"Are we going to stand at the top of this tower all day drinking and gossiping? I suggest we head downstairs and kick the bu... ah, bring an end to the curse the existence of some undead places on reality."
Brother Guiness turns to look at Kessa, just in time to see a portal open right in the spot where Kessa is standing and she suddenly disappears! Based on the totally alien landscape you could see through the portal, she was just taken to another plane of existence! The portal closed immediately as she disappeared.
As someone (I think it was Gansu?) suggested, this leaves open the possibility she might come back?
"От Torag в Эль пропитанной усы!" exclaims Brother Guiness, as he leaps from his perch and backs away, down the stairs.
Dwarvish:
"By Torag's ale-soaked whiskers!"
"What in the 666 layers of the Abyss was that?! What has happened to Kessa?" he mutters as he continues to put distance between himself and the location of the mysterious portal's appearance...
"Kessa!"exclaims Boudacia in horror as she futilely attempts to grasp her friend. Boudacia then follows Brother Guiness away from the unknown and likely hazardous phenomena while replying to Sama "Perhaps a portal, definitely strange and dangerous."
After settling down and taking a headcount, BG says, "It looks like Kessa was the only one affected. I have no idea how to help her. Does anyone else have an idea, or should we just go downstairs and deal with the undead?"
"Gansu, we will have to re-think our marching order with Kessa gone, at least temporarily. I have no problem staying in the front for combat, but we may need you closer to the front if we get to a room that opens up some..."
Your knowledge checks, only serve to confirm that it was another plane of existence. Not the Water, Air, or Fire, planes. Based on the split second image you had it's not likely the plane of Earth either. Everything was ... misshapen? abnormal? Your not quite sure, but you get the impression that you may have seen something in the background that looked similar to to this Spire? And as to any ideas how to help her? None of you has the slightest idea of how to do planar travel. Those of you with planar knowledge however, do know that your group is simply put, not capable of survival by your own means on another plane at this time. Basically, any single creature you may have studied about, would have you all for an appetizer. But IF that was another vision of this Spire, then perhaps going further down the Spire you may find where she was taken? Or by whom she was taken?
I don't say any of this to put down the capabilities of this party, I'm just trying to make clear that you simply aren't able to go and rescue her and trying to give you some in-game concepts to 'appease' your character's conscious about not trying to help her. You could also choose to believe that maybe it is some boss of the lower parts of this Spire that abducted her? And so by proceeding forward you may find her and rescue her? *** And I just want to be clear, none of this is covered in the module, so I'm just totally making this up! :D
"That wasn't any plane I am familiar with, but I do think I saw a twisted version of this spire in the background. Perhaps if we can learn more of the spire on this plane, we can learn something about rescuing her."
"Zombies--that's right. Let's go knock some heads. Who knows, maybe we'll eventually find Kessa down there--or rescue those wizards and they may have an idea how to retrieve her."
"Irori's short hairs!" Aldhranhald curses as Kessa is sucked through a dimensional portal without warning or provocation. "Let's put some distance between us and this room. Dimensional portals popping randomly into existence is a decided safety hazard." The dark-haired amateur investigator says, and then starts moving his careful way back down the spiral stair case to the main floor.
"Seems logical. Wayne and I can scout, bats should attract little attention. Be back soon." So saying Boudacia transforms into a bat and she and Wayne fly downstairs. If the way is still clear they will fly to near the door where we believe the zombies were, listen and then return.
Perception, Boudacia:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Perception, Wayne:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
This kind of experience will suit Wayne very well. His agenda is to learn as much about humans and detective work as he can so he can combat crime dressed up as a human being.
This kind of experience will suit Wayne very well. His agenda is to learn as much about humans and detective work as he can so he can combat crime dressed up as a human being.
More sophisticated roleplayers create characters with well thought out agendas and plans. I have taken this to another level by giving an agenda to my familiar.
Let's try to keep OoC chatter in the discussion tab please.
Once again, about halfway down the two and a half spiral turns, Wayne draws Boudacia's attention to a rectangular area roughly the size of a large human hand on the side of the Spire itself and Boudacia sees this mark engraved into the side of the Spire. The same Spire of the same material that the Dwarf could not figure out how to even scratch the material ... ?
Boudacia realizes this mark is similar in style to the drawing found on the piece of parchment back in an earlier room. That drawing was found to be the word for "six" in the Azlanti language.
Boudacia and Wayne fly on down the stairways COUNTER-CLOCKWISE. Boudacia hears something, but at first can't see anything. She realizes Wayne gets kind of nervous. Wayne's starting to think this group can handle anything! She finally gets close enough to see 4 goblin zombies. The zombies pay no attention to a couple of bats flying around. IF they even see them!
The two see a small room with an archway leading out the other side.
I have drawn a new inserted image on the battle grid and placed Boudacia accordingly. The rest of your icons are in the bottom right of the insert just to have them close. Please feel free to place yourselves on the battle grid. The dashed light blue line is meant to show the stairs go DOWN IN A COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION.
Having completed her reconnaissance, Boudacia returns to the party and resumes human form and reports "There are still four goblin zombies milling around down there. There is an archway leading into another room on the far side."
"Gansu, perhaps I can lead the way with you following, with our ranged and magical support protected behind us. I will try to get into the room and move over to give you space to engage the enemy. How does that sound?"
I have put BG in a square which I think is out of line of sight from the zombies. If that is wrong, please move me to the closest square out of their sight.
Also, I am heading into work, so I will do some pre-rolling assuming the rest of the group is okay with the plan. Please feel free to discuss and suggest other options if desired & BG will wait for you.
BG Stealth:1d20 - 4 ⇒ (16) - 4 = 12] Pre-roll in case we are ready to go.
Brother Guiness continues to pick his way slowly down the steps, gripping his trusty Warhammer, attempting to get as close as possible before alerting the zombies of his presence (see previous stealth roll). He looks back over his shoulder to see if anyone is following... Anyone joining me?
Sama says, "C'mon, guys, we're in this together. Let's go!" and moves to follow Brother Guiness, though she leaves room for the other warriors to squeeze in.
Sensing that Gansu would like to take point this time around, BG will wave him forward, continuing to hide as he passes, but ready to leap into action once the battle starts.
I didn't realize steps down were not double movement cost. I should be fine...In addition, I went first last time, so it is only fair to give Gansu a shot...just leave me a space to stand in the front line somewhere...
Sama nods to Gansu that she is ready, all serious now that the group is about to head into danger. Her feet are planted firmly on the ground as she keeps her armored companions between herself and the zombies below.
Sorry I'm late guys! I'm just going to act like I've been here the whole time. Pesky hurricanes and all.
Tamlara, feeling relieved to exit the room that Kessa disappeared from, is quite ready to move on. Practicing her foot-padding down the stairs as she follows Gansu, she keeps her shortbow out and ready. As the first gombie is spotted, she steps out in the hopes of making one into a pin cushion.
Boudacia silently glides forward, taking up positition behind Tamlara, waiting for the goblin zombies to move into spell range.
Move action into position, then a readied action. If a gombie moves into the hex in front of Tamlara and Boudacia, Boudacia will cast burning hands, hopefully incinerating it and a bunch of fellow gombies.
Yeah, that one is Chris'. He has a M:TG deck with goblins and zombies, and then it makes all the goblins into (also) zombies, and all the zombies into (also) goblins. Then they all get super powerful and eat your face off. He calls it his Gombie deck. Tons of fun to play, but not so much to play against. ;)
One of the gombies (Green) steps over to the entryway and stands in the doorway waving his claws around in the general direction of Tamlara, but he does not step onto the stairs.
Uuuummm ... Oops? I forgot and included Kessa in the Initiative! She was still listed on the dice rolls doc. I have removed her from there.
Yes, Aldhranhald is technically next in the initiative, but come to think of it there is about a 99.9% chance that he is going to 'delay' and about a 95% chance that we win't hear from him 'til Monday. (And no Boudacia, I DID NOT actually do the math to get those percentages.) So we are going to move on!
Another of the gombie's (Pink) steps up next to the first one and again waves his claws in the general direction of Tamlara and Boudacia, but does not step up onto the stairs.
CURRENT INITIATIVE:
Block 5
Brother Guiness, Gansu
Curious...most of the others have gone, but I hear no sounds of melee combat. I will have to move forward and see.
Brother Guiness prepares to move forward, but he will first wait until Gansu moves--it would be a breach of the "bro code" to offer the other warrior point, then bypass him.
| Active Conditions: 1 CON damage.. | Current Buffs: none.
Hmmm... getting a bit crowded already. GM: is it possible to bull rush the green "gombie" north-east into the vacant space, i.e. on a 45-degree angle from where I was coming from?
I'm guessing no. At least they didn't come up the stairs.
Gansu surges forwards, and cuts at the zombie goblin standing in the doorway.
@Gansu, I took the liberty of moving your icon to the spot indicated by your post, so my movement will make more sense.
Brother Guiness sees Gansu move out of sight around the bend and hears his attack. Glancing over his shoulder to see if a cunning enemy is sneaking up from behind while we are distracted by the battle ahead, BG moves up the stairs to the action.
BG Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17] If BG sees an enemy, his subsequent action will change, of course.
Seeing that there is no space for him to stand in the front of the battle, BG leaves an open space in front of him in case one of our spellcasters wants to move up and smite the zombies with magic.
Yes, Aldhranhald is technically next in the initiative, but come to think of it there is about a 99.9% chance that he is going to 'delay' and about a 95% chance that we win't hear from him 'til Monday.
Right on both counts... So more like 100%. :) Aldy will definitely be delaying again, until his particular skill set is needed, or a convenient avenue of attack presents itself.
Seeing that there is no space for him to stand in the front of the battle, BG leaves an open space in front of him in case one of our spellcasters wants to move up and smite the zombies with magic.
@Sama, this means you. As you mentioned, you were delaying until Gansu and BG went...
Sorry for my absence Ladies and Gentlemen. Not the best of weekends followed by a bad Monday ... I was NOT in the mood to post anything, or I may have got on here and killed the whole party even though it's not your fault! So I decided best just not to post. Feeling better now, thanks in part to RL Tamlara texting me via Facebook and helping me get into the bigger picture of life and get over my little unimportant 'not-that-important' self! ;D (Though that was not her intent, just her words made me realize that there are a LOT of people out there with MUCH WORSE problems than I am having!)
And Thanks BG! I had forgotten Sama's delay! That being said, I will point out that Gansu's move just blocked an almost perfect positioning for Boudacia'sBurning Hands spell, unless he wants to risk getting roasted as well? Or Boudacia could decide to just go ahead with it anyways? :D
So, currently waiting for Sama to say if she wants to take an action or not?
And in case you haven't caught on to the pattern yet, the yellow gombie is going to take a step closer as well, and then all four of them would be in a perfect position for Boudacia'sBurning Hands spell! And since I am such a generous DM, even though her specified trigger:
Boudacia wrote:
If a gombie moves into the hex in front of Tamlara and Boudacia, Boudacia will cast burning hands,
has not occurred yet, I will on this special occasion allow her to go ahead and cast it at the end of the round if she wants to, but of course that would involve including Gansu in the spell area as well!
@Sama, thank you for your consideration, but BG can't move up anyway until a space opens up, and this way you at least got a chance to take a shot. If a space opens up, BG can move up into the room on his next turn.
