on the ankle he just landed on, he lays a healing hand on his side once more!
Move action to stand, standard to attack, swift to LoH (2/5 used today).
+1 Greatsword, Flank: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21
Greatsword damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11
LoH: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11
Status: 29/46 hp
Soran Fletcher |
Soran shakes his head, as if to clear it, and then draws two arrows.
You should have just let us go find the damned key. Now we have to fight.
He launches his volley, determined to make sure the thing falls before it can strike Hoshiko.
Manyshot: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 2d8 + 14 ⇒ (5, 7) + 14 = 26
Fire Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11
Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Iterative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
EDIT: Forgot the Will Save
Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Mikail the Nimble |
Mikail adds his own bow to the mix, its string singing out along side Sorans.. not as loudly or as often, but contributing what it can!
Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5
"Get it!! Show it who its dealing with!!" Mikail cries out, encouraging his companions below.