PbP GameDay 2: PFS GM Brew's Master of the Fallen Fortress (1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master Wicked Brew

Eloriand accepts the offered assistance from Caoilte and thanks Tarek. Again, I am in your debt Tarek. Thank you. I thought I was witnessing my own death .... Eloriand checks the status of his armor and weapons given the intensity of the heat those monsters were emanating.

... And vaguely takes note of the discussion about upsetting the balance and a potential danger to Absalom.

I close my eyes and I am relieved at the healing that Tarek provides not only to myself but also to Caoilte and especially Eloriand who moments before had horrid burns on his flesh might have taken his life.

Tarek...thank you for your ability to ease and heal the burn injuries ....in fact..I think you also resolved a few lingering injuries from that little blue lizard I intend to turn into a belt or a pair of boots......Nethys....now let me have a look at these scrolls if you don't mind....they may be useful and may contain Arcane knowledge that I can use for the benefit of us all...if not now...then later down the road perhaps....

knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Isador sighs in relief after seeing Tarek's power erase the ravaging effects of the flame from Eloriand.

I thought we may have lost you there... I am glad to see you back to normal.

He then turns to Tarek and looks him over for a few moments.

I may have misjudged you.. Thank you for taking care of everyone's injuries.

Isador smiles as he passes Red near the once hidden doorway.

Nice find; not much gets past you.

Let me examine this alter before Tarek uses it to summon death and destruction upon us all He presents a half smile revealing his apprehension about reading the scrolls.

Isador then walks over to the white alter and proceeds to examine it for any hidden or recessed compartments. He will also inspect the floor at the base of the alter to see if he can determine if it was newly constructed or if it is attached to the floor.

I am glad to be of service to you all. I know I would not have fared well had I come to this place alone. Everyone has provided much needed skill that has allowed us to succeed thus far.

Tarek steps to the side to allow Isador to search the altar. I agree, it would be wise to be sure that both altars are safe to approach. If you look on top, you will see they both have a scroll and a silver plate.

Tarek then looks to Havelockk and Eloriand I hope both your injuries have healed enough to allow you to continue without any hindrance. Havelockk, you may want to allow Eloriand or Isador to search the other altar before you examine that scroll on the black altar. I will examine the scroll on the white altar at the same time if that is the wish of the group. I see no other option at this point, unless someone has found something?

Tarek looks around at the room This level is much smaller than I expected. I thought it would be the same size as the levels below, but there does not seem to be any doors here but the one we entered.

Tarek and Havelock examine the scrolls found in the altars. Using read magic, Tarek makes out that the scrolls are divine in nature. The scroll from the white altar is a scroll of shield other and the scroll from the black altar is a scroll of shatter.

Tarek channels the power of his deity and lets forth a few waves of positive energy. The energy washes over the injured party members, soothing them instantly of the various burns acquired in their bout with the skeletons. Eloriand, once a badly burned mess, is astounded as his burns literally disappear as he is infused with positive energy from Tarek. Tarek now has two uses of channel energy left.

Caoilte stands sentry on the stairwell doorway. He attempts to recall any mention of troglodytes from his past, but cannot recall anything specific. He muses that someone trained as a dungeoneer may know some facts about the trogs.

Eloriand examines the floor of the chamber and detects recent movement. He is able to learn that the tracks are mostly troglodyte and that the trogs likely had their own fight with the temple guardians. The tracks lead back to the stairwell.

Kat slips out of the recently discovered secret door. She exits unto a chamber that is greatly exposed to the outside due to a tremendous crack in the superstructure. A living, moving fabric seems to cover the ceiling of this half-collapsed chamber, which stretches northwest into darkness. The pungent smell of ammonia rises from the droppings that litter the floor. Kat can feel the wind on her face as she skulks about. As she examines the darkened areas of the exposed chamber, she hears the flapping of wings and high pitched screeching. Suddenly, there is movement all around her and she finds herself surrounded by a countless number of small leathery flying vermin, bats! She takes a swipe at the beasts as they converge on her, but she cannot connect with her blade. Kat gets nicked by one of the bats as the swarm about her. As she readies her action, one bat is able to take a decent baite out of her shoulder, drawing blood. Kat takes 7 damage and it is her turn to act. She is at zero hit points.

Isador hears the sound of a thousand winged creatures take to flight coming from the chamber behind the secret door. He also hears a small cry of pain coming from the same direction.

Isador suddenly stops his investigation of the alter upon hearing the sounds of wings beating behind the secret door. He quickly pulls his bow to the ready after hearing the cry of pain from Kat.

To Arms!

Caoilte and Havelock, Red needs your strength. I am not sure what is attacking her but it sounds like a swarm of wings.

Isador will move to the entrance of the secret door but he will leave enough room for the others to enter.

Eloriand, there is definitely something flying in there.. you may want to get a look in case there is a special tactic we should be using..

Kat attempts to make it back out into the altar room where the lighting is better and the 'terrain' is a known quality.

Tarek reacts to Isador's shouts. He moves in the direction of the secret door and readies his hammer. Where is she?

Dibs on Kat’s sh*t.
I’ll get her. Caoilte yells, crouched low and shield over his face and head. I’m yanking her out, close the door when I come back through.
I’m moving from across the room. If anyone closer gets the idea to run in and grab her then disregard my action and I’ll support as I can.

I just saw the map. I think Isador is the only one who has the move to grab her and drag her out this round. If Kat has moved closer to the secret door then Tarek may be able to grab her. If Kat has enough movement to get back to the door, then Tarek could use his second move action to close the door after Isador pulls her through. Tarek will be moving at a diagnal and 20' should equal the 3 spaces needed

Isador! If you you can grab her, I will be right behind you to close the door!

I am not entirely sure where Tarek's placement would have been. I assume he would have been next to the white altar, if he was looking at the scroll. If he also had to move to the black altar to view that one, then he may be too far away to act this round. If he was next to the white altar then he will still be able to make a 20' move and have another standard action available

What the Hells!!

I make my to the door, guarded and ready to either help pull Kat out....or blast whatever it is that needs to be destroyed....i make a mental note to remind Kat to let us know next time she wanders off before she runs out of her 9 lives.....

The red can hear the calls from the other room and feels the love. As she attempts to get closer to the no-longer-secret-door she decides on a gamble, lighting up her wayfinder to expose as much of the room as possible before being pulled out.

Isador, upon hearing Kat's obvious distress, moves to the entrance of the secret door. Caoilte charges through the secret door hell bent on rescuing their red-headed scout. He rushes into the room and sees Kat, bleeding from a wound on her shoulder, looking like she is ready to lose consciousness. All about her are hundreds of not thousands of tiny bats. At the sound of Caoilte's loud clanging boots, the bats swril faster then suddenly fly straight out of the breach and into the world, leaving their makeshift roost, at least for the time being.

Caoilte runs to Kat, dropping his axe as he reaches her, just in time to catch the inured rogue as she falls over. Caoilte can tell she is bleeding, but otherwise stable.

Izzy, can you grab the stuff we dropped? I don’t want to put Kat down in all this bat sh*t. Looks like something bit her good too. Caoilte moves back to the altar room. To Tarek he says. Looks like you’ll have to work your mojo again.

Tarek looks to Caoilte Set her down someplace comfortable and I will see what I can do.

Tarek examines Kat It seems you have several nasty bites. What attacked you?

Listening to Kat explain what happened, Tarek begins preparing a spell. He sets his hand upon the worst wounds on Kat's body and begins to call forth the healing energy of his deity.

That should be enough to get you back up on your feet, but try not to let yourself get too far away from the rest of the group just in case something bad should happen again

I have done what I can to heal Kat, but she is not a hundred percent. It may be wise if she does not scout until she is a little stronger

Tarek walks up to Caoilte It seems she got fairly far inside the passage. If there is anything else inside there, it may be wise for you to take the lead. Let's be sure that nothing will get an edge by hiding in the darkness.

Tarek reaches out and touches Caoilte's shield

Brew, if we’re not getting too far ahead, then I’ll go back in with my mace drawn unless Izzy brought my axe back. If he didn’t, I’ll pick it up when I get to it. If we are getting too far ahead then disregard all.
To the bat cave Tarek, I’ll lead. Nice light by the way. If the bats come back then get back out. There really isn’t any way to fight them without fire or smoke and fire ain’t ever a good idea where this many bats live. Caoilte says while pulling down his visor. And button up too. They can bite armor all they want, it’s them tender bits of flesh we don’t want them nibbling on.

The red mumbles a thanks to everyone, Well Izzy, looks like you and Eloriand get point now while I get ass watching duty.

She sighs, It is not normal for there to be that many bats in an enclosed area, from the amount of guano on the floor it looks like they've been here for at least a decade... in a secret room... in a supposedly sealed tower.

Then again, the only thing 'normal' we have run into so far is half starved dogs trying scavenge carcasses. A spider that big should not be able to exist in a locked room for what... centuries? Several decades at least.

And how long have the trogs been here? Or that living electrolab? The quake that opened up this tower was not that long ago...

Kat tries to hide a grimace as she pokes the tender area of her shoulder with slender fingers. One of the worst places to take a hit for an archer. Not sure how much use I can be from now on, but don't expect me to go back before we're done.

She eyes the secret door again, Typically bats prefer night time to be active since they are nocturnal and do not rely on eyesight to 'see'. It is what, late morning now? It is possible that the commotion we have made periodically since arriving has either awoken them or kept them from fully roosting. The loudness of Caoilte's armor probably messed with their sensitive ears which caused them to flee, though because none of this is 'normal', I can only guess at how long they will be gone. It should be long enough to search the room thoroughly, if we stay noisy. Though on the other hand, staying noisy will alert whatever is left in the room, if there is anything...

breathing out I respond... Do not underestimate the power of the For.*cough* Arcane or Divine....they could very well and are in play here...Tarek how are you with your divine energies and blessings? With the beating we are taking, we are going to need you with all of your abilites i think before long

I rest my hand on the boxwood pommel of my blade wihile take a look at the savage and raw wound that is freshly healed on Kat.

I smirk at her comment.. Kat I am delighted that you will be watching my ass...you may do so at anytime.....gentlemen I think that unless our good man Tarek here feels ready to aid us in worse case scenarios...perhaps we should hunker down for bit.

By the way....do you have any idea how aweful we smell between dead dog guts, spider guts, burnt hair and flesh, trog-what -ever you call it stank, and bat poop?!

Isador taps Caoilte’s shoulder in gratitude as he passes him.

I will get your axe.. and anything else that may have been dropped.

He then slips inside the room and makes his way over towards the place where Kat was attacked. Keeping his shortbow ready, he will continue to scout the room to see if any other dangers or opportunities present themselves.

And don't forget to shake those moneymakers!

Eloriand starts to get with the program after his brush with death and now Kat has been badly injured. Eloriand joins the party and is ready to take his turn on point if needed.

Eloriand whispers through the secret door loudly to Isador. Holler if you need assistance

Isador re-enters the bat chamber and discovers that the flying vermin have completely vacated the room, at least for the time being. Once he is sure that there are no further dangers, Isador searches the rubble and finds a small vial tucked away underneath some of the rocky debris. Isador retrieves the vial and discovers it holds a milky white liquid.

Feeling adventurous, Isador uncorks the the vial and sniffs the liquid. He discovers the aroma of the liquid to be quite pleasing, actually serving to clear his sinuses making him breath easier. He takes a sip of the liquid. The sip invigorates him, the telltale sign of divine healing magic. Isador is confident he has discovered a healing potion.

Isador returns to the party, returning Caoilte's axe to its rightful owner.

well..I am ready...should we head up?

As I hoist my gear up and settle it on my shoulders I can't help but overtly shift my hips and butt from left to right twice in Kat's line of sight

Did Isador check the entire secret passage or did he only go far enough to retrieve Caoilte's axe?

I am ready to continue. Is there much more to discover in this place?

Tarek looks around the altar chamber once more Why do I feel we have missed something? The altars and the banner gives some insight into who created this tower but I am not finding any clear evidence of what caused the earth to tremble and this tower to crack like an egg.

She can't help but give a couple cat-calls and wolf whistles at the show Havelockk put on.

well lets takea look at these altars real quick....maybe there is something more that we are mising..it will only take a moment more

I walk up to the white altar an give it a complete inspection...my hands even gliding over it...feeling for any hhidden catches underneath

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

i am not sure if there is a better skill for search like survival, which is +5 for me

Kat, you are almost making me blush....and I appreciate your ability to recognize a superior looking man such as myself.... I then make a elaborate sweeping bow with a grin.

Havelockk, I’ll say you’re a handsome man…..when compared to them two crispy troglodytes over there. Caoilte looks around the room, sizing the whole place up. Ok, I’m not a holy man or anything but don’t altars imply that one’s around? I mean, this was a siege tower, not a temple, so something like this shouldn’t really be left over from whenever it was, right? And, really it comes down to this, is there anything else valuable in here. I’m thinking about buying a horse.

Isador enters the room through the secret passage and moves to where Tarek is tending to Kat.

I searched the other room but it seems to be deserted, especially now that the bats have flown off.

I was able to find a potion of healing, at least that is what I think it is, which will probably come in handy given our current luck.

I will keep it in my pack for now but it is certainly available for any member who needs it.

He looks about the room before addressing the group again.

Given that a rift has not opened and the absence of another earthquake, I assume that Tarek came to his senses and did not read the scrolls.

I think we should try advancing to the next level up before we attempt to press our luck with the altar or scrolls.

Do you want me to scout ahead or is Red able to take up the mantle again?

Kat shakes her head, You and El can take point, I will spectate from the back for now.

Has there been any sign at all of the person Tarek was supposed to meet here? From what we were told during the briefing, it sounded like he was the type of person who would go first without waiting; but then why would he have invited Tarek in the first place?

She frowns, There was no viable sign of his presence outside or around the base of this tower, and we have been the ones to open the doors. Unless he can truly erase his tracks and has a way to get to the top of the tower... Is it possible that we have to watch our backs for someone whom is willing to let others do the work while they take the glory and the spoils?

And Caoilte? You said you wanted to get a horse, huh... Well, if you have the connections and can stand it, there are supposedly certain farmers who would kill to be able to fertilize their fields with the contents of that secret room. A veritable gold mine if you can find one of them.

Well, I would like a horse too, but I am not so sure I want to haul a hundred or more pounds of bat poop to get it....

The altars could have had religious significance while this siege tower was in use...Nethy's is a god of magic...and..nothing like having you god in your pocket while trying to lay waste to your enemies..

The party re-groups and prepares to press further into the Fallen Fortress. Tarek contemplates the propriety of taking the scrolls from the altars of Nethys. He determines that the temple ceased to be of any religious significance ages ago and there is no particular sacred significance to the scrolls. The party adds them to their take from the Foretress.

Isador scouts the floor above. He climbs the stairwell and discovers it exits into a closed chamber with a sole door to the west. Listening at the door, he can hear the tell tale signs of movement. Isador concludes the chamber beyond is definitely occupied.

Havelockk, can you hold the scrolls? My pack is still in the armory and I do not want to damage them.

Tarek gives the altar room one last look Let us move on and see what other secrets this tower has to reveal.

Kat, Brew indicated there was a human presence at the base ...

"Eloriand checks the area for tracks and discovers that there has indeed been traffic in front of the breach. At least one human, and his tracks lead to the breach."

Totally missed that. Think I was focused on not being puppy chow then spider bait...

Hey. If you're taking the scrolls I'll just go ahead and take some of the strain off these altars by decreasing the weight of silver on top of them.

And here I thought someone would have already pilfered the silver...

The red leans a bit in whatever direction Isador is in and in a stage whisper goes, You're slacking..., ending with a teasing wink.

On an aside, Tarek, you may wish to retrieve your pack from the armory for I am sure that we are not the only scavengers currently within this tower.

Isador returns from his scouting excursion and centers himself within the party.

Well, I had a look up the stairwell and it seems we find ourselves at the same fork in the path as when we arrived at this level. There is a door at the top of the stairs, and from the sounds of it, there are quite a few occupants.

I am pretty confident that they do not know we are here yet or at least they do not show any signs of alarm.

With all the noise directly behind the door, I did not attempt to test if it was locked for fear of giving away our position but I guess that leads us to the next question. How do we wish to proceed?

I could go back up and test the door and possibly sneak into the room although from the sounds of it, that is probably not our best option.

We could use the brute force method which seems to be our most effective tactic.

Or we could send Terak into the room hoping that Balenar is in there which might buy us some time to determine his true intentions.

Any other ideas?

He then leans over towards Kat and whispers in cant

No slacking on my part.. I was about to abscond with the silver but then I hear your cry and I could not leave a sister hanging he givs her a quick wink.

odd my last post did not ...post

Well Izzy, if you lead on I'll follow and then be the first through the door. Tareki, if it is your friend you might want to be right on my tail to settle him down if we startle him. And if it's more troggies, well, that's what I brought an axe for. I'd prefer to know and deal with whatever is up there before we try and rest up.

Sounds like a decent plan.....although I would recommend that Izzy and Eloriand spring in, followed by You and I Caoilte....with Tarek and Kat after that....nothing we have met so far in this place has much of a liking to us and I think that a rather direct method would be best...my guess is as we rsh in, the attention will focus on the door, which will allow Izzy and Eloriand to slip into the shadows or have less attention focused on us. Kat, you get to watch all of our lovely behinds.

Tarek adresses the group Balenar is the man we seek, but I do not believe a free drink and an invitation to a damaged tower can be considered a friendship. He seemed to be a man who has his own priorities and ambitions. I did not feel he had any ill intentions but it is always wise to be cautious in any situation.

Tarek then taps on his shield and looks to Caoilte You are a shining beacon now and our presence may be known very quickly as we enter the upper chamber. We may get the element of surprise but stealth may not be an option.

Tarek then positions himself towards the back of the group and readies his hammer

Anyone want to take a bet on whether it is more boneheads that need a manhandling or Sparky's family?

If that's what Izzy wants to do then we'll call that a plan. But if he, being so lightly admired, decides he might want to go in first, I'm not going to force him.

Isador Looks about the group and scratches his chin before answering.

I don’t think that stealth is going to serve us here since the room sounded quite full.

I think we should go up the stairs, as quietly as possible, and then I will check the door. If it is not secured, then I suggest Caoilte, Tarek, Havelock and Eloriand rush into the room, in that order, and Red and I will cover with our ranged weapons.

Given that nothing has been hospitable to us since our arrival, I think we should expect whatever is on the other side is hostile, agreed?

If everyone is ready… we should get going.

He then glances about the group one last time before turning and heading up the stairs.

Desna protect us... especially me

The party formulates a plan to breach the next room. The group forms a marching order and positions themselves at the entrance to the stairwell while Isador goes ahead to check the door. He finds no apparent traps on the door and determines that the door is unlocked and functioning. He makes his report to the group and they spring into action.

Caoilte throws open the door to the chamber violently. Crude bunks line the walls of this room, which is filled with the nauseating stench of troglodytes. An overwhelming stench washes over the party. The stench re-kindles Isador's previous bout of nausea and once again becomes sickened. Three trogs, previously lounging, jump to attention and attack the intruding party.

Initiative Order

• Havelock
• Isador
• T3
• Eloriand
• Kat
• T2
• Tarek
• Caoilte
• T1

Begin Combat. 'lock and Izzy up first. Izzy sickened again.