Well at least they are not attacking me.
"We need to get these things down. This is taking to long."
She reloads and fires at the 2nd large scorpion.
Not wanting to fire into Melee at heavily armored scorpions, Ebonfeather skirts around the edge of the cavern, ending in L8 (H5->I6->J6->K6->L7->L8).
From there, he casts Flare on Big Scorpion #2 (Fort 13 or Dazzled for 1 Minute)
He directs Mushroom to attack Big Scorpion #1. Not wanting to clamber over dwarves, she skirts behind Vira. (G5->H6->I6->J8)
Umberto swings his pole-arm mightily in the scorpions' general direction.
Mushroom drops Big Scorpion 1, Umberto misses. Vira crits on Scorpion 2, dropping it. Daphne hits. All other attacks are inconsequential.
Scorpion 6 attacks Mushroom, misses.
Scorpion 8 attacks Umberto, misses.
"Why won't you just die!"
Ebonfeather skirts around behind Scorpion 6 to set up a flank with Vira.
If still standing, Mushroom will also attack Scorpion 6
Otherwise, she will stay where she is and ready an attack if another scorpion comes in range.
Umberto swings his pole-arm again, this time with much better aim.
Umberto drops Scorpion #8
Ebonfeather drops the last scorpion.
If you leave it to just you, you all get 400 xp. When Vira is added, you only get 320. I'll let you guys vote on that, and I will break the vote if necessary.
Drahz is also down by 3
Vira is down by 8
Using the wand with fewer charges (currently down 8 charges)
Umberto is still down 1. Let me know if you want another zap. Wand is now down 11 charges.
Daphne collects what she can of her crossbow bolts, in the process she is takes the time to give an extra kick or stomp to the scorpions.
"I would be happy not to relive that fight any time soon."
The dwarves are all bearing cuts and holes where the scorpions have gotten to them .
Thanks Vira says as Ebonfeather heals her. So... should we keep going?
"I wonder what happened to their equipment? Scorpions wouldn't have taken their gear, would they?
I suppose that is a mystery for another day.
Vira, would you like to scout ahead?"
Ebonfeather picks up the rock with the Light spell on it and holds it up.
Umberto is grateful for the healing. He cleans the bug goo from his pole-arm. When Vira asks if they should keep going, he says, "Absolutely let's keep going. Let's get what we came for."
trying to make sure we didn't miss anything with the dwarves.
"'Lets move on. I worry all these delays will cost us lives."
Daphne will move forward just enough to keep an eye on Vira.
The dwarf bodies are old and unrecognizable, however the ground opens easily enough to allow grave digging.
While you are at that, Vira slips into the next room. She returns a moment later in a much less secretive manner, saying Empty. She then joins you in the grave digging process, out of respect.
The dwarves have no gear on them.
"Drazh, I am sorry I should have thought of this as well. Allow me to help."
is Vira telling the truth, from the roll I will never know lol.
Once the dwarves are buried Daphne decides not to announce her desire to keep moving.
Umberto examines the room that Vira was in for himself.
The room is a small cavern is empty, except for three archways going out of it (not counting the one you came through). One goes forward, one goes left, and one goes right.
Umberto returns to the group and tells them that the room is empty, but it is an intersection. "So which way do we go now?"
"Earlier, we decided to always turn left. Might as well keep going."
Before heading to the left archway, I will scan above the doorways for any markings that might point out a direction to the vault.
the air wafting out of the left is slightly heated, the air to the right is slighly damp, and the center smells of fresh dirt. There is no writing or signage on the archways.
To the left we go then.
Left first and work out way clockwise?
"The left tunnel is warm, lets give that a try."
Umberto shrugs his shoulders and follows the group to the left, always to the left.
Through the left you are in a large cavern. Dominating the cavern is a squat volcano. The pool on top is full of lava, some of which is running down the sides of the volcano and pooling up in the bottom. The platform you are standing on is only 2 or 3 feet above said pool. In the center of the volcano is a small island. It contains a pedestal. There appears to be something on the pedestal, but it is hard to see through the hazy air. There is a boat made of metal 20 feet away from the island, and it is next to the wall. The wall has narrow handholds. The climb DC to get to the boat is 20.
"The town is built on top of a volcano? How was I not aware of this?
I really want to know what is valuable enough to hide in the center of a volcano, though.
Anyone know how to pilot a boat? I can probably puzzle it out, but if anyone has experience, they should probably lead."
"The town is built on top of a volcano? How was I not aware of this?
"I wonder if I can jump the distance," says Umberto almost to himself as he toys with the rod of balance. Then he remembers the rod of ice and says, "Or maybe I can create a rock walkway across the lava."
Acrobatics DC is also 20.
Then he remembers the rod of ice and says, "Or maybe I can create a rock walkway across the lava."
It is certainly worth a try.
Umberto hands the rod of ice to Ebonfeather, or whoever is willing to try his plan to cool the lava into solid rock. He begins removing his armor, thinking that he might not need it for this part of the adventure, and that its bulk would only serve to get him killed. He will also leave behind his Lucerne hammer.
When Umberto is close to being ready, I will lie prone on the ledge and reach with the rod to touch the lava, activating the once per day power to freeze the ground.
The ice rod creates the ice which promptly melts and then forms a stone path to the ship.
Umberto wastes no time and follows the stone path to the ship.
"This feels like a setup"
Daphne counines to watch the area for any sign of trouble.
The ship, though metal, remains cool through some strange magic. Vira looks uncomfortable at the thought of going unarmed, so she tosses your armor into the boat after you make it safely across. She then follows.
"I guess I'll follow as well. Are there any oars in the boat?"
Hope we don't encounter any fire elementals, I don't want to singe my feathers.
Pick up Mushroom and walk over to the boat.
Once he is safely aboard the vessel, Umberto begins donning his armor.
Two oars reside in the bottom of the boat.
When the others are across Daphne will follow across, last.
So everyone is in the boat. Vira cautiously dips one of the oars into the lava. It works fine.