Palace of the Vampire Queen (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

Day 7, Late Morning, 2/56 (Current Turn/Turn of the Clock)

The secret door swings open easily and Miagnik and Rownig see a small, closet like space beyond. On the floor are five small back packs and a suit of chain mail armor sized for a heavy built dwarf, several dwarven and goblin sized shoes and boots, a few items of clothing, and a short but thick wooden pole.

"Huh... I was expecting... something else. Oh well. Grab things and let's leave here." Miagnik grabs a pack and then gives the small, closet like room a quick look over.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Rownig will look around the closet then at the dwarf sized chained shirt.
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 +1 for traps

appraise: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

To Miagnik,"Wonder if these were the Princess and her group's items."

Unable to see what sits in the room, Stephanie follows the others into the cramped closet space to momentarily escape the fumes. By time she enters, Miagnik already has the backpack. "Looks to be some sort of storage room," she whispers to the others, while trying to inspect the room with her own limited vision. "...serendipitously unoccupied."

Suddenly the royal gnome freezes, her emerald eyes squinting then opening wide in revelation. "He's nearby!" she blurts, struggling not to squeal. "Whisk is nearby, and... is that my backpack?!" Her voice is no longer whispering, though still composed as she notices a familiar backpack slung over Miagnik's shoulder.

Miagnik had been feeling a little light headed from the fumes and was busy looking around the room when Princess Stephanie's voice refocus him. He turned to her handing over the backpack.

"If you think it is, then it must be yours... and who is Whisk? A guard or servant that was captured with you?"

Stephanie gracefully accepts the backpack from Miagnik, though is still frantically looking about. She's trying to sense if Whisk is in a panic or joyful, if perhaps he senses her as well.

"Thank you, Miagnik." She whispers again as she scans. "I'm so glad that you found this! And Whiskey Barrel is my best friend, I had a suspicion we might find him!"

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Whiskey barrel's can be a guud friend but Princess ye got a problem if it's yer best friend, I'm partial t'ale and mead too...mind you."

"Have ye had that smooth syrupy liquor called rum?" The deep voice asks from back, "delicious!' His grumbling stomach echoes.

With a single eyebrow raised, Stephanie pauses to look at Rownig quizically. After a second or two of puzzled expressions her eyes widen in revelation. She quickly tries to surpress the smirk that plays across her lips. "Indeed, Rownig." There's a glimmer in her eyes as she continues."Perhaps it is one of my vices. I will consider your counsel."

"...and perhaps I will consider rum."

Miagnik couldn't help but let a smile appear on his face. Princess Stephanie's delight at him finding her backpack and realizing her best friend was still alive was contagious, or maybe he was more light headed than he thought.

No one at my village will believe that I met a princess... ... not that they would care. As he thought about his home Miagnik's smile slowly dwindled.

But... Maybe when I become king...
Miagnik then remembered where they were and what was going on. He shook his head to help clear it.

"We should get moving from here. We need to find Princess Stephanie's friend and we need to be careful when we go deeper in, there's someone called Krrthin the Mad and her followers, who are going to be looking for us. I found several other ways to go, one set of really big Stone doors that looked interesting but there is the smaller set we passed by earlier too."

Not able to tell exactly where Whiskey Barrel is, Princess Stephanie huffs loudly in frustration, puffing a strand of hair out of her face again. She sets the backpack on the ground, affectionately grasping the small trinket that hangs from the side by which she recognized it so quickly, then flips it open.

Her face lights up as she notices that everything is in order. It appears that her captors never even searched the contents. She pulls out the spellbook, running a small finger across the leather binding before folding it open with the smooth cracking of its spine, then flipping it shut again. She slides the powerful book back in the pack, pulls out her dagger to keep handy in her belt, then loops the satchel back over her shoulder with a smug and resolute grin.

"If there is nothing more here, then I agree. I will keep feeling for Whisk. He's smart, so we needn't worry."

"Let's check th' smaller doors. I'd rather not leave anyone b'hind us if we c'n help it."

[ooc]rownig will stow the chain shirt.

"No reason to let potential useable gear behind." Rownig will quickly look through the other backpacks. "Besides, if we find the owners they may want 'em back"

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Add one for traps

disable device, if needed: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"this Kerth the mad, what did you hear. What can we expect?"

"Just that... Krrthin is mad, possibly a priest, who has followers."

Day 7, Late Morning, 3/56 (Current Turn/Turn of the Clock)

There is a moment when everyone is shifting around in the tight confines of the narrow passageway. One by one, the remaining backpacks are gone through and checked for anything important.

That is when Atharessa notices that the suit of Chain mail, though not something she would be comfortable wearing is large enough to fit her and she asks,

“Maybe I can have just the shirt? It could help me next time someone is shooting arrows at me I think.”

The party finds some lengths of rope, a few bags of rations, most are still good enough to eat and will probably last a few more days, and other common items one might take on a trip that is supposed to last a few days (a few pairs of socks, a sewing kit with a few buttons, a small metal pot, and three pints of lamp oil).

The fumes begin to irritate eyes and mouth, and so the group works slowly back to the room where the spear making was discovered and here Atharessa puts on the Chain Shirt, while the rest of the things found in the secret closet are sorted and distributed among the rest of the party.

"don't matter none t'me, go ahead and use it." He then quickly pulls out the oil and offers them up., 'Oil is useful, I'll keep one... Hal, Mazrim you should take these."

"Useful but dangerous. I've already got plenty so you can keep it."

"Then we should head to the other small stone door, like Hal said."

Stephanie is relieved to be out of the fumes again, and breathes deep of the dank cavern air. It's peculiar how much context varies perceptions.

As the group continues, she periodically pauses every minute or so to see if she senses any change in emotion from Whisk, trying to hide her slowly growing anxiety.

Day 7, Late Morning, 3/56 (Current Turn/Turn of the Clock)

The doors you are curious about are directly across the passageway, to the east, from the doors the party first explored.

You file back through the trapped passageway, avoiding the triggers in the floor, until you are back in the main passageway.

A set of double doors is directly across from you, on the east wall.

A small squeel seems to be building inside the Princess as the group nears the set of double doors. She reaches out her right hand, in an authoritative gesture to halt the rest, ignoring the fact that she is near the back of the party and it's likely no one even sees her gesture.

"Through those doors!" she whispers. "Whisk should be in there. But I have no idea if it's safe or not."

Holding his breath trying to avoid the fumes as he leads the way back. Then he checks the double doors for traps and disable, if necessary.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 add +1 for traps

disable devise: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Day 7, Late Morning, 3/56 (Current Turn/Turn of the Clock)

Hallister gives everyone a stern look, and places a finger to his lips reminding everyone that they should try to be quiet as Rownig approaches the doors.

Rownig pauses a safe distance back from the doors and peers intently at them, looking for signs of simple traps. The doors have no markings, nothing stands out that would tell Rowning there is a trap, but he is cautious nonetheless. He steps lightly up to the door and listens through the crack in the middle.

Atharessa tightens her grip on her spear, while Moralane draws an arrow to her bow.

Waiting a bit back from Rownig but close enough to rush to his aid if things turn sour. Those nearby can almost hear the cracking of the leather of his weapons grips. Muttering to himself barely audibly, "Bah, who goes around setting up these ridiculous traps. I mean what does a tomb need with a hall littered with pressure plates that'll singe off a decent beard for plantin yer feet where the damned architect didn't want ya to. Furthermore who in their right mind would agree ta build these damnable things. Coulda went an built 'emself a decent ol' distillery with all that gear but no 'I wanna burn up some unlucky sod and ruin somebody's day. Whatever happened to facing people head on an letting yer own skill rather than trickery solve problems?"
Realizing that he just said all that out loud and that others are probably looking at him funny he blushes, "Er, nothin."

Miagnik nods to Rownig and grips his spear tightly, preparing to run into the room the moment the door was open.

Rownig whispers to Miagnik , "Voices...goblins." Then he turns to the others and points to his ear and mouth, moving his hand rapidly touching his fingers together to indicate that he heard voices talking. He gives everyone a moment to prepare. He then makes sure that he places one axe in one hand and the other under his armpit, and pulls the door open.

Windel casts bless as Rownig lets everyone prepare for what's behind the door.

Hal, right behind Rownig, makes to move in fast before the door had even finished being pulled open.

Stephanie can feel her stomach churning. She's feeling anxious, both at the thought of seeing Whiskey again, and the memory of the abominations that brought her here in the first place.

She does her best to conceal it, however, standing at her full but meager hight with chin raised and hands at the ready. She dips the first two fingers of her right hand down into the openning of her spell component pouch--not certain of what she made need to grab out of there, but desiring to be prepared should it be necessary.

Day 7, Late Morning, 3/56 (Current Turn/Turn of the Clock)
(surprise round)

Rowning throws open the door, Hallister bolts forward, and the others ready themselves to follow.

It is a cavernous room, in size, and there are numerous Goblins spread out across it.

The room is 40’ (east to west) and 60’ (north to south). The south wall is a mere 5’ to the south of the doors, while the north wall is fifty-five feet away.

There are three groups of Goblins in this room. The first group stands near the south-east corner of the room, and includes a large Goblin (technically these Medium Sized Goblins are “Bugbears”) wearing chainmail armor, carrying a shield and he is armed with a morning star. There are four Goblins with this Bugbear, and they are standing around a small bed of red hot coals above which hangs a pot. There is a second group of Goblins, five in number, sitting at a table near the center of the east wall. The table is covered with large clay tiles, some of the tiles are stacked. In the northwest corner of the room are seven more Goblins, and these are sleeping in a communal “heap” on a bed of furs and straw. The room has a smell of spiced stew, onions, and cabbage.

In the center of the room, occupying a 10’ by 5’ section of the floor is a raised platform. It is made of fitted and mortised stones and is about two feet above the floor.

You have caught these Goblins by surprise.

Miagnik runs into the room and after a quick inspection, immediately heads for the pile of sleeping Goblins.

the map is updated, but I have everyone gathered by the doors, so within the surprise round, using the grid, please tell me where you want to be before round 1 starts.

Straight forward for me. D14

-F,11 please.

-E,10

F12

"Oh boy...we've stepped 'n it now." The realization hits as the dwarf enters the room.

I'm unable to see the map at the moment, but don't want to hold up the game while waiting until I can. Stephanie would want to be able to see most of the room, especially the northern section as you describe it. This likely involves stepping into the room, but she would not want to charge in front of the dwarves. I will be able to be more detailed this evening.

Day 7, Late Morning, 3/56 (Current Turn/Turn of the Clock)

Round 1

The doors open and the party charges forward, realizing at the last moment that they have entered a large room teaming with Goblins

Round 1 Initiative Count 22

Moralane dashes forward, seeing how the entrance is getting jammed up, she slides to the corner, and fires an arrow at the Bugbear

Ranged attack against Bugbear: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 4 = 20

Even though the Bugbear is surrounded by goblins, he is close, and Moralane's aim is deadly

Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Rownig moves up next to Hal (-E,14), "Windel fill 'da gap." Then with his dual hand axes he attacks (-E,15) the flat footed goblin,

TWF, 2 Handaxes, bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14Damage, TF: 1d6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 + 1 = 3
Sneak Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

TWF, bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 1 = 13Damage, TF: 1d6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 + 1 = 2
Sneak Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9

"Hi...ho...hiho...it's off ta'work I go"

Day 7, Late Morning, 3/56 (Current Turn/Turn of the Clock)
Round 1 (Initiative count 21)

Rownigs attack is furious, but the Goblin manages to dodge away from the second blow. The first blow, however, is a horrible slice deep into the Goblin’s shoulder

Standing close now, Rownig and Hallister can see that these Goblins wear a makeshift style of armor that is a combination of bits of chain mail, sewn to pieces of hide and leather armor.

The Goblins at the table are the first to react to the Dwarven intruders, and the whole group, save for one of their number spring from the stools they are sitting on.

Two Goblins scramble over the low obstacle in the center of the room and bear down upon Mazrim

These are BlueG1 and GreenG1, moving into a threatened square both provoke an AOO from Mazrim, but he can only choose one to attack. I kind of need to know which one he will attack before I make their attack rolls. BlueG1 is going to stop in –G,13, while GreenG1 will stop in –G,12

One of the Goblins runs toward the north wall, and kicks one of the Goblins sleeping their, trying to wake the whole group, he shouts

“Aieeeeee!”

An Incoherent warning that wakes the sleeping Goblins
These Goblins, G3, will not act for a random number of rounds, equal to a roll of a D3, and then will go on their rolled Initiative
Waking Goblins: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Initiative G3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
They will not be able to act until round 4
Another Goblin from the table (MagentaG1) grabs a long blade from the table and kicks the stool away, moving to attack Rowning

Goblin MagentaG1, at –G,17 moves to -f,15 and attacks Rownig
Melee Attack on Rowning: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

The last Goblin at the table (RedG1) jumps to his feet and acts as if he is going to move, but then he stares down at the table. He lunges on the table and begins scooping up silver coins.

Miagnik watches the goblins begin to run and scream and he just couldn't help himself get caught up in the frenzy of activity. He runs out from the throng of Dwarves his hands raised into the air.

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Miagnik is zigzagging out around the Dwarves in front of Mazrim and around the outside of the table toward J-16. Call it a full run using 70 feet of movement on extraneous back and forth running. He is trying to get all of the Goblins in group 2, and hopefully some of group 1 to gather up, and willingly receive his "blessing".

AoO (trip) vs blue: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

On his turn Mazrim will 5ft step to -G11 and trip the other goblin...

trip green: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Any chance to get a map update after that Goblin movement?

Windel will cast divine favor on himself. He is going to move but I'd like to see the map first.

Hal remember that you get a +2 to your damage roll for 1 round.

Updating the map now, and I don't think you can use an AOO to make a combat maneuver, only a regular melee attack, but I'll allow it this time, next time let's keep it to regular melee attacks

The Goblin rushing at Mazrim (GreenG1) attacks him with a long knife

Melee Attack on Mazrim: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
But he cannot overcome Mazrim's armor

Mazrim - I need to have you move all the way to square -G,10, in order to trip the Goblin who moved to -G,12, is that okay?

The map will show the two Goblins who are now prone, as a result of Mazrim's attacks with a blue ring

Windel, Atharessa, and Princess Stephanie will go before Miagnik begins his gamble