|
"They are indeed powerful. They offer magical protection to those who cannot wear armor."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Whether or not the morlock children take Mudk's translated words to heart, they are indeed very eager to get away from the group and all flee when given the opportunity.
After Xakon heals up and some of the magical items are identified, the group checks the north door, discovers no traps, and proceeds through it. This short, rubble-choked passage ends in front of a door. The rubble mounds lining the passage are chest high. As Xakon enters and scrutinizes the area, he quickly notices that their is another pit trap right in front of him as well as a morlock attempting to hide in the rubble to the west.
|
|
"Hold a minute while I disable this pit trap. Sugar, will you and me with another Guidance please? And keep your eye on that one."
He points to the hiding morlock and then proceeds to break the trap.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Xakon makes short work of disarming the pit trap, while Frēodwēn makes an offer not to attack if the group is allowed passage through. Whether or not the morlock accepts the offer is unknown as it remains quiet.
As the group waits a few moments to see what the morlock will do, it apparently gets tired of waiting and springs out to attack, followed by a companion previously unseen. They swarm in front of Xakon on the now disabled pit trap, both armed with heavy picks.
As they prepare to attack, one of them screams in a language only Frēodwēn can understand, "Get out of home!"
Initiative (Round 1)
Sivantanpisil <= Up
Xakon <= Up
2 Morlocks with heavy picks
Sugarsnap/Truffles
Frēodwēn
Mudk
|
|
Xakon gets into a full defensive position (AC+6) and backs up.
"Are we negotiating with words or blades?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Regardless of the Pathfinders' debate on how to handle the situation, the two morlocks advance on Mudk and attack. The first morlock's pick penetrates the paladin's armor, injuring him slightly, while the second morlock's blow is deflected thanks to Sivantanpisil's spell.
Initiative (Rounds 1-2)
Sivantanpisil <= Up
Xakon <= Up
2 Morlocks with heavy picks
Sugarsnap/Truffles <= Up
Frēodwēn <= Up
Mudk [10 Damage] <= Up
|
|
Mudk catches Frēodwēn in the act of drawing back his bowstring. He releases the tension and looks at Mudk for a heartbeat. "Are you serious right now?" He shakes his head a couple times and then looks at the Morlocks, repeating Mudk's question to them in their native tongue.
-Posted with Wayfinder
|
|
The halfling shrugs his shoulders.
"Freo, don't you know by now Mudk is ALWAYS serious."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Mudk easily heals the injuries caused by the morlocks and asks Frēodwēn to inquire about the size of their home.
Frēodwēn asks the question, but by their silence and angry expressions, neither morlock seems willing to talk.
Sugarsnap changes places with Truffles and casts Guidance on Mudk while encouraging him to attack.
Xakon remains on the defensive while the others try the diplomatic approach again.
|
|
Frēodwēn drops his bow and pulls out his Ranseur. "These ones are no real threat to us. We can easily give their skulls a good knock and leave them with nothing worse than bruises and a headache."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The morlocks still appear not to care about any diplomatic vibes the group puts out and move to attack Mudk. This triggers Sivantanpisil's spell as a starknife composed of pure Force energy forms behind them and attacks the reddish hued morlock. The creature bobs and weaves to avoid the magical weapon.
Both morlocks turn their heavy picks against Mudk and this time both fail to hit. Although the reddish one comes close, deflected by Sivantanpisil's spell.
Initiative (Rounds 2-3)
Sivantanpisil <= Up
Xakon <= Up
2 Morlocks with heavy picks
Sugarsnap/Truffles <= Up
Frēodwēn <= Up
Mudk [Shield of Faith Active] <= Up
Effects
Inspire Courage: +2 to rolled attack, damage; +2 to saves vs Fear, Charm.
|
|
"See? They can't hurt us; not really." Frēodwēn comments as he reaches over Mudk's shoulder to stab at the reddish one.
for
for
-Posted with Wayfinder
Frēodwēn attempts to smack the reddish morlock with the non-stabbing bit of his ranseur, but can't quite manage a good swing with Mudk's bulky body in the way and both attacks miss.
Sivantanpisil's Spiritual Weapon attempts another attack that the morlock dodges again. She then teleports behind them and stabs the greenish morlock twice. Apparently stronger than the typical morlock, it stays on its feet afterwards.
Sugarsnap continues to give aid Mudk with divine Guidance, while Truffles guards the door.
Mudk makes two attacks on the morlocks with the flat side of his blade. The first hits the greenish skinned one, and it falls to the ground unconscious. The second misses the still active red-hued one.
Xakon stays out of combat to avoid worsening the bottleneck.
With his swarm buddy out of the picture and perhaps realizing Sivantanpisil was a more lethal threat, the remaining morlock advances five feet on the cleric and attacks with his heavy pick. Feeling overconfident, he makes a wild swing that almost results in dropping his weapon.
Initiative (Rounds 3-4)
Sivantanpisil <= Up
Xakon <= Up
1 active Morlock with heavy pick
Sugarsnap/Truffles <= Up
Frēodwēn <= Up
Mudk [Shield of Faith Active] <= Up
Effects
Inspire Courage: +2 to rolled attack, damage; +2 to saves vs Fear, Charm.
|
|
Frēodwēn steps in behind Mudk and drives his Ranseur over the Paladin's shoulders at the Morlock.
for
for
for
-Posted with Wayfinder
Xakon remains stationary while he waits for the others to deal with things nonlethally.
Mudk steps forward and attacks twice with the flat side of his blade. The first blow misses, while the second hits the creature in the side.
Frēodwēn moves in behind Mudk and strikes the creature twice with nonlethal attacks, although not critically. The enemy remains standing, however.
Sugarsnap casts Guidance once again on Mudk, while Sivantanpisil's Spiritual Weapon misses its target.
Unable to use her longspear, instead Sivantanpisil draws her dagger and stabs the morlock in front of her.
The morlock remains standing, but tumble hops over the stone barricade and cowers defensively in a corner.
Initiative (Rounds 4-5)
Sivantanpisil <= Up
Xakon <= Up
1 active Morlock with heavy pick
Sugarsnap/Truffles <= Up
Frēodwēn <= Up
Mudk [Shield of Faith Active] <= Up
Mudk knocks out the remaining morlock with a single nonlethal strike of his weapon.
Examining the unconscious morlocks, you find two heavy picks, two masterwork clubs, and two magical oil vials that look very similar to the oil of darkness you found earlier.
Xakon and friends checks the north door for traps and finds none. On the other side of portal you discover a stairwell leading down. You surmise it leads to the next level and decide to finish exploring this one first.
* * *
Resuming the party's standard operating procedure, the group retreats back through two rooms and takes a side passage with an already open door. This passage leads to a closed door. The walkway is littered with piles of stone bowls, skulls, crudely carved idols, and large chunks of quartzite, hematite, and other semi-precious minerals. A yellowish light leaks from the crack at the bottom of the door.
Examining the door, Xakon can see that it is magically locked, although he could probably disable it by normal means.