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"Kr-r-uk!" the tengu squawks out. "I don't understand it. I never get caught in traps! What happened to me? Look at my beautiful feathers! They are completely ruffled and stained! Does somebody have anything to help me clean up? This will not do. I am a mess! This type of training mission is not a fair test of my skills. This is what I would call a pain in my feathery rump! What kind of idiot would put a bladder of red dye out there for me to get hit with?! Can one of you please help get me cleaned up?!"
We've got one tentative vote for going west, any other takers?
(Footprints go north, east is blocked.)
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Polo gives a hearty chortle as he slaps Lyklor on the back.
"Something tells me that is the first failed test, my companion! I fear that ink will only come off after we are scored for this mission." He wipes whatever bit of ink he acquired on his hand onto a clean section of Lyklor's clothing. "But hey, look on the bright side! Now, if we get into a scuffle, you'll stick out like a soar thumb! That should make you a primary target and you'll have more chances to show off your fighting skills!"
He turns to Zosimos. "By all means; lead the way with your keen observation skills. However, I'd like to keep pace along side you where it's possible, if you don't mind. I certainly wouldn't want anyone else between me and any opponent that might cross our path," he finishes with a spark in his eye.
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I could trim Prestidigitation Lyklor. an alto voice responded from the back.
"That would be good, Payj! Let's hop to it! I prefer not being a red winged black bird!"
Lyklor proudly fluffs out his feathers and shows them off once they are clean.
"Ok, now that we are finished with this terrible red dye trap, let's move on. Zosimos, would you do the honors and move us past the chalk line. Take us left if you think that is best!"
After what seems like ages of wandering through uniform hallways, checking doors for traps, opening doors, etc., etc., you eventually meet up with the red footprints once again and come to an L-shaped corridor that makes a right angle from the east to north. Just around the bend a dead half-orc sprawls on the ground. Above the corpse, a wooden sledgehammer, covered in splashes of lime-green marker dye, dangles from a rope beneath an open ceiling panel. Though the head of the mallet is padded, the trap was apparently still lethal to the unfortunate half-orc. A few feet up the corridor another chalk “X” is scratched on the floor.
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Lyklor follows along behind Zosimos.
"Now we have it! Green dye and a half orc corpse. This training exercise is starting to become much more serious! Look another x scratched with chalk. I wonder if we should head back and tell the venture captain? This is not suppose to kill pathfinders!"
Without walking out to the X, Lyklor looks around to see if he sees any more active traps.
(+1 more for traps)
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"Would any Pathfinder leave a fallen comrade behind like this?" ponders Polo. "I think not...I feel this was left here either intentionally as part of the trial, or by another party not associated with the Pathfinders. Do any of you recognize him?"
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Nobody in the party has seen this fellow about the Lodge. Examining the body reveals a light head wound, obviously inflicted by the padded hammer given the face-full of lime-green paint, but also a number of much more serious wounds over the half-orc's torso -- deep, bloody gashes, as would be inflicted by a slashing blade or some other such weapon, that still leak some coalescing blood. The corpse is still warm to the touch.
Lyklor's search reveals no additional traps beyond the already sprung one.
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Zo takes a serious look at the tracks:
Then he takes a serious look at the body, looking to see if this is a body dump, or if those injuries were made here. "Admittedly I haven't finished my studied in this realm of Pathfinding, anyone else?"
Finally, Zo takes a look for anything of note on the corpse's body.
A survey of the body isn't helpful, but the with assistance of Payj and Archimedicus, Zo's examination of the tracks does provide an answer: Zosimos identifies six sets of footprints heading onward (north) and one set returning that ends in the corpse. This returning set matches both the half-orc's boot size and one of the six outgoing tracks.
The half-orc is wearing some mundane armor and an adventurer's lockpick (an adamantine dagger). You do NOT see anything that screams Pathfinder, such as a wayfinder.
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"Kr-r-uk! That looks like a pretty dagger! I don't see adamantine used that often! That's Impressive! Mind you that it is not quite as big as my elven blade, but I'm sure that it is nice and strong!"
"So what do you think happened to this half orc? He must have gotten hurt down that passageway to the north and when he came back, this green dyed hammer trap must have finished him off. Without a wayfinder, I suspect that he has nothing to do with this Pathfinder training mission. He was probably here at the wrong time and place."
"So what what do we do next? Perhaps we should follow the tracks north and find the cause of this half orc's injury. Mind you, I am willing to use my elven blade if it looks like trouble for us."
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Polo's brow furrows as he clenches his fist. This is the first time that he hasn't shown a grin from ear to ear since he was told about this mission.
"So either his comrades left him alone in his near death state, or he was ambushed by the group instead...and they didn't have the decency to finish him off. Despicable."
Polo equips his scizore on his left arm before readying his lance in his right.
"I fear I might not be so diplomatic should we ever met up with this group of degenerates, " he says through gritted teeth.
-Posted with Wayfinder
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"I vote we follow the trail and run the filth down. Just say the word and I'll help us all conceal our movements on our approach; possibly by mimicking you, Lyklor. Ambushing this lot is certainly not below me."
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Polo's jaw loosens.
"Apologies, Zosimos. You could be right, but I suppose there's only one way to find out.
Now everyone stick together; move as one shadow."
He uses his Tactician ability to coach the others so that they get a brief understanding of Stealth Synergy.
-Posted with Wayfinder
With a tactician's wit, Polo guides the party stealthily forward, led by the rogue and investigator. However, by the end of two minutes of slow advance through twisty hallways, the party becomes considerably discombobulated. The party checks and opens one door, then another, then a third.
In the room beyond the third, you find a massacre.
The dungeon’s red hue is dramatically accented here with a fresh coating of blood. Three corpses lie scattered around the room, all hacked apart with great force. The arterial spray from the last moments of their lives spatters the walls and ceiling and pools on the floor. A dim crimson glow spills from a wide archway to the north, casting a garish light upon the faces of the dead. An open chest sits against the eastern wall, with broken links of chain scattered on the floor around it.
In the middle of the room stands a bizarre mechanical construct, made almost entirely of gears and that strange reddish metal. A crossbow is mounted on its left should and its right arm ends in a wicked-looking blade. The machine soldier looks somewhat scarred and injured, and its gears appear to be gummed up by a gooey black tar.
Its back was to you when you pushed the button, but the whirring of the opening door alerted it to your presence and it swivels on its hips to face you!
Initiative!
Round I
Archimedicus: CURRENT
Zosimos:
Payj:
Baddies:
Lyklor:
Polo:
Torsk:
Archimedicus is the first to react! Go!
The brawler's shield collides with the construct's metal frame, doing a modicum of damage -- less than you'd hoped.
Zosimos and Payj!
19
Round I
FAIL The machine clatters to the floor, although the grease has also loosened some of its previously gummed-up gears.
The machine slowly collects itself and stands up from the floor, taking a full round to do so .
Meanwhile, four little circles over the door beyond light up and fire a pair of darts at the shield champion.
HIT DMG 3, electricity DMG 1 to Archimedicus
MISS
One clangs of his shield but the other finds its mark, jolting the brawler uncomfortably.
The darts are connected to the wall by wires which are now exposed. They don't look too sturdy...
Round I Update
Archimedicus: runs up and hits
[Zosimos: DELAY]
Payj: grease
Baddies: stands up, darts
Lyklor: CURRENT
Polo:
Torsk:
Lyklor is up!
[dice=Disable Device] 1d20+7
They're currently stretched out from the archway to Archimedicus (I moved you and added them to the map). I'll take an attack and damage roll from that fancy curve blade of yours.
Lyklor cuts ferociously, severing one of the wires. Arch's bash isn't quite enough to harm the construct as it rises from the ground.
Polo and Torsk! (And Zosimos whenever he cares to jump in.)
Zosimos nearly hits the tengu with his wild swing.
Round I Update
Archimedicus: runs up and hits
Payj: grease
Baddies: stands up, darts
Zosimos: swings at a tengu wire
Lyklor: cuts a wire
Polo: CURRENT
Torsk:
Polo is up, Torsk is on deck.