Palace of the Vampire Queen (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

Rownig peers down the hole, How's deep do ye think it is?

"Toss a light down the 'ole, anyone?"

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Is there a rope or chain that runs down to the bottom?

The wooden platform looks sturdy. The ropes that lower it are thick, and numerous, being designed so that cutting one or two ropes would not cause the "elevator" to fall. It looks as if it is safe, and can hold all seven of you easily.

If everyone is ready, you can descend to the lower level

Luca you probably missed this post regarding the ropes.

I didn't, but just because there are those ropes, doesn't mean there's not more dangling into the depths. I asked because I was going to cast light on one of them. Illuminate the whole shaft and the bottom. :D

Unfortunately, that's not the way the Light spell works anymore. I know, it's sad.

Darn. Pebble it is then.

Luca finds another pebble, mutters a prayer over it and drops it down the hole.

The ropes, of which there are many, being attached to the platform, and passing through the center, through worked holes, and some passing along the sides, into the depths, are thick and reinforced with materials you cannot identify. It seems unlikely that the monsters you encountered would understand or have the tools necessary to cut the ropes.

When Luca drops the lighted pebble down the shaft, you can watch it fall to a depth of probably one hundred feet, not too terribly deep, but deep enough to kill someone in a fall. When the pebble lands at the bottom its light is dim, from the view from above (where you are) but it reveals a weighted assembly that occupies the opposite part of the shaft from the platform, and this weighted device has shivs and wheels built into it which probably act as some kind of brake to limit the speed of the platform when descending with more weight than is balanced on the counterweight.

"Any ideas on how to attach ropes to us to prevent fallin'? His eyes swift to each member of the party, "Aint da'best climb'r, meself."

Atharessa brushes herself off, and strides to the platform. She hesitates, only for a moment, and then steps out onto it. It sways under her weight, a few inches this waym and then back. The ropes creek, the sound of them tightening muffled by the underground environment. She turns, holds her arms out wide, and says, "Aw, come on Rowee, it's perfectly safe. lets get going."

Mazrim will climb on and give the control a small tug to ensure that its not caught on anything. Then he looks at Rownig and an evil grin spreads across his face, "It's okay Rownig, if you don't wanna go down you can wait here."

Grumbling, "I ain't said I ain't goin', it's I'm not da best climb'r." He spits on his hands and rubs them together. He steps out on the platform.

I was under the impression we had to climb down using the rope, rather than use the platform.

Luca says nothing. She just grins as she hops onto the platform.

Patting Rownig on his back, "Just trying to ease the nerves after the fight. Nothing was meant by it."

Hal shakes his head at the good natured ribbing being passed around so soon after the fight and moves to join the rest on the lift.

Buncha kids. Buncha damn good kids.

Moralane and Azram each take one end of the box, and step out onto the platform.

After Rownig tugs on a few ropes, it becomes clear which rope must be pulled to lower the platform, and soon you are all descending at a slow but safe pace.

You watch the counterweight pass by and know nyou are half way there. The platform stops, not suddenly, but softly, at a height about a foot off of the floor at the bottom (the counterweight must have reached its upper limit?)

You are in a room similar to the one above, fifty feet on a side and square, with one opening, twenty feet wide, directly across from the platform in front of you. There is light from the pebble Luca dropped and it reveals a body on the ground ten feet infront of you, between you and the tunnel exit from this room.

The body looks to be a Dwarf. The clothing on the body is in rags, torn and shredded, and you can see bones are exposed. There is advanced decay, and you are sure the body has been here for weeks. The body has a backpack, and it is still closed.

"Poor fella." Hal says shaking his head.

"Ladies, ye might want t' look away. If this place's where th' undead 're comin' from, we can't take any chances." Hefting his axe, he stolidly approaches the corpse.

Before we search the body or determine a cause of death, I'm beheading it. Does it wake up and try to kill me?

Rownig holds two handaxes, then quickly slips into flanking position with Hal. Just in case the body begins to get up.

Luca also steps forward, instead of getting ready for a fight, she prayers for the soul of the long dead dwarf.

"That's no way to die, or be left. Thanks for that Luca."
Mazrim will move to the opposite side near the tunnel entrance and look for signs of movement.
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

The body shows no signs of unnatural life, and the head separates cleanly with Hallister’s blow.

"Sounds like water over here, maybe a stream or something."

Rownig kneels and using his handaxe to open the flap on the dwarf's backpack, while trying to peer inside.

traps: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Hal pats the body down as best he can, checking pockets while Rownig checks the pack.

Hallister finds the corpse has four silver pieces and twenty one copper pieces in a small coin pouch tied to the belt, a small knife, suitable for defense (a dagger) in a sheath tucked into the belt, and in a vest pocket, another small pouch, this one has four small semi-precious stones (red garnet) and a narrow steel key, with a large head that shows the symbol of a goose nesting at the base of an Atherra bush.

the pack does not appear to be trapped

Rownig is immediately caught by the smell of something that has gone rotten, a fruit or vegetable perhaps. Peering inside he can see some food wrapped in cloth and the cloth has fungus growing on it. Next to this small bundle is a hard flask, stoppered, and a very strong looking hard leather satchel think of a large dice bag made of very thick leather that has a small iron chain passed trough eyes reinforced with metal rings holding it drawn together at the top and secured with a lock.

A man's dice bag is sacred and shall not be touched by another man... Or his wife.

My dice bag is one of the crown royal bags that someone brought to the store I used to play at. Makes a hand dry-eraser for the grids we used.

"Shame we dinnae bring one o' them bandits with us. Pro'ly coulda tol' us who this lad was."

Rownig is cautious about the mold, "Git fire ready." Then he will carefully use his axes to pull items out one by one.

Sleight of hand: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

If a second roll is needed:
SoH: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

And third for the last item:
SoH: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Rownig removes the objects without incident.

The wrapped food stays wrapped, and is probably solidified into a rotted mass

The flask feels full, judging by the way it moves, and

the large satchel, is very heavy

Hal hands his findings off to Moralane one by one as he searches.

Who's keeping track of loot and whatnot?

I'm online a lot can can keep track of it.

Rownig will lay the items away from the fallen dwarf. "Shall we 'ave a peek at his guuds? The then proceeds to inspect the flask.

traps: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Thereafter he will look at the satchel,

traps: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"'dat key may work on 'dis lock'" indicating to the satchel.

I'll roll out the disable device if they are trapped.

The dice roller has cursed this dwarf.

Hal hands over the key.

Rownig will use examine the key they try to insert it in the lock.

It appears that none of the items are trapped.

When Rownig tries the key, he is surprised at the quality of the fit, the smooth action of the tumblers. It is a very nice lock Masterwork.

Inside the satchel are six metal rods, each about three inches, or so, long, and they are slender. Five of the rods appear to be made of copper, but one appears to be made of gold.

Rownig will attempt to appraise them.

Copper rods: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Gold rod: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Oye, poor chap was carrying some wealth."

Of course a low roll on the gold rod.

"Are they trade weights or somethin'? They don't look like any ingots I've ever seen. Why th' hell was 'e carryin' 'em down 'ere? Was this a copper or gold mine?"

"Not sure. I jus' smelt what they brought me."

“I think Hallister is right,” Moralane says as she takes the small pouces from his hands. “I think those are the things called Bars. Copper bars are used to verify the weight and purity of gold and silver coins. You’re supposed to be able to cut one into a hundred copper coins or something like that. By the sigil on them and the key, this poor man must have been an inspector for the King. If he came here, there must have been a reason.”

Rowing will open up the flask and smell it.

When Rownig opens the flask, everyone in the room, because of the confining atmosphere, gets a whiff of the very strong alcoholic beverage inside. It is a Brandy, and a good one.

"Better 'ang on ta that. We may be needin' it."

"Inspector? What th' hell was 'e doin' down 'ere? Rownig, you find any kind o' identification? Writs of Duty, signet ring, family or station crest, anything like that?"

"Ain't found nothin' like that, How 'bout that small purse you tossed over to Moralane, any id there?

Rownig will pat the man done now searching for any folds or hidden pockets.

He will take 20 if need be.

"Is that entirely necessary to do right now? Shouldn't we continue for that chest before the sun falls?"

"Naw. Jus' a couple garnets and some coin."

"Well, iffen it does, what's a little darkness to a dwarf? Let's keep goin' though. I don't wanna run inta those dead things any more than ye."

Luca's got Darkvision out to 120 feet. :D

? - Luca, are you just being silly, or do you not know why Mazrim is concerned about the sun setting.

First part was supposed to be a jest. Second was very much serious. I'm aware that the dead rise at night. (If that last post was metagaming, I apologize I'm normally better about that.)

no worries, I thought it was a good post, a bit of a nervous grin and laugh faced with the memory of what you've just been through

"Do ya think this guy's gonna git up and start walkin' wit the sun goin' down?" As Rownig starts to get up, "Let's git goin'"