Opened for the "."
proverbial "."
You are in Absalom, the mighty City at the Center of the World,
and you’ve always longed to explore one of the countless ruins of
failed conquerors that litter the plains outside the city’s walls. You’ve heard rumors that one of the sealed siege castles has been laid open by a minor earthquake. Word on the street is that no one has yet entered the tower, which folks are calling the “Fallen Fortress.” What better way to start a life of excitement and adventure than by exploring its long-abandoned, dusty halls and perhaps claiming its ancient treasures?
You have been in the Absalom's Eaglewatch for a some years. The Eaglewatch, Absalom's scouts and special guard, is ever vigilant of potential threats. But the daily routine has become dull to you, a drive for adventure brews within you. As you find yourself off-duty in Caeden's Pitstop, one of the inns, you overhear some rumor talk.
#1 Say, did you feel it too, 3 nights ago?
#2 The quakes? Sure did, the pottery stands were picking up shards afterwards.
#1 A caravan that arrived this morning, claim they saw a part of the big siege castle in the distance collapse. It's not been accomplished by any number of sages or adventurers in ages.
|
Overhearing the conversation from the fellows down the bar, Nym turns to his companions in the Eaglewatch. "Hear that mates? Sounds like just the opportunity we've been dreaming about these last few months. An adventure site not picked clean by the infernal Pathfinders or the Aspis. Who knows what artifacts and lore awaits us inside? What say you to investigating?"
Nym is tall and extremely thin, even for an elf. His mind is extraordinarily sharp, and his studies of the arcane arts make him quite bored in his current post in the Eaglewatch, where he outright fails most physical tasks. You know he vaguely has some family history of wizardry in Cheliax, but exactly how he came to the Watch is a bit of mystery. The drudgery of guard duty has been especially chafing for him, as he sees a bright future in arcane studies and lore rather than a career as a lowly soldier.
|
"I agree friend Nym an excellent opportunity for those looking to prove themselves and find treasures such as us" intones Sele. There is only the hint of a hiss in his speech.
Sele is roughly 6 feet tall, covered in light green scales, he appears to be a human with snakelike features. Sele is strong and loyal, the Everblooms Bloodied Rose symbol on his chest shows his faith.
Sele is trying to prove himself and seems to have infinite patience and has so far been able to help his companions deal with the guardsmans lot.
|
"A chance for knowledge, adventure and above all else a chance to get a bonus on our measly pay, I'd say." grins Misarru.
So long as you've known Misarru he has always had a roguish grin to him, baring his large teeth. His tail flicking from side to side and his rapier dangling from his side might make him seem dangerous, but he's relatively harmless to those around him. He seems more cunning and calculating than actually very strong or intimidating.
"Since we're off-duty now, I'd say we waste as little time as possible. Lest others get the the same idea as us of course."
Mary, an errand girl to your captain, comes walking in.
Spotting you she waves.
"Fellas, fellas! Ah's got a letter for ya's. Cap'an wrote ya's a message."
She presents an envelop.
With news of the collapse spreading, there's some unrest starting amongst the rabble. Whispers of plunder, exploitation and the sort.
The Eagle Watch and other guards will contain the commotion as best we can.
Your new mission hereby:
-Investigate the breach.
-Ensure there are no potential threats to Absalom within.
-Should there be indeed a threat, remove it.
-Return with a rapport, you will be compensated for this mission.
Mary goes back to her duties.
"Catch ya guys later, bye!"
|
|
As the door opens, a gust of wind enters the building. Not a second later another familiar face shows up.
"Hi guys!" Lilia says as she moves inside. "Last second decision! I'll be joining you!"
Lilia dances toward your table, stirring up the air around her as she spins in circles.
She leaps into the air as she continues to spin, and lands with one foot on the chair besides Misarru's. Her other foot points at the ceiling, and Lilia bows while spreading her arms out. "Tada!"
"So... you ready to go?" Lilia asks, jumping off of the chair.
Some of the patrons are looking with some amazement, both from the acrobatic feat as well as the......"display", of undergarments. Average leather uniforms aren't that flexible.
After you pay the coin, you gear up and take the trip to the fallen fortress.
The ruined siege castle now being called the Fallen Fortress rises out of the churned earth of the Cairnlands. No doors or windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s walls. The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left
by the collapse. At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping hole in the side of the building that provides access to the tower’s darkened interior.
But as you are about to enter, a growling can be hear to the north.
Apparently a pack of dogs have followed you, and they look hungry.
Initiative roll please.
Round 1
-Misarru's turn
-Dogs
-Nym
-Lilia
-Sele
Round 1
-Misarru gets ready.
-Dogs (clockwise)
#1 moves up to Lilia and snaps at her, it misses.
#2 also attacks and misses.
#3 goes for Nym, only barely does the elf evade.
-Nym's turn
-Lilia
-Sele (posted, on hold)
-Misarru gets ready.
-Dogs (clockwise)
#1 moves up to Lilia and snaps at her, it misses.
#2 also attacks and misses.
#3 goes for Nym, only barely does the elf evade.
-Nym swings his quarterstaff at the dog, but it dodges in time.
-Lilia swings and slices the dog open.
-Sele swings his sword at a dog, but the animal dodges easily.
Round 2
-Misarru's turn
-Dogs
#1
#3
-Nym
-Lilia
-Sele
Round 2
-Misarru jabs the dog in the side, it goes down yelping.
-Dogs
#3 bites at Nym, but he evades barely yet again.
-Nym's turn
-Lilia
-Sele
Round 2
-Misarru jabs the dog in the side, it goes down yelping.
-Dogs
#3 bites at Nym, but he evades barely yet again.Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 Dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
-Nym throws an acid splash at the dog, but it flies just by.
-Lilia's turn
-Sele
Lilia misses, but Sele cleaves the last dog in half.
Combat over.
You now have a relative clear path forward.
The northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the
worst effcts of the collapse, but rubble still litters the flor
and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick
cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer
tapestries. A single archway stands open in the southwest wall.
The terrain to the southwest is full of rubble though, difficult terrain.
|
|
"Hmm the terrain looks difficult to the south-west, perhaps we should enter through the northern part of the tower. I'd suggest slashing and burning those cobwebs though, it seems like a lot of spiders must have lived there, it might obscure our vision of what lies beyond it."
Misarru says, his tail flicking from side to side as he approaches the northern part of the tower slowly.
Nobody spots anything.
As you are just in the room, a faint foosh, Sele is covered in a sticky webbing.
Round 1
-Spidey comes down and tries to bite Sele, but misses.
-Lilia's turn
-Nym
-Misarru
-Sele
Edit: Since all are after the spider, all can post and i'll resolve the actions as you post.
Round 1
-Spidey comes down and tries to bite Sele, but misses.
-Sele struggles with the icky webbing, but warning his comrades.
-Nym throws an acid glob, but it flies over and hits the wall.
-Misarru quickly moves around and stabs, but the spider's nimble body was moving a bit too fast.
-Lilia
Round 1
-Spidey comes down and tries to bite Sele, but misses.
-Sele struggles with the icky webbing, but warning his comrades.
-Nym throws an acid glob, but it flies over and hits the wall.
-Misarru quickly moves around and stabs, but the spider's nimble body was moving a bit too fast.
-Lilia strikes true for 10 dmg.
Round 2
-Spidey, having taken a hit, bites at Lilia yet misses.
-Nym
-Misarru
-Sele
-Lilia
Misarru lunges and catches the spider behind the head, ending it's measly attempts. It twitches a few times before going limp.
Combat over!
A small cocoon hangs in the webs, holding the remains of an unfortunate dog that fell into the spider’s clutches. The desiccated carcass is still wearing its leather collar, which is studded with lapis lazuli stones and has a silver tag reading “Kita.” These sort of collars are worth 50 gp.