[PFS/DMK] First Steps - In Service to Lore (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

Nijena is not sure what to make of this place, and this talk of getting hold of things that other people shouldn't have gives her pause. She doesn't say anything though, instead letting Karela say his piece as she sizes him up.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

This has whole thing has the ring of something I'd prefer not to question too closely and take on face value.

Frunobulax glowers at the man's instructions. "So, we need to find a book that is in a box, which is contained within another box? My goodness! Keys in jars, books in boxes - so many containers to worry about."

The inquisitor does his best to fix Guaril Karela with his stern gaze. "It is just the books then, nothing more?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

"Alright, let us commence this task."

Just the books Guaril says. And yes, there's all kinds of shady people on these docks. I would be worried if the warehouse became known as unattended for a longer period of time. Things around here have a habit of moving.

Making no further words dirty, he guides the adventurers out of the door. I trust you will perform this action with discretion.

Neither Nijena, Miette or Frunobulax gather any deeper motive, or than the shady ring the entire operation has. This might all be on the edge of legality, but the Venture Captain did indicate Guaril was to be trusted.

Is it safe to assume he told us where to find this warehouse?

Yes it is.

Perched on the end of a long pier fifteen feet above the water, the warehouse appears to struggle against its own roof, threatening to sag into the bay below. No light shines from the building’s windows and only the movement of gulls and pelicans stirs the scene.

I've updated the map (First Steps ^^ in the header

What a crappy place... , the priest sighs and then strides down the pier to the door.

For the sake of completeness he knocks twice and then twice again, waiting.

Strolling up to the warehouse...
"I must agree Aldaeth, this is quite nasty. I bet the doors are locked too."says Miette with a smile.

"I'll just check this door right here."
Perception: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20
DD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

No one home it seems, which confirms that which was told us... I'd hate to boot the door down and find it was actually a legitimate place of work with people inside.

He looks around.

Any other way in?

The doors were locked indeed, but no longer, as Miette opens the lock as if she was holding the key. The door swings open to reveal the contents of the warehouse:

Darkness fills the warehouse, the ambient light from outside blocked by a filthy, oily film on the structure’s few windows. Darting illumination comes from light reflecting off the water through a splintered hole in the floor. Throughout the warehouse, crates, boxes, and barrels lean against each other in vaguely sorted stacks. A lingering smell indicates some of the contents are certainly spoiled.

Aldaeth draws his sword and casts light on the blade, and moves into the room.

Beaming with pride Miette sees Aldaeth's shiny stick and exclaims
Oooooh, pretty. I'll follow you.....

Some of the boxes are open, and inside mundane items like nets, rope, raw cotton, spare sail can be seen. At the far end of the warehouse, a large, splintery, hole in the floor is visible. A large crate, marked with three crows, is still standing in the middle of the hole. A metal rail runs along the side of the warehouse, and a crane - devoid of rope or hook - is attached to it, so it can run along the rail.

Sorry about not posting, it's been a long couple of days.

Nijena's halo ignites in holy fire, providing additional light. She kneels by the hole in the floor and looks into it.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

The halo is equivalent to a light spell.

As soon as Nijena light the fire, a trio of rats appears, annoyed by the sounds and bright light of the adventurers.

Surprise round:
Three rats appear from behind the boxes scattered in the warehouse. One jumps at Frunobulax, and before he realises what is going, it has bitten him in the calf. Nijena and Aldaeth are also swarmed by rats, but the armour they are wearing luckily protects them against the worst of the bites.

Attack, Fruno: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 151d4 ⇒ 4 Please roll a DC 11 fort save
Attack, Nijena: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Attack, Aldaeth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

First round:
The rats keep viciously snapping away at our heroes. This time the rat in front of Aldaeth manages to get through his armour, and draws a trickle of blood.

First round:
Attack, Fruno: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Attack, Nijena: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Attack, Aldaeth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 201d4 ⇒ 1

---
Rats - Attack
---
Aldaeth - Takes 1 damage
Nijena
Miette
Fruno - Takes 4 damage
---

Aldaeth counter attacks.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

I forgot to add: Aldaeth needs to roll a DC 11 Fort save as well

The War Priest brings down his bastard sword, and cleaves the rats in front of him in twain.

---
Aldaeth - Attack
Nijena
Miette
Fruno
---
Rat
Rat
Rat - Dead
---

Fort 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

s#!# rolls for the last 7-8 days

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Fruno reels back from the bite from the rat, but is just barely able to shake off any serious ill effects.

"Die, vermin!"

Frunobulax draws and swings his greataxe.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

The rodent doesn't stand a chance against the brute force of Frunobulax' great axe. Only a single more rat is alive.

---
Aldaeth - Attack
Nijena
Miette
Fruno - Attack
---
Rat - Dead
Rat
Rat - Dead
---

I was waiting for Aldeath to go and then the website crashed.

Nijena unsheathes her longsword and swings low in a vertical slash at one of the rats.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Ah, ok. In PbP it is somewhat customary to have 'block initiative', which basically means that players are put in block, and everyone in a block gets to act when the block is up (I mark them in bold on the initiative list). So no need to wait for the guy in front of you, just post right away.

Nijena follows the good example of Frunobulax and Aldaeth, by cleaving the rat in front of her. She does so in an especially exalted fashion, but the end result in the same.

Combat over

Aldaeth, unfortunately, you have contracted filth fever.
Onset, days: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Not to be out done our heroic blue Gnome shoots the remaining vermin with her trusty light Crossbow of Doom!

Doom: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Miette shoots doom into one of the dead rats. Which, fortunately, remains dead.

rarr

Nijena cleans off her sword and sheaths it before getting back to the task at hand. Barring any further interuptions, perhaps we can complete our task and get out of this place.

The hole in the floor looks precariously unstable, and venturing close to the edge might collapse it further, sending whoever is standing on it - and the chest - down into the dink below.

In an attempt to seem intelligent, Miette excitedly blurts:

"Didn't I see a boat outside? Could we maneuver the vessel underneath the box and drop it?"

Nijena stapes back from the hole, gingerly, and looks at Miette. An excellent idea friend. Perhaps you should investigate the boat, while I look for some rope. Rope seems like it would be useful.

Frunobulax's eyes grow wide as he remembers, "I have rope! Here - it is silk rope." He tries to hand the rope to the nearest person.

"I do not trust myself climbing over such a precarious floor. Miette, you look to be perhaps the lightest of our group - do you think you could tie this rope to the crate so that the crate could either be lowered or dragged away from the hole?"

It would be dangerous to add additional weight, warns the priest. Do we have any other options? Maybe get the boat under it while we lasso it with 2 or 3 ropes... Then we gently pull... The floor gives way then but we'd have the chest and could lower it gently.

The crane can be moved over the hole, but holds no hook. Apart from Frunobulax' rope, the chest hold some rope as well, as well as nets.

The boat can certainly hold the crate. It is not a sure thing if the boat would hold up when dropping the crate from above - depends on its weight, really.

Approaching the crate over the collapsed floor is going to require some acrobatics checks

Orrrr.... we could use the crane here to lower someone to the chest.

"Even though I am very agile I'd prefer to be lowered down to the crate from the crane."
"Maybe someone should move the boat over before we attempt this. The crate looks precariously balanced and I'd hate to lose it in the water."

Does the crane have working lowering mechanisms? Block and tackle, etc...

Nope, it's just a large piece of metal with a big eye at the end. You could jury-rig something, of course

Frunobulax hands the silk rope to Miette.

"As you seem to be the most nimble, I say that you approach the crate, carefully, and tie this rope either around it or to a handle - if one is available."

"While you do that, Nijena can bring that boat from outside around and underneath our ventilated floor. Then, with Aldeath and I on the rope, we either pull the crate to safety, or we are able to keep the crate from smashing into and through the boat should the floor give way."

He then stammers out, "You should keep a strong grip on the rope as well, little one."

Looking up at Frunobulax Miette appears nervous and a bit reluctant.

"Umm ok.
What about we fix the crane first, then lower me above the crate, I tie everything together and ride the crate down to the boat? Much more fun I think!"

"Hu-haw!" the half-orc blurts out in laugh. "Of course we should do that first. No sense in taking an unnecessary swim. Now, I am not sure how to get the crane working. Perhaps you climb up and thread the rope through the loop?"

"ok"

Cimb: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Miette, where did you see this boat? I'll go fetch it and bring it under the hole.

Then Nijena does that.

Sorry again for the time between posts, I was literally on campus for 13.5 hours yesterday. Grad school is a pain in the ass.

Miette climbs up the crane without breaking a sweat, ready to catch Frunobulax' rope an thread it through the loop, leaving one end dangling down.

Nijena manages to fetch the dingy that was moored at the pier, and rows it to below the warehouse. The larges poles that the warehouse is standing on are covered in green goop, and it smells like a sewer down there.

The crate does have handholds.

Nijena tries to maintain her composure amidst the smell under the warehouse, trying to block her nose without it seeming obvious, but comes off looking fidgety.

From below the warehouse, Nijena sees somewhat clearer what has been going on here: someone has been trying to break through the floor to gain entrance. Whatever the case, this person has been preventing the crate from falling down into the water, but only barely so. What a sloppy job.

Meanwhile, Miette is on top of the crane, where she could easily thread a rope through the loop and dangle it down.

How will you proceed?

It looks like someone has been trying to access the warehouse from below, probably to get this very crate, Nijena calls up. As I doubt it was those rats we just dispatched, be on your guard.

Far be it from me to waste their idea... I'll get that boat... Anyone else want to come?

I'm already in the boat, under the warehouse.

The cleric waves to the boat underneath. Ahhh there you are. Ahead of me then.

So, do we have a plan for the chest?

I thought Miette was going to attach the rope to the box and Aldeath and Fruno could use the crane system to lower the box onto the boat.