PFS PbP: Master of the Fallen Fortress & Murder's Mark (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkeye127

I am Groot

"Yes, yes you are." Arthrax reassures the...tree thing. He is more than happy to follow the tree into the next room, assuming there is a suitable light source. If not, he will light a torch and carry in his shield hand.

"Aurora, would you mind if I took a small cutting from one of Groot's twigs? His single-mindedness of purpose has inspired me, and I think I can make something useful from his body with a bit research! At the very least, it would make a nice cup of tea..." The tiefling takes a step towards the treant sapling with his hand on his dagger.

No ill-intent or pvp here. Just seeing what kind of mayhem we can get into when the two least socially adapted party members interact. Frankly, Groot is more pithy than Misforstått! :-)

Yeah, you'll need light in these back rooms.
As you venture into the tower’s west wing find that it's mostly choked with rubble, but a door in the eastern wall is still accessible. The door leads to a stone spiral staircase that runs through the center of the tower. Unfortunately, the stairway is also blocked with fallen rubble. If you wish to explore the tower’s upper levels, yoo will have to go back outside and attempt to climb the tower’s exterior walls.

Sarephta refrains from making another comment about Misforstatt's powerful bombs.

Better keep any compliments to myself.

She takes a rope from her pack and points up to the tower's crumbling wall.

"Anyone want to venture up there and lower a rope for the rest of us?" she asks.

"Misbegotten Misforstått will help you, Lady Nigh." He pats down his person as though feeling for something in his pockets. "Your pardon, Lady, but do you have any rope?"

Arthrax starts to get his rope, then hears the exchange behind him and waits to see what the alchemist might have up his sleeve for this.

He gives the tiefling an enigmatic smile. "That sounds like an equitable trade." He leans in and whispers. " Do you have any more...discrete explosive devices? I have also heard of alchemist having skills with poisons."

Sarephta hands the tiefling the coil of rope she is holding.

"Thanks," she says warily.

Rope is cheap...I'll get a new one.

While I enjoy your enthusiasm, I cannot let you turn Groot into your spice rack. Please respect him

She then turns to her shield, whispers some words in elven and light begins to shine forth.

Groot and I will go back outside and see if there is any good spot to start climbing from. Come on Groot

We'll go outside and walk the perimeter of the tower looking for good places to climb up. I'll take 10 on perception and get a 19.

I am Groot

He looks at Misforstått oddly and then walks away.

@Darcy: Sincere apologies for what I'm about to type next. I, the player, am in no way a grammar jerk. But my PC has a low Cha. He's socially inappropriate... :-(

"Dashing Sir Aranzour," the alchmist is overjoyed at the positive affirmation, "All of my bombs are quite discrete. Their blast radius is very well defined and clearly delineated in their creation and application." His head cocks to one side, suddenly realizing what the cavalier meant, "What would be the benefit of throwing bombs with discretion?"

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@Aurora/Groot: As the treant sapling walks away, a an overwhelming wave of dejected washes over Misforstått. Yet another rebuff! Tears roll down his face.

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@Sarephta: He takes the angelkin's rope, ties knots into the first 15-to-20 feet of it, and then ties an end to his tanglefoot bag.

Looking at the map that GM Hawkeye has revealed, it seems like there's a ledge above the rubble where we entered.

Through staccato sobs, the tiefling manages to say, "Thank you, Gracious Lady Nigh. We can toss this bag up to the next level. Then we should be able to climb up before the tangle goo becomes too brittle to hold."

Unless the party would like to try something else, or Aurora's perception check finds a better spot. :-)

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The alchemist moves outside, carrying the rope-and-tanglefoot-bag contraption. He leaves behind him a surprisingly voluminous trail--a salty, slimy mix of tears, mucus, and other body sloughings.

Nothing has been used, yet. Just suggesting a course of action.

A creature most pathetic and vile. I am glad he has proven effective when we need him.

"Your plan sounds fine," Sarephta nods. "Once you have gathered yourself, throw the rope up."

Arthrax looks on at the situation with clear dismay and confusion, at a complete loss. Shrugging his shoulders, he prepares to climb, once they have a secured rope.

A creature most pathetic and vile. I am glad he has proven effective when we need him.

@Sarephta: LOL! Meow! :-)

Arthrax looks on at the situation with clear dismay and confusion, at a complete loss.

@Arthrax: ROFL! :-)

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Awaiting approval from GM Hawkeye before taking further actions. I'd like to make sure that 1) I did not misinterpret the map, 2) I will not blindly trigger another encounter, and 3) he approves of this improvised use of equipment. But I can pre-roll stuff, I guess.

If all is well, then Misforstått tosses the tanglefoot bag. (Possibly with direction from Aurora and her 19 Perception.)

Touch Attack to hit a square with the tangle goo: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Well, that beats the AC 5 to hit a square. Barely! :-|

Then, taking 10 to climb the knotted rope, the alchemist shimmies up to the next level with the intent to aid another/anchor/secure the climb for his allies.

@Misforstatt: You shouldn't apologize for RPing, and I shouldn't, either! :)

Not asking you to. :-) Loving this! :-D

Arthrax will also take 10 in climbing the rope after the effective, yet emotionally distraught alchemist.

"I use my own special mix for the entangling goo of my tanglefoot bags, Sir Bellringer!" Misforstått shares proudly with Arthrax. "You'll never guess what the special ingredient is," he teases as he holds out a hand to help the fighter onto the ledge.

He looks around conspiratorially, as though keeping a secret between the two of them. As he leans in, the warm noxious breath from the tiefling washes over the fighter. "I start with the tar from birch bark, chiclero trees, or mastic shrubs."

He lowers his voice to a whisper, "Then I mix in molasses or maple syrup."

His voice lowers again, "Then finally, I added in..."

Sarephta makes her way up the knotted rope.

Take 10 to climb.

The burly fighter keeps a straight face through the sounding off of ingredients, not surprised in the least by the secret ingredient. He stations himself by the rope, helping Sarephta and any others who might require it. He makes it a point to keep himself between the alchemist and the rope, pretty sure his other companions will be grateful.

"I'll steady you, Brave Sir Bellringer!" Misforstått moves behind the fighter and (shudder) wraps his greasy arms around the human's waist. "Don't you worry! I won't let you go; I won't let you fall."

"This man is so brave, so heroic," the tiefling thinks to himself. "I must not let him down!"

The alchemist takes a deep breath to center himself and squeezes his arms around Arthrax as much as he can. ROFLMAO! :-D

Looking over his shoulder, Arthrax glances to the entrance via this level of the tower. "Good man, my strength will more than suffice. Why don't you scout over there for any potential trouble while I help the others up?"

Mindful of causing another emotional breakdown, Arthrax manages to not say this through clenched teeth, but his patience with this...positioning will clearly not last long.

@Arthrax: LOL! Thank you, again, for being a good sport. :-)

Awaiting GM input here, before we get too far ahead of ourselves. Is that, in fact, a ledge? Are we able to climb up unchallenged?

Aurora: You determine that the western wall would be the best place to climb up.
Misforstatt: Nice use of the tanglefoot bag.
The tanglfoot goo secures the rope long enough for Misforstatt, arthrax, and Sarephta to climb up to the next level. Once there, they find the room to be sparse and covered in bits of rubble. There are two doors, one to the north-west, and one to the south-west.
I actually looked back at the map and edited it to allow for other parts of the tower that you can see and potentially have access to.

Arthrax will approach the northwest door, axe in his fighting hand, shield on his off arm, a newly lit torch in his off hand. He awaits his companions.

Thanks, Hawkeye! :-)

Misforstått approaches the southwestern door, reaches for the handle, looks towards his companions, and says, "Shall we open both doors on the count of three?"

Perception check to hear anything on the other site of the door: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Arthrax' eyes open in alarm again. He suspected within a few hours he would become indifferent to such things. "One door at a time, friend." he shrugs and walks swiftly to the southwestern door.

Misforstått freezes as Arthrax verbally halts him. "Of course, Sir Bellringer. My mistake."

:-) Just kidding for this part! --> Then, in a move that would make the three stooges proud, the alchemist goes to the northwest door. "I shall open this door immediately after you open that." Beaming, he gives the fighter a thumbs up. "One door at a time!" <-- Just kidding for this part! :-)

What really happens: The tiefling backs off, deferring to the fighter's tactical acumen.

Questions/comments for the party:
- Is everyone up on the ledge, yet?
- What should be our marching order?
- I don't want to get in the way of the melee types. Misforstått is most effective at range.

Arthrax is best up close and personal. He will gladly be in the front ranks, if no objections.
I believe we're missing three up here, for now.

Hold on you crazy adventures, Throw the rope down and I'll tie Groot and I up so we can climb up.

Whoa guys, don't be too hasty. I can tie up Groot and take 10 on climb to get a 12. You guys should be able to pull him up.

Sarephta assists any others in climbing up.

Once they are up, she nods to Arthrax.

"Ready when you are," she says.

Arthrax will assist in pulling the tree thing up, thinking he'd much rather it take attacks than himself. Once done, he regains his place by the southwest door. "Any of you want to give this a once-over before I open it?"

I'm going to assume that Kadur and Darcy both take 10 on the climb checks (it's only a DC 5 to climb a knotted rope anyways) for the sake of moving the game along.
Once the party is safely on the second floor, Arthrax and Misforstatt examine the Southwest door.

Aurora comes over to Misforstatt and Arthrax. Wait, let me look for traps

I'll Take 10 getting a 19

Aurora comes over to Misforstatt and Arthrax. Wait, let me look for traps

I'll Take 10 getting a 19

Aurora thinks it's safe, too.

Getting the all clear from two others, Arthrax shrugs and opens the door.

Opening the door, you find that this octagonal room is covered in a fine layer of dust. It’s clearly been abandoned for a long time.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Torch in shield hand, Arthrax enters. He notes the prints on the floor, adding to the others, "Be on your guard, there are more potential enemies about."

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

A reptile of some sort has been through here.

[ooc] Aurora takes 10 on her survival check getting a 19. [ooc]

Misforstått silently considers what kinds of experiments he could conduct with reptiles.

Back from the con now!

Darcy enters as well. He moves with restrained precision, back straight. His sword and buckler are out. His eyes glance about the room behind his mask.

Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9

He seems to have something on his mind, and thought his eyes pass over the room, what he sees just does not seem to register.

Ok, I'm back. Sorry for the absence yesterday, it was a long Labor Day. You find nothing else in this room. Are we moving on to the next door then?

Should we go into this room, we will be able to spread out she whispers.

Arthrax nods to Aurora, thankful the tree thing has decided to remain silent, for now. He proceeds to the next door, and will open it once his companions are set.

Misforstått enters the room and looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Why are we all whispering?" the alchemist asks quite a bit more silently than usual--for him.

Sarephta looks around for anything unusual.

survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"Surely others have been here in the recent past. Reptilian, I'd say."

Sarephta looks around for anything unusual.

[dice=perception]1d20+8[/b]

Sarephta, you can read Misforstatt's spoiler and react to it accordingly.

"STOP!" Sarephta yells in a commanding voice.

Once she has everyone's attention, she points to a wire running from the door frame up the wall and across the ceiling to a hidden javelin trap, poised to launch the weapon into the back of Arthrax's skull.