The Sunless Citadel - 5th Edition (Inactive)

Game Master spinningdice

Opening post to follow later, opening to dot in

dot!!

Ready to rock.

You have followed the Old Road from Oakhurst for a little over 3 hours, though you could probably make it in less time if travelling less warily. The road would be a poor trail for a caravan as it is overgrown in patches and churned up in others, but provides an easy enough path for walking.

As you approach the bend the stark scar of the ravine dominates the landscape, and you find the spot described, where stone pillars stand at each side of ravine, many broken, or lopsided, but two stand intact near the edge of the Ravine.

A sturdy knotted rope is tied to one of the pillars, its other end dropping down into the darkness.

- - - - -

The Ravine runs for miles in either direction, this appears to be the widest section, about 40feet across. What you can see of the rest it looks to be mostly 30ft wide. It is around 7-miles back to Oakhurst.

- - - - -

I assume you all know each other, at least a little, feel free to intro your character touch on what you were doing on the journey and let me know how you want to proceed.

Jack frowns in the yawning black abyss. "So this is where they think their wayward sons have gone? Why couldn't they got lost in a brothel? Or The Sweet Doomed Angel? They have 2-for-1 on mugs of ale tonight."

The Ranger scrounges up a dry branch in the undergrowth, and a moment's work strikes a spark upon it, quickly growing to a small flame. He walks close to the edge of the gaping black and drops the flaming brand in, watching to see its depth when it stops.

Your flaming brand drops down, maybe 50 feet, then hits a large ledge, about 20-25 foot square.

Now illuminated you can see what appears to be a (cold) fire pit and what may be a stairwell leading further down.

The knotted rope seems to descend down as far as this ledge, and looking closer you can also see weathered hand and footholds, carved into the rockface, though they seem spaced and sized for smaller creatures... goblins maybe?

Provided you're taking your time and can see, there is no chance of failing to descend down the rope. The hand and foot-holds are a little too small for a human and require a DC 5 climb check unless you are small, in which case you can climb down them with no chance of failure.

"I can't wait til we get inside. I mean, who thought I'd be going on an adventure so soon! and a really dungeon even!"

Kenzi is the first to volunteer to go down the rope.

Greg looks over the small woman and a smile creeps to his lips at her excitement, but it flits away just as quickly as the reality of the adventure settles in.

"You all go first. I will come last and hold rope for all. The I come down."

He takes the rope and ties it off, but also keeps ahold of it and lowers the party into the pit one at a time.

Dot. Reading what I have missed now

dotting to catch up this evening

The heavily hooded wizard looks down into into the pit. His heavily accented common is very apparent. I have the best ability to see in the dark, I have no problem going down after Kenzi. But, please wait a moment. as he digs into his spell component pouch and in the spidery language of magic, begins to chant Ast fresa trepw as an armory form manifests itself over him.

Casting Mage Armor for a duration of 8 hours

Thank you, Greg, !Ko's small voice says.

The goblin patiently waits his turn to go down the rope.

A chuckle escapes Jack's lips/ "Be careful what you wish for, fair Kenzi! 'Tis said 'Be careful ye who stares into the abyss...because you'll get eaten by a grue!"

Hack spends some time laughing before turning to Gregek. "Gratitude, Gregek. Let us hope that is the hardest thing you are called on to do.

And, yes, Nil," as he had taken to calling the spell-thrower with the impossible name. "You are welcome to go second, with your eyes as gifted as they are."

Jack would've been fine climbing down the bare rock face, but, 'tis no reason to do something hard when you can do something easy.

He keeps a watch, to make sure nothing goes wrong up top, and goes down almost last, just before Gregek.

"What's a Grue? I'm pretty sure that's not an actual thing. You're crazy Jackelroy." Kenzi probably had more to say, but sliding down the rope she got out of earshot.

Yes, that is your nickname. Get used to it =P

An eyebrow was quirked at the exchange as everyone was preparing to descend into the hole, the corner of his mouth pulling up a bit at the exchange between the pair of humans. As they waited for each one to finish, he leaned on his staff. The exchange about the grue made him attempt to temper the smile at the old tale, wiping the small grin off of his face. The elf's hair was brown and loose to his back, and since they were waiting, he took a minute to tie several lengths of thong around his limbs, binding his clothes against inconvenient snags. They wrapped from his ankles to his knees, binding the loose and comfortable clothes that he wore against snags. His arms followed from his wrist to his elbows, and then his hair at the nape of his neck.

While he had been slightly aloof to the party, that was only because he was thinking ahead to what they might encounter, and the plan they had. It was refreshing to keep company with such vibrant individuals.

"I'll follow", he volunteered, invigorated by the novelty of all of this.

Kenzi starts to climb down the rope, noting that the rope is relatively new, being maybe a month or two old at most. The nearby handholds look like they've been carved into the rock at least a couple of decades ago, if not longer.
Kenzi: Are you continuing to chatter as you climb down or are you going to attempt to climb down stealthily and/or listen to your surroundings. If so make a Dex (Stealth) and/or a Wisdom (Perception) check

Current climbing order
Kenzi
Nil'murr'shass
Cassadar
!Ko
Solovor
TPJ's character
Jack
Gregek

Yes, she'll keep talking on the way down. She doesn't know any better yet.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Hearing everyone still talking, !Ko will say, Shhhhhh... We don't know what's down there. Keep an ear out.

!Ko, being a goblin, is conditioned to be quiet and sneaky, lest the stronger races hunt him down and string him up.

Even still, he pulls at the color of his armor, way too loud for his liking.

When !Ko climbs down and reaches the bottom, he'll try his best to be quiet.

Stealth, dis: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

In a manner contradictory to the entire philosophy of stealth, he tries to be a bit obvious about it so his companions get the hint.

As you touch the bottom, you hear the slight scraping of claws on stone.
Glancing towards the sound you see what appear to be the forms of three massive rats, with bodies that must be at least 3 feet in length, they are moving towards you with malice in their step.

Giant Rats: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Kenzi/Party: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 Just using Kenzi's initiative for this one as she's at the bottom

Party up first

Notes
Kenzi is currently the only one at the bottom (I assumed that no-one was going to climb down the rope while she was still on it).
You climb (safely) at half your move speed, so it will take most of you 3 movement actions to reach the bottom (or rather a dash and a move to use the correct parlance) - you can drop the last 5 feet.

If two people wish to use the at once a DC5 Strength (Athletics) roll is required, as the rope will move somewhat more unpredictably with two on it. Also don't forget the handholds which are DC5 to climb unless you are approximately goblin sized, in which case you can do it without a roll.

Can those of us at the top see the rats? Some of us can haz ranged weapons. =3

With Gregek steadying the rope, can he reduce or negate the negatives from 2 or more people on the rope?

catching up

Guillermo has mostly stayed behind following the party, wondering exactly what he's doing with these strange folk. He's kept to himself thus far, giving up little information other than his name and a couple nods.

He'd never really imagined adventuring with a goblin and a bugbear, but they seem to be of respectable character. At the very least, they don't appear to be a threat right now.

For now he concentrates on climbing down the rope.

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

My previous stealth check was assuming we were already at the bottom. Please disregard that post.

When it's !Ko's turn to climb down, he makes it to about ten feet up, at which point he launches himself off the wall to land on one of the giant rats, sword in hand.

Athletics to Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12
Acrobatics to land on rat?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

I wonder how the elves will get along

Soval had been quiet for most of the journey. ALong the way, he seemed to be lost in thought, moving his hands as if reading through scrolls or pages, and moving his lips with some unknown words.

As they stopped at the top of the pit and Waited for Kenzi to climb down, he began to get more attentive, looking around and taking it all in. When Kenzi reached the bottom and encountered the rats, Soval finally let some words slip out as he was climbing down the handholds. "I hate rats..."

Strength(Athletics): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Yes, you can see the ledge from up top. So if you have weapons at range, you can fire down. Range will be about 50 feet from top to bottom.

"Gah!" JackElroy exclaims as he sees the three overly-large rats stalk the persons that were heading down. "Everyone look out!"

Then he wastes no more breath on warnings as his crossbow comes to his chin and becomes not just a weapon, but an extension of himself. He sends a heavy metal shaft at the lead rat, hoping to take it unawares.

Rangers get advantage on enemies that have not acted yet.
Ranged Attack!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Advantage Ranged Attack!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Ranged Attack Damage!: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Guillermo casts shillelagh on his quarterstaff and swings at one of the rats.

"Go on now! Get!" he snarls at the vermin.

Quarterstaff (Shillelagh): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Quarterstaff (Shillelagh) Dam: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Gah! Rats! Gross!" Screams Kenzi as she reaches into the pouch on her hip and pulls out a glass bottle. Twisting the lid, there is the sound of glass cracking and then she throws the bottle at the further one.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Fire Damage Roll: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Don't forget, folks, that we can only get down one at a time and it takes a round and a half. Not all of us can be down in the pit fighting.

On that note, what order are we going down? It's a 45' drop/climb, right?

As best I can tell, Kenzi is at the bottom. Nil is on the rope and will be on the ground this round or next round. Cass is up next to go on the rope, or may start this round with an Athletics check.

!Ko can get on the rope after Cass, then Sol, Guill, Jack, and finally Greg.

Jack is going ranged, while Greg is holding the rope.

That was my understanding

While his precision was not the best, (that would be worked on) it was enough to avoid the use of the rope to help get down faster. He courteously chose to overlook that he was above the drow, as he did not have quite the amount of dislike for them that his cousins did. He was still wary, though.
_______________________________
hastening down the rope
Athletics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Side of chasm is 50', I'm counting as 45' foot to make it easier to factor movement, and a 5' drop ain't going to hurt you. Don't forget the goblin hand-holds are an extra option

Round 1 Heroes

Kenzi: On reading the artificer article it doesn't appear to need an attack roll - Dex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 71d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11.

Jack: Your crossbow bolt hits a rat squarely between the eyes, your target drops dead.

!Ko: You can attempt to dive bomb next round... if you want to follow Soval down the handholds, rather than wait for the rope to be free?

Soval: Descends 30' down the handholds

Guillermo: Can't reach rats from atop the ravine, you may still cast Shillelagh if you wish?

Nil: climbs 30' down the rope

Cassadar: Starts climbing down the rope, about 15' before risking kicking Nil in the face as he climbs

Greg: Holds the rope (negate penalties for two people on the rope)

Round 1 Rats One of the rats dropped dead from Jack's expert crossbow bolt. The others cower a little before Kenzi's fire, but driven by either hunger or malice they still advance on the girl.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
One of them gives her a nasty bite for 5 damage.

Round 2 Notes
Jack, Greg and Guillermo are at the top of the Ravine

Kenzi is at the bottom, rats are in melee range with her.

Nil is 30' down the rope, can descend 15' as your next move, drop the last 5' and do something with your action

Soval is 30' down the handholds, can descend 15' as your next move, drop the last 5' and do something with your action

Cassadar is a little higher up the rope, can descend safely as your full round or descend 15' and drop the last 10' or so requiring a DC 10 check or suffer 1d6 on the fall.

!Ko is a little higher up the handholds, unless he changes his action, he's going to attempt to divebomb a rat this round.

2 Rats are both lightly scorched by Kenzi's bomb, having taken 2 damage each. Jack killed the other with 9 damage.

Dive bomb away!

you have the right of it, I just mistakenly wrote Fire instead of acid, which is single target and does require an attack roll

As the large rat lunges, Kenzi shouts "get it off! OWWW! Take this you jerk!"

Reaching into her satchel again, she will grab another glass vial and smash it into the rat that bit her.

Attack Roll: 1d25 ⇒ 14
ACID damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Let's try this again.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

The drow descends and attempts to hit one of the rats, the one hit with acid with his quarterstaff
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
1d6 ⇒ 4 damage if he hits

The rats were not enough of a threat to hasten, and the ones already down were doing well, so Cassadar took the time to descend the rope, instead of dropping the last bit of distance.

Jack sights downrange again, sending another heavy bolt toward the attacks rodentia....

Attack!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage!!: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

...but he's already grimmacing, between the distance and the dark he knows that wasn't his best shot.

[ooc]Okay, since its probably more beneficial for you, I'll assume Kenzi used fire last round and hit them both for 2.

Round 2 Heroes

Kenzi tries to burn another rat, but is thrown off balance by the rat's attack.

Jack fires a shot close enough to shave the rat, but not enough to actually hurt it (1 off it's Ac)

Nil descends, dropping the last few feet and slicing into a rat. Not quite finishing it off, but leaving it

!Ko dive bombs one of the rats, for dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1 finishing off the badly injured one.

Soval reaches the bottom and blasts the remaining rat with energy Dex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1 Though it dodges aside.

Cassador reaches the bottom.

Grek/Guillermo Either wait up top or begin to descend

Round 2 Monsters
The remaining rat, singed and it's pack slain, decides that this prey is too strong and attempts to withdraw.

If anyone desperately wants to pursue the rat, then you can dash to the edge of the platform and get a ranged attack on it before it gets too far into the gloom. But otherwise the combat is over.

Post Combat
The rest of you all manage to climb down once the rats are defeated. The only way you can see to proceed is via a set of switchback stairs heading downwards, into the darkness.

The steps appear worn and smooth, it should not be an issue to walk down carefully, but traversing them in haste may be more difficult.

Only Nil with his superior darkvision can see down the the bottom, a further 80 feet down, the bottom of the ravine scattered with broken masonry below.

Guillermo is climbing down the rope and will hold it steady for Grek as he descends once he's at the bottom.

Kenzi will draw and drink a potion from her satchel.

Healing Potion: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Soval pauses for a moment at the top of the stairs. Looking down, he could only see darkness. Smiling to himself, he closed his eyes and concentrated on opening up his psychic Third Eye. After a couple of moment, he opened his eyes. Those meeting his gaze might notice a slight greenish tint to his pupils, but otherwise nothing was different.

However, now when he stared off into the darkness, he could see a several dozen feet into the inky blackness.

[ooc]Taking an action to gain Psychic Focus with the Third Eye disciplone which will give Soval Darkvision (60')]/ooc]

As Gregek get down, he set to butchering the remains of the giant rats. He is quick and efficient, skinning and sectioning the remains. He wraps the meat in the pelt of one of the rats and attaches it to his pack. Once done he turns and speaks with !Ko.

!Ko looks out over the edge, but cannot see the bottom. Shall we? he asks.

Matching words to action, !Ko starts down the stairs.

Gregek joins his diminutive friend descending the steps.

'Hehehe. Oh no. You don't get to step and then leave. If you come heavy and lose...no one gets to go home,' he thinks as he aims at the fleeing rat, leading the target.

Attack!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage!: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

'Tagged ya!' he follows, pleased with a good shot.

Jack scrambles down the rope and joins the others. He nods as he sees Greg (as he's come to shorten the demi-human's name) butchering the carcasses.
"I've never had wild giant rat myself. I've had a rotisserie swamp rat that melted in your mouth, though. If you don't mind, I'd like to try some later."

He grabs up the flaming brand he had dropped earlier, blowing the dying flame back to life. He lets his gaze sweep over the cold fire-pit, idly wondering if anything interesting is laying around.

Perception!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Jack finishes off the last rat as it tries to escape, it's carcass tumbles down into the ravine bed below...
A good poke around doesn't yield anything in the fire pit, though it seems to have been there for many years and re-used hundreds of times.

The two Goblins lead the way down the steps, taking it carefully it takes several minutes to reach the bottom, the stairs open onto a paved courtyard, relatively clear of debris though the expanse in either direction is cluttered with masonry. The courtyard leads across to the remains of a tower, that seems to have been somehow partially buried in the rockface of the ravine. The upper parts of the tower look buckled beneath the weight, but the wooden door appears intact.

Does darkvision see anything that others dont?