Sardon delivers the finishing blow to the Troglodyte so severely stabbed by Naiuyra. Panicked by the demise of this two companions, the remaining Troglodyte tries to get up and flee. Sardon makes short work of that plan, so that once again, the threat is past.
The room is full of crude bunks, and the usual configuration of doors.
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"I hate troglodytes. Can't stand the stench. I'll need a few moments before this sickening feeling passes."
Naiyra rests a for a little bit, waiting for the sickness to pass.
After a while she starts to feel a bit better. She listens through the southeastern doorway attempting to discern any sounds on the other side, hoping that's these were the last of the troglodytes.
The door to the next room seems a bit warmer than the others, a slight elevation of temperature that would almost feel comfortable, especially compared to the humid cold that runs throughout the fortress. A faint smell of smoke can be discerned, against the background of the eye-watering troglodyte stench.
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Nothing, what concerns me more is what I feel and worst of all smell. The smell. The thrice damned smell. Lets get this over with! Just as we did."
Naiyra tightens her grip on her sword as she tries to mentally prepare herself for the stench. She tries to open the door as quietly as possible and takes a step inside.
A brazier of glowing coals sits in the center of this room, its acrid smoke mixing with the ever-present troglodyte stench. A few knives, pokers, and other metal implements lie atop a rusty iron box nearby. A hulking brute of a troglodyte stands next to the brazier, with a javelin in hand.
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Well, I guess no front line. I'll come back in.
I pull out the scroll of shatter and ready to cast it right before he attacks with a weapon. The target will be whatever weapon he's attacking Naiyra with.
vs DC 4
Alternatively, you can target shatter against a single solid nonmagical object, regardless of composition, weighing up to 10 pounds per caster level.
- 30 lbs or less, he gets a Will DC 13 to save or that weapon is destroyed.
From the point of view of Mahasi, it looks like a shadow quickly strikes out at the hulking, stinking creature. Upon a closer look, he concludes it is none other than Naiyra, delivering two nasty jabs at the monster - but to no avail, as the creature's hide is simply too thick.
The hulking creature turns around and produces something of a grin, takes a step back and throws his javelin.
Fighting back against an unknown tug on the javelin, the creature does not manage to get it even close to Naiyra. The creature is now empty-handed, which does not mean it's unarmed, as these empty hands look mighty sharp.
In a supreme team effort, Sardon tips over the lizard, while Thaurux tips over the brazier, spilling hot coals all over the prone lizard
The troglodyte screams in agony as hot coals burn everywhere. It manages to avoid the bulk of it, but still gets severely burned.
The struggling troglodyte hisses and curses as Naiyra delivers a violent stab. It tries to get up, but a quick jab of Sardon's Glaive in the back makes ensures that doesn't happen. The troglodyte remains motionless on the floor.
A single door leads to a room northeast.
The slain troglodyte holds a key. The iron chest in the room contains a complete outfit and gear for an adventurer: a suit of leather armour, a masterwork buckler, a masterwork rapier, a short bow, 15 arrows, a scroll of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of invisibility, a sort of magical compass, and a climber's kit.
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Naiyra's eyes sparkle as she discovers the chest full of items and a wide grin appears across her face. Smiling she tries on the masterwork buckler with the rapier. She finds that she can wield it comfortably glad for added protection and the rapier's balance to her liking. She also picks up the shortbow and arrows, stowing them away safely.
She suddenly remembers her companions. "I hope you don't mind if I hold onto these. These weapons don't seem as though they would suit warriors such as yourselves. There are some items here that I cannot identify, they seem as though they might be magical. Mahasi perhaps you should have a look."
The door to the northeast is sturdy, but contains no traps. It's quite the lock on this door.
Naiyra opens the lock, and an onlooker might wonder if she was just holding the key. As the door open, a muttering
Ah you stinking monster, come to beat me up again? can be heard. Inside, a gaunt, manacled and bruised man lies in a corner.
What? Who are you? Has the Venture-Captain sent you to rescue me? Get these things off me... please he says as he holds up the manacles.
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Deep in thought, Thaurux barely notices Nairya and Mahasi diviyng up the loot. The smell of burning flesh of the scaly skin one, why does it feel familiar and oddly satisfying.
Catching a gympse of the ever eager Nairya’s back side, he refocuses on the task at hand. When Nairya reveals the prisoner, Thaurux steps up:
”We have ventured into this place in search of loot and glory before we stumbled upon these lizard men. We will free you. Tell us what did they want with you and why they have taken you prisoner.”
I was captured by these... these reptiles. There's the one with the scimitar, and then this big brute. Have you defeated them? If you free me, I can help you!
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Niayra unlocks the manacles freeing the troglodytes prisoner. "We killed the big brute, four lizards, a couple of flaming skeletons, though they were already dead, a disgusting spider and some wild dogs to get here. We haven't come across anything with a scimitar till now."
"What is your name and by any chance is there a reward for rescuing you? You wouldn't happen to be from a wealthy or noble family, would you?"
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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.
EDIT: I'll make a common knowlege engineering roll.
=> 10
The prisoner massages his wrists, and looks grateful for being rescued. Thank you. My name is Balenar Forsend. I'm afraid I am no noble. Were you sent to find one?
I was sent by the Venture-Captain of Absalom to investigate this place, but alas, the stinking creature overtook me. I'm afraid all my possessions were taken from me - you wouldn't happen to have found any of it, would you? he says, as he looks at Naiyra with a smile.
I'm afraid I was born to sing of great warriors rather than be one. I would gladly accompany you if you would decide to battle the evil chief.
Mahasi, meanwhile, has his mind on the cracked overhanging eastern part of the fifth floor. His common sense tells him that it could collapse anytime.
Another conundrum the heroes face if they want to climb up to the fifth floor: there are no rubbled parts to grab onto, which mean they would face a climb on the smooth outside. The staircase, meanwhile, is as useless as ever.
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Nairya points to the gear in the chest. "Clothes, armour, and here," she says as she hands him her shortsword. "This you can use this if you need to fight. The weapons we found are more use to a warrior than a singer." she adds ending any hope that she will hand over the buckler and rapier.
"Does anyone have any ideas on how can get up there in once piece? I don't suppose we can just use a rope and grappling hook." she says more focused on trying to spot something, anything that can aid them in the climb.