Legendary Planet: To Worlds Unknown (Inactive)

Game Master Slyness

Zeroks rushes in and immediately begins strapping on his gear. It felt good to have his stuff back. He double-checks his blades and they still looked honed. He even still had the shortbow he--liberated--from that snooty merchant.

But then he starts to look around frantically.

"Psst! Tickle! Where are you, girl?"

DM, not sure how you want to handle this, but my background gave me a pet mouse. Do I find her here?

Definitely. Is she in among your belongings and cared for, or hiding in the room, fending for herself?
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The door again makes a grinding noise as Kag steps out to make room for the others coming in. Voleryn and Zeroks, you find your gear also in pristine condition. You also find two potions of healing, a silvered dagger with a crystal in the pommel, four sets of leather armor, four scimitars, and four longbows with 20 arrows each.

The door grinds again and there is a green spark from inside the slot that it is in.

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Loot.

Zeroks smiles when he notices his pet mouse Tickle darting from his rations into his waiting hands. He scooped at the little thing and put her in the specialized pouch in his belt where she could peek out and bug him for snacks.

Dex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

And because he was so engrossed with Tickle he didn't notice the door begin to slam shut.

To analyze the value of the silver dagger with the jewel...

INT (arcana or history): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Reishi gladly receives the help from Voleryn and puts on his pack after. "Thanks Vol! You need any help with your gear?" He then trades out his shortbow for a longbow and arrows. Right as he is about to ask if anyone would like his shortbow, the door slams shut. "I'll bet a silver Kag hammers us out in under 5 minutes! Zeroks, you able to manipulate the door locking mechanism? I can assist you. Maybe we can save him the effort.

Reishi will use his skill with lockpicks if applicable to assist Zeroks and give him advantage on the roll.

"Yeah, I got this. Just a moment."

Assuming Reishi gives me advantage on the check.

DEX (thieves' tools) ADV: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 <--
DEX (thieves' tools) ADV: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Kag had a save also. Rolling with it rather than retcon this time.
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There is nothing particularly remarkable about the dagger or crystal.It seems serviceable enough, though not ideally weighted for throwing.

Voleryn: Once the door closes, it is pitch black in this room with the exception of the occasional blinking green light of the door lock.

Zeroks: Using your tools, you work your way behind the blinking green light. What you find is very peculiar. Rather than anything mechanical, the door locks seems to be made of organic fibrous tendrils. Reishi stands over your shoulder offering advice that is more distracting than it is helpful. Forging ahead, you tweak, pinch, and manipulate the “nerve fibers” until you stumble into the correct sequence and the door opens.

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Mechanically, the alien nature of the locks imposes disadvantage on the check. If Zeroks takes the time to show Reishi his findings, or Reishi successfully opens a lock, you two can work together to negate the disadvantage. Also, any of these green circle locks have the same DC of 15 for now in case you want to narrate your attempts.

Dex save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Well, now that I got my things, let's check the other doors. And, Reishi, right? Watch what I'm doing so you can figure out these weird locks, too. My life might depend on you knowing this stuff."

Going to try and open the door to the far left of the main hall.

DEX (thieves' tools) DIS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
DEX (thieves' tools) DIS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Zeroks grimaces in frustration. "Not as easy as the other door. Reishi, give it a shot. Maybe you saw something I didn't."

Voleryn considers taking another weapon, this environment is alien in many ways - there's no guarantee her magic will work effectively. After a moments consideration she realises she'd be more effective with her own daggers or crossbow, at least she's confident in their use...

Reishi watched closely as Zeroks deftly manipulated the "nerve fibers" of the first locking mechanism, asking questions as he worked and trying not to ask too many. "This is unlike any lock I've ever seen. As if this place is both natural, alive and yet engineered. I'll give it a try Zeroks. Don't think I'm as skilled as you, but happy to give it a go."

Thieves Tools: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

When the door slides open Reishi smiles, claps Zeroks on the shoulder and whispers, "You are a good teacher! Thanks for showing me. Let's see what's inside." and then peers in the room.

"It is not so different from the places my people call home, I come from deeper waters, but some of my people shape living coral into homes, I hear some elves live in homes shaped of living trees. This is more advanced of course, but not unthinkably so." Voleryn muses, while keeping back to let the specialists do their work.

"Neither stone nor metal grow. This is a bit unnatural, you ask me."

This stone chamber is lit by a glowing metal panel bolted to the ceiling. Eight dark green, leathery cylinders with transparent hatches stand in the four corners between the walls. Vague humanoid shapes can be observed through a thick liquid film that fills the cells. It is reminiscent of the room that you first found yourselves in.

Voleryn examines the cylinders for any obvious opening mechanism. "I'm not sure we should cut or break them out, I don't know what is happening to them in there. damaging the pod could be harmful."

"Then we find whoever's running this place and we ask them--gently--to let these people out," Zeroks says in a way that clearly telegraphs that he has a particularly inaccurate definition for the word "gently".

He then looks thoughtful. "I wonder if those weapon we found belonged to these guys."

Zeroks quietly hides the silver dagger.

I'm gonna use a my smuggler ability on the dagger, which means I have advantage on sleight of hand checks to hide it.

DEX (sleight of hand) ADV: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
DEX (sleight of hand) ADV: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 <--

But of course I roll like that. Typical. Just to be clear unless anyone's passive perception is 10 or less, you just saw me hide the dagger if you were looking in my direction.

Zeroks loudly clears his throat.

"Let's go to the next door."

DEX (thieves' tools): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Worst. Rogue. Ever. Reishi, help.

Kag will move to the nearest cylinder and knock on the glass.

It looks like the doors can be opened from the outside by way of a simple handle.

There is no reaction from the dark shape within. It is humanoid, but any more detail cannot be discerned through the viscous goo with which you are recently familiar.

"Shall we wake'm up or move on?"

Reishi asks the question as Kag is pulling on the handle to open the door. "Huh?"

"Kag, maybe we should explore further and get a better idea of what's going on before we open these pods. Voleryn makes a good point. That said, if you decide to open it Kag, I got your back."

Reishi adds, "If these guys are in the same boat we were, taken, I won't leave them behind. We will have to come back and set them free. I'm ok getting more info before we open the pods, but not abandoning them."

There is an audible click as Kag opens the door and a slight woosh sound as the air pressure normalizes. The goo immediately starts exiting the pod through a drain at the bottom, just as your own did. The figure inside is a lizardfolk of indeterminate gender and does not wake up and do anything.

Waiting a moment in case the lizardfolk jumps up and does anything, Voleryn then cautiously moves in and tries to check if the creature is dead or alive. Though she's not familiar with the species.

Wisdom?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 in case a dice roll is required

It is dead, apparently having drowned in the pod. The tubes in its mouth and throat remain, so it probably died in its sleep.

Zeroks shakes his head. "Drowning, huh? That's no way to go. I'd rather go out swinging myself."

"May the blessings of the gods prevent you from rising as an undead." says Kag as a prayer over the dead body.

Turning to the others, he adds "Do you think they're all lizardmen like this one, or other species as well?"

Reishi looks stricken at the discovery that the lizardfolk drowned in the pod. He utters a quiet prayer for its soul. "What a claustrophobic way to go. Hope he was too deeply asleep to suffer through the experience."

"I woke up enough to panic," Zeroks says unemotionally. Tickle senses his unrest and nuzzles into his hand. He absently returns the kind gesture.

He then moves on to the next cylinder. "We should give these others a try. Strength in numbers, and all that."

He opens it and motions for the others to do the same.

The other cylinders reveal three hobgoblins, two tieflings, and two more lizardfolk. They are all dead, each having drowned. Some appear to have died in their sleep, while others show signs of some struggle before succumbing. It seems that something went very wrong in this room.

The light above blinks, sending the room into darkness for a moment before coming back on with a very slight hum.

"This is wrong and disrespects of the incredible gift of life each of these people were given! Bless them. I will not forget what was taken from you and will seek justice. That could have been us. That was almost us!" Reishi lets out a heavy sigh and puts his sword back in it's scabbard upon realizing it was in his hand. "This place is beyond creepy. Let's find our way out. Either our "hosts" are awful or their domicile has been attacked. The way the lights flutter and the door was malfunctioning, it's clear something's wrong. Shall we move on? Grateful to have you all with me."

"I agree. Let's try to find a way out of here. Also, let's keep an eye out for food and ale."

Reishi heads out to the left to check the next door.

"May your souls make it to whatever heaven you have strangers." Voleryn intones quietly. "Agreed, whatever magic kept us alive in these containers appears to have failed, we should open up any more we find in case life persists within." Voleryn follows the others around to the next door.

Moving to the northern door, Zeroks manages to unlock it with some effort. The same fragrant smell of the goo released from the open cylinders fills this stone chamber. Eight more of the dark green leathery cylinders stand in the four corners between the walls, their transparent panels already open.

Four strange "dog-men" type creatures lay unconscious on the floor. In the center of the room stands a young woman. She hesitates for a moment before pleading in the Common tongue, "Mercy, please! Do not hurt me!"

Reishi puts a hand on his sword hilt and opens his senses to see if any in the room are evil.

She is beautiful... Yah, and probably trouble too. Why did she hesitate? Why is she the only one conscious? We being played?

"We are not here to hurt anyone, we are simply looking for a way out. What happened here?"

Reishi, bear in mind that divine sense is used to detect fiends, celestials or undead.

"And who are you?" Zeroks asks, feeling suspicious.

The woman replies in a fearful tone, "My name is Andretta. I woke up with no memory of how I came to be here. These creatures also were in the sleeping cylinders. They seemed angry and I sang a lullaby to put them to sleep, but they will not remain asleep for long."

Voleryn steps into the room and checks one of the dog-men for signs of life. "Perhaps you should come with us, we're in the dark as much as you are, but we're looking for a way out - or at least a clue as to why we're here."

The creature is both alive and asleep. There is some goo still stuck to its fur, but there are no obvious injuries.

"Really?," Andretta asks hopefully. "I appreciate that so much." She walks out of the room, still watching you all, not absolutely certain that you won't strike at her.

Voleryn looks to the others, "I don't like them wandering around to run into us again later. I suggest we either wait for them to awaken and either converse with them or battle them if necessary. Or we try and seal the door, I doubt it will hold them forever, but it gives us time to set some distance, or warning as they try to open it." she almost asks that they keep an eye on the newcomer, but realises she has little more reason to trust any of them over her. Better to show trust until circumstances dictate otherwise.

Feeling like there are only seconds to decide what to do, Reishi says, "Kag, Zeroks, we should draw weapons and stand over each and question them as they wake. I felt a flash of evil and don't know yet who it was. Voleryn, I think you should stand behind Andretta in case what I sensed is her. Sorry Andretta, we don't know you well yet and must protect ourselves as we protect you. This is not to be a slaughter! These creatures were taken just like us and will most likely awake pissed, confused and feeling threatened. Agreed?"

Voleryn snaps to attention at the hint of an order, with commands that make sense. She moves back around to stand behind Andretta, ready for anything.

Zeroks shrugs, nods and then tries to get a good idea of who might wake up first.

WIS (medicine): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10

Reishi draws his sword and stands next to one of the dogmen. He then asks Andretta,"Were you in the pods in this room? Did these 'dogmen' try to hurt you?"

Andretta looks at Reishi quizzically. "Pods? Oh, the sleeping cylinders? Yes, we all did. And yes, the Bahgra seemed intent on doing so. That is why I sang them to sleep, to avoid violence."

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There are 4 Bahgra, so one will be unengaged as Voleryn is covering Andretta. They will all wake at the same time as the spell wears off.

"We should drag one out, and then I'll re-lock the doors to keep these guys inside. I don't exactly relish the thought of a fair fight."

Is anyone opposed to this action?

"It's a great idea Zeroks but I think moving one will wake it up." Reishi looks to Andretta, "Will it?"

"Maybe. But one guy waking up isn't a problem. All of them waking up at the same time is."