" Let's flank up the left side, we have to silent though, the trolls senses are most likely really good." Meshidawg infers.
"Of course you will go first Meshidawg,"says the wizard,"We need your strength front-line. Ravia should go in the back. We cannot risk you getting hurt, we only have one healing potion with decent strength. And I need to be close enough to the target of my spells."
Pratap gives a cry of protest, for he was forgotten.
"Where do you want to go Pratap?"she asks the cub, a look of amusement on her face.
Pratap gives a cry of protest, for he was forgotten.
"Where do you want to go Pratap?"she asks the cub, a look of amusement on her face.
Pratap looks at both Ravia and Ignis and then seems to clear his little throat in an effort to demonstrate that he didn't really give a cry of protest; he was, after all, a very big tiger cub, almost a year old - and big tigers like him would give a far more mature and far older sounding growl of protest, because - after all - he wasn't a baby, and he doesn't really cry, it's just that as the party was in a cave there were clearly echoes in here may have made it seem that way...
Yes; clearly the cave and echoing was responsible for making it seem like he gave a cry!
Still, he quickly moves up to behind Ravia at K:2, but only because - as he was really big tiger (almost a year old!) - it was a good idea to make sure no one tried to sneak up on Ravia from behind... and to the untutored eye it might seem like he was very nervous and hiding behind her when moving through the dark and mysterious cave he was actually being very tactical and wise and he was not actually hiding but actually being very brave by protecting the group from an enemy that might try to sneak up behind them...
Ravia gives Ignis a look and shakes her head as Pratap peeks from around her robes and stares forward down the tunnel at K/L, his nose wrinkles - clearly he can smell something foul down there...
Meshidawg moves up to E:4.
As he advances he glances to his right and notices that at K/L there is a staircase that leads up about 3 or 4 feet and continues on into the darkness.
Nevertheless, he is undaunted and proceeds to examine the ground to his north.
When he reaches E:4 he sees that he is standing under a catwalk of sorts. It is not easy to see very well without Ravia's light, for it does not shine very far, but from what he can gather, under the catwalk must have been a place to keep horses. The catwalk itself must have been a place where a guard with a bow could stand, or a magic-user.
In short, a person could have rode a horse in the main entrance, ridden their horse straight forward to where Meshidawg is standing, and kept horses there for scouting missions. If an enemy decided to ride in the main entrance then range fighters could be up on the catwalk and shoot at the enemy, and then duck down behind the guardrail for protection if the enemy fired back.
Peering up into the gloom he notices that - to the right - there is an opening. This means that the catwalk must have a set of stairs or a ladder somewhere else where guards could get to, but just not in this room...
As you study the chamber above you're startled by a sound.
Looking up you see a large bat fly out of the catwalk.
It is swooping down to you and its clear it plans to attack.
Ignis immediately rushes forward to assist Meshidawg, but she is now lost in the dark."Ravia, come and help!"Ravia runs to help her commrades, almost tripping on her cloak. Now that she can see, Ignis attempts to throw her dagger.
1d20
Ignis immediately rushes forward to assist Meshidawg, but she is now lost in the dark."Ravia, come and help!"Ravia runs to help her commrades, almost tripping on her cloak. Now that she can see, Ignis attempts to throw her dagger.1d20
Ravia looks at Ignis as she moves forward quickly, while Pratap bravely defends the party from any enemies from behind.
Ravi's crossbow bolt has missed, though it seems that Ignis's dagger has struck the target.
How much damage did she do?
Only time - and her rolling the dice - will tell...
1d20
1d4+1 = 5
The dagger spins through the air and slams into the bat and it squeeks then tumbles to the catwalk above you.
"Well done," Ravia says to you and Meshidawg.
Unfortunately the bat and the dagger are above you. There is no way to climb up to the catwalk as there is a solid guard rail on the ledge.
"Perhaps if Meshidawg could lift one of us to the ledge they could then try to Climb up," she says "or we could head to the tunnel over there and try to find a staircase that leads up to the ledge and get it that way..."
"What do you wish to do?"
"I saw a staircase at K/L:4, but I'm fine to lift you if needed."
Meshidawg points in the direction of the staircase.
"Let's find the staircase,"says Ignis with a shudder,"I'm less than willing to be up there alone with a troll."
The heroes climb the staircase, with Meshidawg leading the way and Pratap in the rear. shivering from not only the cold, but also fear, he hides himself in Ravias cloak
"I saw a staircase at K/L:4, but I'm fine to lift you if needed."
Meshidawg points in the direction of the staircase.
The party returns to marching order and advances up the stairs.
As they walk they glance to their left and right and notice that there is a foul smell coming from the south.
Suddenly Meshidawg sees movement and as the light shines in to a side passage they see a skeleton rise up and start to shuffle toward them.
Unlike weaker skeletons this one seems to be more heavily armed and armored, though... as if it was a legionary that had been defeated by the troll and was now risen to fight for some insidious reason...
1d20
The enemy attempts to rush you, but you and your companions natural speed and grace easily outmatch it.
Your move...
Roll to hit:
If hits:
Natural 20!!!!!!!!!!!
Roll to hit: [dice=] 1d20+12
If hits: [dice=] 1d8+8
With the inherent savagery of a true barbarian Meshidawg strides forward and then swings his axe, shattering bone and cleaving joints, the skeleton shattering before him like broken glass.
"Well done!" Ravia exclaims with delight as Pratap gives a little sniff and rolls his eyes, as if to say - Meh, I could have done that too, if I wanted to do it...
Moving into the room to stand next to Meshidawg her light reveals that leading somewhat forward is a low stair that leads down into a small room with a pool in it.
"That must have been a well for the people who guarded here to have water," she says thoughtfully.
Then she looks at the skeleton and frowns.
"See here? This skeleton has the armor of the same sort of legionaries we fought before... Though there are already dents in it which make me believe he was defeated here before we came... Oh, by that I mean - I don't think he was just summoned by a Doom Healer recently..."
"In any case, I would think he was likely caught and brought here - and this makes sense as there were legionaries in the area for the trolls to go after them."
"But this is what I don't understand... his armor is on, but his belt with where his sword, sheathe and possibly a pouch to hold coins? That has been removed... Perhaps it was luck, or coincidence, but unless I miss my guess I would wager that someone already took his valuables from him before he became a skeleton monster."
She looks around for a brief moment.
"If that is true, I would also wager that whoever took his gear may have also taken other treasures... It may be that when we defeat this troll we shall find a pile of loot from other folk he has defeated..." she adds.
"Well, which way shall we go next?" she asks.
"Let's move up the East hallway K, that will give us a better chance at rushing in with power. Or we could go up hallway Q which will let us flank using the element of surprise. I'm not sure, Ignis can choose. Meshidawg proposes.
"Q,"decides Ignis,"That would be the safer option."
"Q,"decides Ignis,"That would be the safer option."
Upon walking down the south passage to the hallway the party turns the corner and there - at the far side of the room - is a terrible sight.
"Spider!" Ravia cries out grimly.
The spider is large; nearly the size of the members of the party, and it seems likely that it could fit through the passage that Meshidawg is standing in.
There are small bundles behind the spider and you wager they hold the bodies of the spider's victims...
Perhaps you will be next?
1d20
[dice=] 1d20+12
[dice=] 1d8+8
Ravia watches Meshidawg, then she calls out to Ignis.
"You must advance so I have a clear shot, but be careful - there could be spider webs in there. Not only could they entangle you, but they burn very quickly anything that they touch - if they catch on fire..."
Wow, another double damage, I'm the best dice roller of all time!!
[dice=] 1d20+12
[dice=] 1d8+8
Wow, another double damage, I'm the best dice roller of all time!!
Ravia sees you rush to the spider and do 15 Damage.
She then takes her attack by raising her hand crossbow and shooting at the spider.
Realizing that Meshidawg seems to have the situation in hand, and not wanting to waste her Mana, Ignis will skip her turn so that Meshidawg can go again.
The spider does not attack; instead, it scurries backward and then climbs the wall like a spider can.
It goes up above Meshidawg's head and then is somewhat above you and just out of your reach.
The spider then spits a web at you...
Meshidwag is effectively caught in the spider's web.
Pratap continues to cringe heroically...
Using his massive attack he cuts through the web and is able to free himself.
The spider attempts to attack Ravia this time with its web...
Realizing that her friend is in trouble, Ignis aides Ravia.
Realizing that her friend is in trouble, Ignis aides Ravia.
1d20
1d4
The cuts on the web manage to loosen it a bit, but it may take more work to get it destroyed completely...
Meshidawg pulls outs his sword and swings at the spider's web.
If hits
Meshidawg pulls outs his sword and swings at the spider's web.
Meshidawg easily destroys the web and Ravia is freed.
However, the spider hisses at you all and spits another shot of spiderweb, this time at Meshidawg himself, hoping to trap the barbarian.