Lunar Sloth's Second Darkness

Game Master Slothsy

"That's...sort of a thing that shadow demons can do," Gillian says as she breathes a sigh of relief. "I'm just thankful that we were halfway prepared, otherwise that could have turned out very ugly for us all!"

I need to be better prepared for something like that in the future. A wand or scroll purchase may be in order if we live long enough to get back to Riddleport.

Once everyone has collected their wits and healed up, the half-elf looks from one passage to the other. "Which way next? I've heard rumors that going left when the option presents itself is lucky, but I've not actually tried it myself to confirm."

Taking a deep breath as the monster vanishes back to its home plane, Nel squeezes her way back to the entry way. "Everyone okay in here?" Glancing between Aishe and Rilia to ensure that there wounds were not too significant, she turns back to the way forward. "If you are ready to move on, I sense that this Chmetugo is a small fry compared to the other things living here." Pointing her torch towards the left Nel waits for Aishe and Rilia to confirm that they are ready to travel forward before heading down the left path.

"Ready boss!" Aishe grins lopsidedly, feeling less ready then he was a few minutes ago.

Never the less, he's ready to press on.

"Ready here," Gillian nods as she falls back into their marching formation.

"Fine." Rilia says stowing her wand and rising to her feet.

"Well...I am slightly disappointed, but yes I am ready. I thought that demon was going to provide more of a....challenge..." Tamiro says, swinging his swords around idly and looking around where the demon disappeared at.

More challenge, eh?

The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs echoes in this chamber through a narrow fissure in the eastern wall. A low table sits against the west wall, on which the remains of an unusual creature are splayed. The doglike beast’s body is partially dissected and surrounded by a variety of tools and half-filled bottles.

"It's..."

knowledge (the remains of dog-like creatures splayed upon low tables in underground settings at least 10 miles away from a communities thrope-sized or larger--it was minor at university): 1d20 ⇒ 6 + something =

"Seems like an odd place to have a lab," Gillian observes as she looks around. "Though I suppose one wouldn't have to worry about being bothered, assuming they were already friends with the drow and the shadow demon."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Gillian does not see anything of particular interest in this lab. She does notice that the gap in the wall overlooks much of the island, providing a clear view of the path up to the cave entrance.

Tamiro looks around the lab, flipping things over with the tip of a katana, seeming at least slightly interested.Walking over to the table, he examines the remains.

"Hmm...rather odd individual seems to live here. Does anyone know what this thing is?"

Aishe looks on from the entry, not wanting to try and cram into the small space.

Seeing nothing of note from his vantage point, he walks the other way a bit and looks deeper in the cave, though he does not go far by any stretch - not wanting to rush things. More of a rear-guard than anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Kn. Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"That's an akata," Gillian adds after looking at the dissecting corpse more closely. "Guess someone sure had a lot of interest in them. Zincher you think, or someone else?"

She nods towards the gap in the wall too. "This place also has a really nice view of the island. No wonder whoever it was decided to set up shop here."

"That's an akata," Gillian adds after looking at the dissecting corpse more closely.

bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"I was just going to say that." She pauses for a moment before continuing. "I think Zincher would have kept all of his experiments in one place, in camp, were he in his right mind. I would guess this to be the work of the drow."

Moving you on to the next room.

Six net hammocks supported by ornate metal frames made level by stacks of stone stand around the edges of this cavern. To the west, a leather curtain hangs over an exit, through which the sound of churning waves rumbles. A ledge to the south rises twenty feet to a second passageway there, while the ceiling itself arches to a vaulted height of forty feet.

Two drow sleep in these hammocks.

Aishe looks over the shoulders of the front line and cannot believe what he sees, Such heavy sleepers!

He wonders if there is any value in prisoners, and watches to see what the leaders do. He anticipates bloodshed, and hopes their death rattles won't announce the groups presence to whatever lies beyond the curtain.

Gillian gives the others a questioning look as the group suddenly come to a halt again. As she stands on tiptoe to peer over the others' shoulders, her eyes widen. Glancing at the others she mouths "Really?", unable to believe the drow had slept through the ruckus of their fight with the shadow demon and then stomping around in the makeshift laboratory. But then she shrugs and looks at Nel and Tamiro expectantly.

These two may not tell us anything, even if we take one or both of them alive. But it also couldn't hurt to try.

Tamiro looks at the sleeping drow as if he has been deeply insulted. Do these elves not consider the group worth preparing for? They would sleep before them?

Tamiro brandishes both swords rather angrily and looks ready to stomp into the room making a ruckus.

Nel sighs heavily as she takes in the scene in front of her. Turning to her group she makes a serious of increasingly complex hand motions before suddenly stopping. Letting out an exaggerated sigh, tapping Tamiro on the shoulder and pointing to one of the sleeping drow and then pointing to herself and the second one. Giving the Tien man a thumbs up, Nel moves over to unconscious drow as quietly as possible. Waiting for Tamiro to get into position with his enemy, she then grabs the hammock and unceremoniously dumps the mortal onto the dirt floor of the cave. "صباح الخير رئيس بالنعاس. وقت الاستيقاظ. she states at the man at her feet.

Bluff to pass a complex message via hand signals: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Stealth: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (7) - 4 = 3

The drow falls to the ground with a thump. The creature starts awake, reaching at her belt for a show that isn't there. Her pupils dilate with fear as she looks up at Nel.

Aishe looks over the shoulders of the party and wonders what Tamiro is going to do to the nearly helpless drow. He suspects it will be gruesome. He holds his crossbow ready in case support arrives through the curtain, but otherwise keeps his peace.

At least she has the sense to show some fear. Maybe she'll be more cooperative than the two at the entrance were.

Gillian watches both Nel and Rilia closely, more curious as to how they would react to the drow than how the drow was reacting to them.

Crouching down to keep eye to eye with the frightened drow, Nel offers a sly smile. "Do you see that man right there?" Nel asks, pointing to Tamrio standing over the second drow, "He's in a right foul mood. If you tell us what we need to know, I'm sure it will make him feel better and less grumpy. Where is Shindiira? Your pet, Chmetugo has cowered his way back to the Abyss, so don't expect him to show up."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

"Let me try...."

intimidate (influence): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Normally this takes a minute+ to do, but given the situation I'm sure she'll hear Rilia out.

Rilia produces a set of masterwork manacles, and then a bit and bridal made for a medium-sized mount....

"Zhè tōngcháng shì zhè zǔ rén rúhé xúnwèn qiúfàn?" Gillian wonders aloud with a mixture of bemusement and something bordering on shock written on her face. "Wǒ bù zhīdào wǒ yīnggāi hàipà háishì xiǎngshòu yīxiē chádiǎn..."

"Ó, nǐ huì xīwàng kàn zhège...."

Rilia uses her whip to indicate that she, the drow, and one other should step out of the room.

Best to interrogate them separately. She thinks. Best part of this whole damn trip.

When Nel pushes the threats Aishe tenses, though he suspects her words are worse than her deeds. However when Rilia steps up, he grows concerned. Killing the evil creature was one thing, but honest to god torture, that's something else.

He moves up, ready to intervene, if things go beyond threats. For now, he watches and waits to see what the drow will do.

The creature blinks and says slowly in Elven, "Okay, okay. I'll tell you what you want to know - I just don't know what you want? I don't recommend waking Quarae over there. She's a true fanatic, you see. She's trying to rise to the top. She'll call for Xakihn and hope he rewards her for it."

"Good, but we'll take your answers out in the hall and away from your friends."

That's going to take an additional diplomacy or intimidate check.

Not a grapple check? I mean she should be 'friendly' for 1d6 x 10 minutes or so. I'm not waterboarding her... yet, just asking her to step out of the room with me and Bruno (whomever that is). Basically, Rilia wants to question everyone separately (she watches lots of Ion TV) to make sure their stories all line up and determine whom she can or can not trust. As they are drow that'll be all of them. ;)

Sense Motive (Aishe): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Noticing Aishe tensing up, Gillian lowers her voice as she speaks...

Mobile-posting here so can't do languages the usual way, heh. Also I hope Gil's Sense Motive roll wasn't overstepping my bounds Aishe; if it was let me know and I'll not do it again!

Not a grapple check? I mean she should be 'friendly' for 1d6 x 10 minutes or so. I'm not waterboarding her... yet, just asking her to step out of the room with me and Bruno (whomever that is). Basically, Rilia wants to question everyone separately (she watches lots of Ion TV) to make sure their stories all line up and determine whom she can or can not trust. As they are drow that'll be all of them. ;)

This definitely counts an additional request (ie, abandon your post) and thus an additional check. If you want to grapple instead, that's a way to do it. She's willing to talk right now, in these specific circumstances, but changing those may change her willingness.

Rilia seeks guidance from above.

diplomacy (guidance): 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 1 = 23

"Well, it is either that, or we have to kill everyone here and now. You understand don't you?" She says pleasantly.

Nel looks at Rilia with a horrified expression. "No one is getting tied up or put into those things." Nel snarls at the full elf, gesturing to the manacles and the riding gear. "I do not permit torture of any kind in my company. We are better than that." Nel states in Taldane with a dead serious expression.

Shifting her attention to the frightened drow, Nel sighs wearily and repeats her question from earlier, this time in undercommon. "Uphi Shindiira? isilwane sakho, Chmetugo uye bakhonkobala esebuyela Ndawo, ngakho ungalindeli ukuba abonise."

Obviously annoyed at the fact that the 1d6 x 10 minutes of time she has bought the party of reasonable dialogue with the chaotic evil prisoners is going to waste with at least a minute of explanation to the prisoner (of all people) that there is no alternative, and now Nel suggesting that Rilia said anything about torture (rather than sudden and permanent death) and even if she had mentioned rather than just intimated torture, undermining Rilia's bad ass authority in the eyes of the enemy whose people have stolen away a loved one of hers (someone she has known for longer than anyone else in the party has been alive) by weakening the party's negotiating position, Rilia says: "Nel...." through small, subtly-gritted, near-perfect, elven teeth.

bluff (pass secret message to Nel): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Rilia concentrates for a moment as if trying to control her anger.

bluff (look like she is controlling her Calistrian anger): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Actually she's not. She's still pissed, and is using her spell-like ability to comprehend languages being further annoyed at Nel for using languages that most of the party (but mostly herself) do not understand. Languages Nel rarely translates, which in turn pisses her off a bit more.

It's like she has her own little personal email server in there. ;)

As it is spell-like ability there's no real 'tell' that Rilia's doing anything, only that she is concentrating on something. Not being mad is what she projects.

"If you want to help question this one, might I suggest we do so away from the others? It is the sensible thing to do." Rilia smiles. Perfect, little, elven teeth again.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

"Ah, now I see..." Gillian murmurs quietly as she picks up on the hidden message in Rilia's words. She relaxes somewhat though she still keeps a wary eye on Nel and Rilia as well as the drow.

We need to improve on our teamwork or else we're not going to get very far, I think.

The drow just sort of stares at Rilia in horror, then switches his gaze to Nel, before stammering in Elven, "Shindiira yabqaa ealayha fi kuhuf albahr. 'annaha mabnaa kabir faqat 'iilaa alshshuriq. 'annaha 'abadaan wahdah, wa'iin kana. waqalat 'annaha rubbama ladayha Xakihn، Jilara waLuxas maeha. 'awha, wallati 'ark almirwaeata. min fadlika, la taqtalni. 'aw alssamah bi'ann ahd qatli. 'ana mjrd 'ajir."

Nice, uh, unintentional good cop, bad cop routine?

Tamiro watches with amused interest at the interaction, keeping his blade readied against the elf in the hammock, the tip ready to plunge into its chest if its eye lids open.

"Can I kill this one now? It seems a mighty strong sleeper..."

** spoiler omitted **

Got you. So there's a small tinkling sound effect, pixie dust, and a tiny UN translator that appears on her shoulder. Or something like that. I was interpreting from this and this.

The drow just sort of stares at Rilia in horror, then switches his gaze to Nel, before stammering in Elven, "Shindiira yabqaa ealayha fi kuhuf albahr. 'annaha mabnaa kabir faqat 'iilaa alshshuriq. 'annaha 'abadaan wahdah, wa'iin kana. waqalat 'annaha rubbama ladayha Xakihn، Jilara waLuxas maeha. 'awha, wallati 'ark almirwaeata. min fadlika, la taqtalni. 'aw alssamah bi'ann ahd qatli. 'ana mjrd 'ajir."

"The common human tongue if you please and quietly we wouldn't want to wake the sleeping dears just yet."

After she's said it again in Common, Rilia waves the way forward for the drow and anyone else who wants to accompany them into the cave outside, leaving enough to cover/coup d'grace the sleepers within.

Nice, uh, unintentional good cop, bad cop routine?

Uh uh. I know what you're thinking. "Did she fire six shots or only five?" Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is an empowered, maximized wand of fireball (CL 10), the most powerful wand in the world and would blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?

Totally fine Gillian!

Aishe, satisfied there's no torture planned in the immediate future, straddles between the two groups, ready to help either should the drow become non-compliant. His head swivels and his crossbow remains at the ready!

Unused to the group's interesting but seemingly effective methods of prisoner interrogation, Gillian nods towards the other sleeping drow. "I'll stay here and help keep an eye out," she whispers, switching to Common for everyone's benefit.

The drow looks confusedly at Rilia before slowly saying, "Mebesta vê bi zimanê te?"

I'm going to call a time out. See discussion thread.

Okay, we are out of time out. You may resume activities.

As the discussion continues back and forth with the captive drow, something finally dawns on Gillian.

"Oh...they don't seem like they understand Common, do they?" she whispers to whoever is in earshot. "And here I was using Draconic, trying to be clever..." she sighs.

Minor boot jump-start to the thread!

Aishe watches the questioning and awaits the inevitable quick death the evil, unredeemable creatures deserve.

He chuckles at Gillian's realization.

He checks his bolts, and makes ready to enter the next chamber, uneasy about what the group may find there. More drow no doubt, but how many? Hopefully a nice small group. We do well against small groups. he smiles.

Okay, gonna do some pushing for those of you not interrogating the man.

The drow, looking at Tamiro's twitching hand on his blade, nods and follows Nel tentatively out of the room into the hallway beyond.

As Aishe checks his gear and looks over the room, he notices that the woman in the other hammock is awake and watching the goings-on intently. Her hand hangs casually out of her bedding but is inching forward toward a pack that slumps underneath her. Time seems to pause for a moment as Aishe and the woman lock eyes. Aishe, what do you do?

Aishe, holding on to his crossbow this whole time, quickly raises it and shoots the drow, worried that some alarm is about to be raised. He acts almost instinctively.

Crossbow (silver, cold iron, magic): 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 3 = 15 (point blank, ghost)
damage: 1d8 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 3 = 19 (point blank, ghost)

Sadly, his shot goes wild, as he overreacts. He hisses trying to keep his voice down but still warning everyone, "They're on the move, watch out!"