Balenar accepts the key from Zoren with a nod of thanks, and unlocks his fetters, wincing as he sees where they have rubbed the skin of his wrists and ankles raw, before putting on his armor.
Once that is completed, he hums a catchy tune...
CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9.
..and his wounds heal-up completely.
Some of his jauntiness returns, and he bows...
"I appreciate what assistance some of you did provide. Good day."
Realising that the previously inaccessible section of the lower level *must* have an alternative entrance point, the party returns to the room with the altars, and after some careful searching, locates a stuck secret door.
After some diligent pushing, the party is able to force it open, revealing...
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.
Knowledge(Nature) DC 12:
This is a bat swarm. They are immune to weapon damage...
If you wish to back away slowly and leave this room alone, feel free - the swarm isn't active... yet. I realise this party is not ideally suited to deal with this encounter...
"Bats? I hate bats. They drive me crazy. Crazy? I was crazy once. They locked me in a room full of bats. Lots of bats. Bats? I hate bats. They drive me crazy. Crazy? I was..."
"I say we use the flasks we have and destroy these bats so we can thoroughly search the room. Unless Zoren feels safe enough exploring that room on his own in the dark?"
If you want to search the room, you will unfortunately have to move in, as most of it can't be seen from the secret door. You are welcome to try and take out the swarm with the flasks you have, but be aware that if they don't work, you have no other way to kill it.
Blunt weapons only work on swarms made of tiny creatures - they have no effect on swarms made of diminutive ones... Also, whilst Zoren at least has flint & steel, no-one in the party actually has any torches (I checked).
In any case, I will wait for an IC party decision about how to proceed :-)
Well, this is why people need to record equipment on their character sheets... Aviendha has been adventuring with banded mail, greatsword, MW scorpion whip, and sling ;-)
Just as an FYI, a burning torch only does one point of (fire) damage to a swarm on a successful hit, which really isn't a good rate of exchange compared to what the swarm can do...
Fair enough. If it helps, *not* clearing the room doesn't impact on the chronicle sheet in any fashion ;-)
Wisely deciding to leave the bats in peace, the party heads back upstairs to the top level...
The four wings of the tower are completely open on this level, forming one great, cross-shaped chamber with arched ceilings. The decayed remnants of a carpet run from the doorways at the end of each wing, meeting in the center, where a spiral staircase drops out of sight below. A large, throne-like chair stands in the middle of the eastern wing next to a big chest.
Seated upon the throne is a big troglodyte, who reaches down and strokes the back of an albino crocodile squatting beside the chair as Zoren crests the top of the stairs.
He then gives a throaty chuckle, and casts a spell, summoning a curved blade of flame into his open hand, and unmistakably gestures for Zoren to 'bring it'!
Just to be clear as to what the map represents, you are arranged in a single file, which indicates your position on the staircase. To reach the top (where Zoren is), you need to pass through the square of everyone in front of you.
Fortitude saves again? Just in case... Fort Save:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Zoren moves toward the big trog, positioning himself just south of him, moving 30 ft total, three diagonal moves, not drawing an aoo apparently used to troglodyte smell by now, and takes a swing at him with his morningstar, but he was distracted by the crocodile being albino.
Morningstar attack:1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
Female Human - Varisian Sorcerer 1 - Serpentine [HP 3/7 AC 13, touch 13,FF 10 Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +2; Init +2; Perception + 0 (+1 at night)]
Cascabelle advances close enough to make eye contact with the troglogdyte and his pet, and her serpentine aspect takes her body again, this time transforming her eyes, her teeth, and even her movement.
With the troglodyte tripped, she focuses on the albino. Turning to it, she says one simple word.
"Boo."
Cause Fear on aligator.
The magic released from her, Cascabelle slumps back to her original state.
Sjonegaard steps up, and slams his weapon into the Troglodyte with bone-crunching force... but incredibly, there still seems to be a *lot* of fight left in it!
The Crocodile moves to defend its master, and attacks Sjonegaard!
@Aviendha: I don't understand what you mean by that question - was it directed at me? The Troglodyte acted first in initiative, and cast a spell Flame Blade - he will go again as soon as we resolve Evelyn's action.
Female Human Master of Many Styles/1 HP 13/13 | AC: 13 /T: 13 /FF: 12 | Perc. +9 | F: +4 / R: +3 /W: +4 (+1 vs Arcane Sp) | CMB +4 | CMD 17 Init. +1
The trog. sorry about not being able to change my position, I am posting from my phone. Unless there's a way for me to flank without provoking an AoO I just move into the closest adjecent square to the trog.
Evenlyn moves in and takes a swing at the Troglodyte, but it is only a half-hearted swipe.
However, shortly after she steps out onto the eastern wing, the floor begins to creak and groan alarmingly, and then with a cacophonous shriek of crumbling masonry, the entire east wing breaks away in a shower of broken stonework, plummeting to the ground far below!
I need Reflex saves from Evelyn, Sjonegaard, and Zoren.
...both plummet to the ground, and whilst the Crocodile is crushed under several table-sized chunks of masonry, the Troglodyte, incredibly, is still alive!
Since he is up in initiative next...
Woozily, leaning heavily to one side, and obviously nursing several broken ribs, the troglodyte staggers to his feet, and disappears around the side of the tower.
Alright, combat is effectively over at this point ;-)
Peering down from the new edge of the top floor, the party is able to spot a battered chest, half-buried in the newly fallen rubble...
I say we get back down to the ground and I will check the chest. Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Disable Device:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 If there is a trap I set it off, if there isn't a trap then I will just take 20 to unlock it if it is.
Yeah, with 2 natural 1s in a row, I wonder if Zoren even sees the nose in front of his face, or even if he can touch it. Maybe the triumph of the battle made him drunk?
