Greetings and welcome to the Borallas rebellion, it is now time to begin YAY!
It is a time of war and rebellion in Borallas. The kingdom’s resources are wearing thin and still being squandered. Civil war has broken out in a city or two, and has caused many unfair laws to be put into place. As if the resource deficiency, the rebellion, and the marshal law weren’t enough, an army of Orces had invaded just a couple of weeks ago.
You (The Players) Are in the deepest dungeon in castle Borallas. Your crime? Some of you it was treason, or murder, deserter, a spy, a saboteur, or some other heinous accusation or may or may not be responsible for. What ever the crime, you were taken to the deepest dungeon in Borallas castle. A place few even knew existed, a place you wish didn’t exist. For down here there is no execution. You are among monsters, and deformed tormentors who delight in nothing less than experimenting with pain. The tormentors spend their days, taking people from their cells and experimenting with tortures. You have been one of these subjects a couple of times. You also learned, weather it was you or someone else, that the tormentors are excellent in the art of healing. They restore the physical health or their victims, and if they accidentally kill one, they can restore them back to life.
It has been a miserable month in the dungeon. You soon begin to wonder if this is what your life will be like. Suddenly you notice something different. For once in your entire stay here, there is no screaming. No sounds of torture. Just silence. This silence went on for what seemed like ages. You look around at the five others with you in your cell and wonder what will happen. Indeed the waiting has been one of the most difficult tortures to endure. Suddenly a man who looks like a beggar with a blindfold appears on the freedom side of the bars. ”I made it just barely in time.” He announces in a raspy voice. ”I never even heard of this dungeon until today, what an awful place.” He suddenly looks back as if he heard a noise, you heard nothing. He turns back to you. ”There is no time. The king and his family have been slain, they’re coming for you next. We have to get you out of here.” The blind man stepped back and with a wave of his hands, he opened your manacles enabling you to now move about freely in the cell. Another wave of his hands and he fires an invisible force at the far wall of the cell, blasting a huge hole into the wall. This hole seems to lead to some sort of cavern. The men then turns as if to ready himself to face an enemy. ”You must go that way. The enemy will be here any minute and you will be no match for them at this time! Seek out Ralnora in the underworld (The underworld is the place where the crime lords and criminal organizations exist) she will set you on your path. There is no time to dawdle! GO!” With that the man starts to cast spells as if to do battle. ”GO! You are no match for these foes yet!
A woman (who normally stayed in the corner, hoping not to be noticed by the tormentors) quickly stands from her crouching position, the black tatters of her long gown flow around her as though in slow motion for an instant, then settle again as though nothing strange or mystical had occurred.
"Your kindness will not be forgotten, wise one. What name does our rescuer bear?"
The voice is hoarse from screaming, but remnants of nobility stain the whisper.
While she waits for the blindfolded beggar to respond, she leans into the cavern, looking into the darkness with piercing pale blue eyes.
Jen bows deeply, with her hands clasped together. I pray to Erastil that you will remain safe and that our paths will cross again someday.
She quickly follows the other woman into the darkness, her piercing darkvision used to make sure that the path ahead is safe and clear.
A young man, who you recognize as the human who spouted curses and dire threats at the captors every time they came for him, who even managed to land a blow or two with his bare fists the first time they pulled him from the cell, rushes to the bars and addresses the blind man.
"Thank you, kind sir, and if you grant us your name, I will make sure you are properly reimbursed for your honorable efforts in this hell hole! The Holloway family will remember you, sir!" If the man does not grant his name quickly, Leon will duck through the hole with one last sidelong glance at their mysterious savior and a "Farewell and goodluck!", then plunge into the darkness.
"Friends!" he says, "My human eyes are no good in this darkness--would someone please guide the way?" He follows the group, relying on his outstretched hands and the sounds of footsteps echoing around the cavern to keep him from bumping into too many things.
It has been a long time since I've been in the darkness with a human. I've forgotten that not everyone can see in the dark like I can. Here, let me help with that.
Jen uses her daily use of daylight on her holy symbol or other object (not sure if she still has her holy symbol or not), giving the party ten minutes worth of light.
I hope that's bright enough.
Lady Vorannia screams as if burned in the light from the holy item.
"Put out that infernal light!" An imperial voice erupts from her mouth, still hoarse but gaining strength. "I can't see a thing with that on."
A swift glance reveals that the irises and whites of her eyes are completely black in the light from the spell.
Lady Vorannia does not wait to see if the cleric complies with her command, but hastens into the darkness ahead of the burning light.
Leon shields his eyes momentarily from the bright light, then looks curiously after their cellmate who scampered away from the light. "Can we blame her for the temper? We've all been through hell and back down here..." He shrugs at Jen, "Maybe we'll find a torch before too long," he says, "After all, our captors had to see down here as well, right? I wonder where we are..." he says, then continues to feel his way down the passageway.
The man turns back to the others."My name is unimportant, only your survival! Go!" A strange shadow falls on the blind man but with a flash from he staff repels his assailant. "We may not meet again! So please go!"
Those of you who entered the tunnel first notice it is an underground passage. It does not look like a sewer and you are unfamiliar with any of the mines leading under the cities itself. However, you have little choice but to move in.
I know your close to useless without it but you would not have your holy symbol, it would have been taken from you with the rest of your belongings which are too far out of reach to get. Unless you somehow managed to swallow it upon your arrest? That would hurt though. Anyways I believe a Aasimar can cast daylight on anything. You could pick up a rock as there are plenty. I don't believe a spell like ability needs a holy symbol but I've been wrong before.....especially when it comes to magic. My main point is you don't have the holy symbol. Sorry. you'll be able to get another once your free.
Baron was in a light slumber when a sudden boom echoes through the room, he jumps up ready to run. Then hears the other prisoners talking to some blind old man. Listening to other prisoners talk with the old man he figures out its a break out. As the others start to move toward the cavern, Baron Ruukin says to the old man, "Hey old timer, if you find yourself near the silver slipper tell them your one of Barons Boyz and they'll hook you up." He finishes with a wink and moves to the cavern with two women and Sir Halloway. When a sudden burst of daylight comes from the older women, Baron shields his eyes. As the light shows that he is a tall and lean figure with both of his exposed arms covered with tatoos. The left arm's tatoos depicts scantily clad women covering the whole arm except the top of the hand has the 3 dagger symbol of Calistra. While the right arm is covered with a bar scene and a big silver mug is on the back of hs right hand. He will follow behind them a little out of the light.
Jen dismisses the light exuding from the rock that she picked up.
I am sorry. In our time in that dungeon, there was not one instance that I could've used the spell. I will lead the human by hand.
Her chest feels quite empty; the impressions and distinct tan lines from her armor and holy symbol had almost faded away in the darkness of the dungeon. She takess the human by the hand and leads him on.
A tall elf springs to his feet as the blind man appears. Despite the conditions, his dirty blond hair is well taken care of, his beard groomed, even his clothes, although ripped, seem as though they had just been pressed. While he appears collected now, you all remember his knack for disappearing into the background of the cells as the guards appeared.
"Thank you good sir, as long as I live, your actions on this day will not be forgotten."
With these words he quickly slips into the cavern. When light blooms within the cavern, Jarcal spins to confront Jen, "Put that infernal rock away! We will have need of light in the future but for the moment I have no wish to broadcast our location should our new benefactor fail to hold back whatever entity he feared so fervently."
He turns to the others, "I'm afraid my eyes are useless here as well, I shall need to be led until we make it a little further from those cursed cells."
With the light dispersed, Vorannia returns to the group. She assists in guiding Jarcal and the Baron.
"Here, hold on to the tatters of my dress. Try not to pull."
Her eyes returned to normal, two circles of silver in the darkness.
"No problem, and might I say what a fine dress it is. So I missed why the old man's letting us out early, its not good behavior is it?" The baron says with a forced laugh. Then moves swiftly with the group, and with his movement being choosen for him The Baron will focus on listening around to see if he can hear any alarms or chasing.
The half-orc is torn from his meditation as the others rush around in the unfamiliar display of action, of hope.
"What is the meaning of this. Am I dreaming?"
Baguta shields his eyes from the sudden burst of light from the demon-one. "Yargh! If escape will be our goal, darkness will be our friend."
Finally standing and moving about, Baguta observes the group heading through the tunnel.
His gravelly voice calls out from behind, "Please, allow me to lead. Try to stay about 30 to 50 feet behind."
Baguta edges by the rest of the party, and begins to creep fluidly through the tunnel.
Stealth:
Perception: (if needed)
Vorannia sighs in surprise and affront as the half orc surges ahead.
"There is no reason you should lead. Despite the fact that you may be more racially inclined to reside underground, many of us here are no stranger to darkness."
Her voice carries a haughty tone, now that the moisture in the air in the underground passage has calmed her sore throat.
Moving back to the offended woman, whispering
"It is not your eyes I question. It is your feet. I do not wish to be seen OR heard. True, I think it won't be long before quick feet are needed over quiet ones, but until then I assume we would all prefer quiet?"
Your observation of the cavern gives you the hunch that this may have been an old mine shaft. Though there doesn't seem to have been much development down here. The way is clear for the moment.
You see that the the cavern you've fallen into has one path to the left of where you entered. It is dark and you will have to lead the blind. The danger is that these caverns are dark and likely haven't been cleared out by the guard. Though your not even sure the entrance to these catacombs is anywhere in the city itself. You push forward leading those who can't see
As you progress into the catacombs under the city you here a few loud explosions from behind you. Suddenly the earth begins to shake violently for a moment collapsing the way you came from. No going back know, only way left is forward.
The entrance to the dungeon provided some light. Now that the way there has closed, there is complete darkness.
"Wait here." She carefully moves the hands holding her tattered dress to the cool wall besides them and goes back a little to see if she can find any broken wood from the collapsed shaft.
Jarcal speaks to the darkness around him, "Now now, we can all fight once we are finished running for our lives. My lady, I am confident you would be able to lead us most expertly, but for the moment I could use your help back here..."
Perception :
EDIT : Jarcal listens for any sound coming from the direction of the cave in. If he hears nothing, he will speak a few words and summon a small orb of light before him.
As the light illuminates the cavern, he takes a second to look around before taking a deep breath, "Now that's better, I suggest we get moving as soon as possible. I would propose that those of us ill adapted to the dark stay close in the middle with someone whose vision is not limited by the light both leading and following behind? Also, does anyone have a more reliable light source? Mine is ill suited to long travel."
Unable to find any wood, Vorannia returns to the others and takes up the Baron's and Jarcal's hands again. "I did not leave you for long. I had hoped I might find some tinder from the explosions behind us, but there was nothing."
She turns to the cleric. "I don't suppose you have access to some light other than that brightness you summoned earlier."
Dry hacking and sputtering erupt from ahead.
"Is everyone ok?"
Perception:
"Well, we don't think we have to fear the guards now. This tunnel looks long unused. A light may be help in scaring away the rats and beetles, if the miss would permit? Cleric, can you make a light not-so-bright?"
Dry hacking and sputtering erupt from ahead.
"Is everyone ok?"
** spoiler omitted **
"Well, we don't think we have to fear the guards now. This tunnel looks long unused. A light may be help in scaring away the rats and beetles, if the miss would permit? Cleric, can you make a light not-so-bright?"
"I'm Fine, thanks to this fine lass. I would apperciate some light I really don't care for this total blindness act." The Baron says. "Do we have a way out or are we blocked in?"
The young Holloway is obviously upset at having to be babied by his group of more darkness-inclined cellmates. "Honestly, I'm fine without light, as long as somebody gives me directions." Then there is a long pause... "And maybe guides me by the hand."
"Do we have a way out or are we blocked in?"
"The tunnel is caved in behind us, but goes off in the other direction for some time. I don't think it's been gutted like the rest of these tunnels." The voice trails off slightly and begins to echo on the second sentence.
"And I see more reason to think so, hah. I see old tools just ahead. Good. Now we have weapons."
"We might want to use light, miss. A pick to the back hurts just as much when it's a mistake. What if we cover the light like a lantern? Whatever we do, we should have a plan. I'm used to working alone, but not through unused tunnels."
"I... guess we are going to be doing this for a while. If someone needs me, my name is Baguta."
Yes, I think that Erastil has given me that power. Let this rock become a guiding light for my friends
(Light Cantrip) The stone glows brightly to a radius of twenty feet, before tapering off for another twenty feet, before disappearing completely. She tucks it under a translucent piece of cloth, so that it only gives off dim light for some twenty feet, to help conceal their presence, before moving to the front of the party to illuminate further ahead.
Should that be bright for the humans to see?
Baguta shies his eyes from the sudden illumination, but turns back and blinks a few times as his eyes adjust.
"Hum, I think I see light reflecting off those tools. I could be wrong. I will stay out of the light, but I think we should stay close. I don't like this tunnel system."
Baguta moves from the dim light and into the darkness just ahead.
"We might want to move fast, stealth might not be our best option. Unless we have some way to provide food and water? Who has ideas?"
Vorannia's eyes adjust rapidly to the new light.
"Now that we can see and will not be bumping into things, speed is of the essence."
She stops to look through the broken crate of mining tools.
Jarcal grins as the cleric illuminates her rock, he then waves his hand and dismisses his own glowing orb, "Excellent! Now what tools do we have in that box, Baguta?"
He turns to the group as a whole, "I suppose I have been rather rude, imprisonment and torture do tend to take their toll on a person's manners. My name is Jarcal Que'an, I will not require yours should you not wish to give it, but I would prefer them. Now what do we think of my preposed arrangement? Those of us dependent on the light here in the middle, with a dark adjusted scout both ahead and behind our little troupe?"
Baguta steps back into the light as plans are discussed. He nods as plans are made.
"Agreed on both accounts. Since we have no need of silence, I do not mind guarding the rear."
Baguta heads to the create to see what is available. He dumps the items on the bare floor as he pulls them out.
Settling on a weapon, Baguta looks back up.
Looking between the seemingly docile cleric to the aggressive woman in rags. "Miss, you will be ok in the front? It may be dangerous. If you want me take the lead..." he trails off leaving the question hanging in the dusty air.
As you shed light on the broken crate you find tools lying all about as well as several aged bones also lying around. In the box you find a bunch of odds and ends the most useful are as follows:
Weapons
2 Picks, light.
1 Hammer, light.
A sledge (I allow this to act as a heavy mace but weighing 6lbs)
Other items:
An Unused lock (Average)
A Chain
A hemp rope
A Common Lamp
Two Flasks of oil
And a bottle of fine wine. Looking at the date it is over 30 years old.
As Baguta approaches the crate, you all hear a lot of chirping going on in the darkness ahead of your vision.
Your the first one to the crate. As you reach the crate, you see about 50 feet away a fresh body with 3 little critters gnawing on it. They notice you as you notice them and they scatter chirping in the darkness
Once you have geared up you will all notice the stench of death in the air. As you look ahead down the tunnel, you see the rotting corpse of a Fetchling. If you chose to examine the corpse you will find:
A Rapier
A ShortSword
A Half eaten Cloak
A Light Crossbow with 16 Bolts
Leather Armour
A strange Compass
A Journal
6 Vials of unknown substance.
2 Disguise Kits
62gp 33 Silver and 18 copper
And a badge with a emblem on it
Yes, I will be fine. Clerics of Erastil receive extensive martial training, for when they are in lands where they are...not quite welcome.
If Baguta does not take the sledgehammer, Jen goes ahead and grabs it, hefting it about and testing its balance.
An enemy of me is an enemy to the faith and I happen to know a perfect way to deal with enemies of the faith.
She mimes smashing someone with the sledgehammer and laughs.
While digging through the crate, Baguta's ears perk up. He stares off down the dark end of the tunnel intently.
"That was quick. We already have company."
He turns back to the group, "Vermin scavengers. Looks like they left their dinner behind. Let's everyone who wants a weapon grab one, then search this body. Be on your toes."
Baguta pulls out the length of chain, folding it several times, and swings it through the air like a flail.
Would you be opposed to me using the chain as a weapon, as noted in my stat block?
Also, once it comes up: Ninja is listed as being proficient in Wakizashi (Treat as short sword) Does that also mean proficient in short sword?
While digging through the crate, Baguta's ears perk up. He stares off down the dark end of the tunnel intently.
"That was quick. We already have company."
He turns back to the group, "Vermin scavengers. Looks like they left their dinner behind. Let's everyone who wants a weapon grab one, then search this body. Be on your toes."Baguta pulls out the length of chain, folding it several times, and swings it through the air like a flail.
** spoiler omitted **
"My name is Leon Holloway, son of Flynn Holloway and representative of the Holloway family. It is truly a pleasure to meet you all, and I think our luck is finally improving!" He scurries over to the crate.
Leon looks at the picks and mining equipment with distaste, though he picks up one of the tools and hefts it around a few moments, testing its weight. When the light is shed upon the corpse, however, he immediately drops the improvised weapon and beelines for the short sword. "This is much smaller than I am used to, but at least it is a blade." He stoops down and, with a disgusted look on his face, begins searching the body.
"Look here, a crossbow! What luck, there's even some bolts to go with it. Who can make good use of this?" He puts the crossbow and bolts in a pile, to which he adds the rapier. At the sight of the vials, he asks "Anybody know how to identify what these might be? I haven't the slightest clue."
Leon spends a few minutes at the body and strips it of the leather armor. "I can put this armor to good use, but I'm not convinced I need it the most. I can probably take a hit or two before going down if we get caught, is there anybody who would prefer to have this thing? It smells awful, but it might just save your life."
While the others collect their things, Leon opens the journal and flips through it, reading a few passages aloud for the group to hear.
Baguta moves to a defensive position as Leon prods the rotting body.
Vorannia glances over the items by the scavenged corpse. She picks up the emblem and looks at it for a moment. to identify, if possible.
Jarcal is rather unimpressed with the items in the crate until he spots the wine. He quickly grabs it and moves closer to to the light in order to read the faded label, "Looks like this stuff has been down here a long time. Well at least we have something to celebrate with once we make it out of this pit."
Moving over to Leon, Jarcal bends down to look over the items, "Here, let me give you a hand with those." He speaks a quick incantation and then waves his hand over the items. Immediately the dust seems to fall from them and they look newly cleaned. He smiles at the other man, "Much better, wouldn't you say? I'll take that crossbow from you, I'd prefer a bow, but this will have to do." If there isn't a backpack, he will clean off the partially eaten cloak so that the other items anyone wishes to keep can be carried in it.
Jarcal pauses for a moment, trying to make out the emblem on the badge.
Knowledge (Local) :
"Any takers for this armor? I've done what I can but I think the smell might be beyond my powers...
Jen uses detect magic on the vials, examining them intently.
(Taking 20, since she can cast detect magic infinitely) Spellcraft: (20) + 3 = 23
If she can't take 20:
Then she heads over to Jarcal and picks up the leather armor.
Well, it's nowhere close to my old clerical breastplate, but I guess I've gone through worse. This will help save me from being gutted like a fish, and by extension, the rest of you as well.
As the rest of the group moves to equip themselves with weapons and armor, Baron looms around the group until he see's Jar'cal hold up the bottle of wine. "Ah our actions have been blessed by Cayden!" Tars shouts, and will lean in closer to see what brand it is. "Anyway lads and ladies, names Baron Tars Ruukin but everybody calls me Baron. Glad we can talk on better terms hehe."Tars says with another forced laugh. He then holds up his tatoo covered arms, and says"have your pick of weapons everybody I got these and don't need armor cause growing up in a bar you learn how to move out of the way fast." He follows that with a weaving stance and a few jabs in the air. Most around wonder how he hurts anybody with his skinny arms. Baron will keep his attention to the bottle and offer to carry some of the other items.
Between the two of you, you notice the badge belongs to an underworld group known as the whispering words. They are infamous delivers and gatherers of any secrets. Odd thing. The body has no notes on.
Yes he has a shoulder sling packet
The vials contain a magical property
Leon shoulders the sling with the rest of the gear inside it, saying "I'll carry this for now: don't worry, you've been of great help to me through the darkness and I won't be leaving anyone behind. If you need anything from the bag, just ask me."
"And as for these coins," he says, "I'll keep them in here, but, assuming we make it out of here alive, we'll split them up between all of us."
Baron will search around the junk area for something that might serve as a okay lock pick. "I can carry a few items if you need, mate." Tars says to Leon as he looks for a makeshift lock pick.
"Provided the lady has no objections, I will take that rapier off your hands as well. It's nice to find something with a little elegance down here."
Jarcal studies the emblem for a moment, "It would appear the that at least one element of the kingdom's underworld has some interest in these caves. The Whispering Words value lost secrets, perhaps if we find something interesting during our stay down here, we can use it to bargain with them later?"
"If this body's been dead long, they might want to know what happened to it." Leon stoops down and inspects the corpse, trying to discern how and when the creature died.
Heal
Vorannia glances over the corpse again.
"If anything, its likely any information he was carrying vanished with whatever killed him."
Vorannia frowns at the rapier and shakes her head. "No. I have no need for such a weapon."
The body is definitely a fresh kill, seems to be just a few hours old. There are several bite marks and eaten pots of flesh all over the body. But what really killed it was a crossbow bolt. You barely managed to find the hole in the fetchling's back, though the bolt itself is still missing. You are sure this is what killed him.
Actually the Whispering Words collect ANY secrets, lost or present. They're a lot like Mass Effect's Shadow Broker. Dealing in information and selling secrets to the highest bidders. A lot of fetchlings work for them. They usually carry a log book on them containing these secrets.
Jarcal pauses for a moment while buckling the rapier around his waist before turning to Leon, "Hold on a moment, would you pass me the journal we found on this poor fellow? As well as that compass?"
Provided that Leon hands it to him, Jarcal will take a moment to study the compass before opening the journal. Provided he can read it, he will attempt to quickly flip through it, looking for any information pertaining to the fetchling's trip to these caverns or anything else of immediate interest. If he is unable to decipher the writing, he will pass it off to anyone in the group that can read it.
Perception (if needed) :