The Tomb of Horrors Part 1 (4e) - Group 1

Game Master Rev Rosey

Right! That sounds like a plan! What to people think? What questions should we ask?

I await your actions with interest - and some trepidation :)

Okay, that seems to be it for suggestions.

Darwyn ritual casts Hand of Fate.

And asks:

'Should we go down to the lower platform?'

While Darwyn focuses on the ritual, the rangers scouts the rest of the chamber for anything amiss.

I do a lap around the edge of necro-falls, getting close enough to take a slightly closer look at the faces below.

The spectral hand wavers for a moment, and then points downwards.

Norrin sees that the faces represent the Devourer and may be trapdoors. Each is constructed from stone of a different colour. Yellow, Red, Green and Grey.

"Who else, besides Levana, has rope?" asks the ranger.

Assuming everyone equipped Adventurer's Kit as standard, you each have 50 feet of rope. 300 feet in total.

'Which of the faces will help us safely find egress from this chamber?'

The hand makes a stopping gesture.

'Well that's a bad sign. I have one question left.'

Meanwhile, Norrin takes Rope C and attaches it to Rope B to extend its length to 100 ft.

He takes Rope B and ties it securely to the midpoint of Rope A. He takes two pitons from his climber's kit and drives one into the ground at L4 and the other into D12. He ties one end of Rope A to L4 and, holding the other end, walks around the edge of the well to D12 and fastens the rope to the piton there.

Hopefully Rope B will hang over H8, allowing someone to climb or tightrope across Rope A to H8 and abseil down Rope B.

Works for me. Who is trying this? Acrobatics DC25 if you're attempting to tightrope walk, DC21 if you're monkeying along underneath, but you will have to also make an Acrobatics check DC21 to avoid the necrotic rain at the edge.

My Acrobatics is +11, but I could lend the necro-resist item to somebody who is better at it.

"No volunteers? Fair enough. Could two of you hold the rope steady please?" Aid Another: Acrobatics (probably Lyan and Levana)

The ranger does some stretches in preparation for the hazardous descent into the well.

Ready when you are, Norrin.

Lyan unfastens his ink-black cloak and passes it to Norrin. "This will help with the rain."

Aid 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

"Thanks Lyan." The ranger completes his preparation by fastening Lyan's magic cloak.

He grabs the rope, trying to avoid the necrorain…

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 = 14 (probably not)

…and monkeys across to the midpoint.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Aid Another Acrobatics, 1d20+16=17

1d10=10 necro from the rain.

As the necrorain sluices over him, Norrin has cause to be grateful for Lyan's cloak. Shimmying down the rope, ably supported by Levan and Lyan, he looks around him...

Perception check please, Norrin.

Perception 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

From the platform looking up, Norrin now sees a projection in the rock about half way down the wall. It is obscured by the necrorain and invisble from above.

MAP

I should have specified -- the cloak is resist necro 15, so he's in no danger . . . from the sludge.

May I ask in which square is the projection located on the above-view map?

MAP

Projection marked in blue. Can't be seen from above, but Norrin can certainly indicate the whereabouts.

"Darwyn! Ask the hand about the thing in the wall!"

Shouts Norrin from the well as he points towards the projection.

Happy Christmas!

Norrin waits with bated breath for the answer ...

Belated Merry Christmas!

Darwyn addresses the hand.

'Is the thing in the wall safe for Norrin?'

The spectral finger points at the projection.

Norrin decides to head out of the well to contemplate his next move.

Athletics 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 to climb the rope.

Acrobatics 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 to monkey across and avoid the necrorain 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11.

He drives piton into I16 and runs another rope down the well towards the projection.

Thanking his stars once more that Lyan loaned his cloak, Norrin lets the necrorain sluice over him quite harmlessly.

He prepares to descend once more.

Movement down a rope is half speed, so that is two move actions to reach the projection. You don't take necro rain damage because of the cloak, and you can't fail the Athletics check.

Anyone else doing anything while all this is going on?

Just staying alert

Norrin makes his way succesfully down to the ledge, but is grimly aware that although it will take his weight for now, it likely won't last long. About ten feet the ledge, however, the steady hiss of the necro rain echoes oddly.

Ten feet from? Above? Below?

Bugger. Sorry about that, typing failure. Ten feet above the ledge on which Norrin is precariously perched.

I climb ten feet up the rope and take a quick look at the source of the echo, then climb up to tell the group. Is the rope affected by the necrorain?

The rope isn't living matter, so the necrorain doesn't affect it.

Norrin pokes his head through the rain, narrowly avoiding taking any damage from the it and discovers and opening into the rock. It's narrow, seeps with necrotic filth and will only fit one person at a time.

3d10=14 necro-damage from the rain for going through it. Clearly doesn't affect Norrin, but will impact on anyone less protected. Passing down the corridor will cause 1d10 necro damage per move down the rocky opening. Note that you will have to move at half speed and it is pitch black.

Norrin scouts the narrow passage before heading back up to share his findings with the others.

The passage twists and turns over 50 feet (ten squares) of slow going before coming to a junction. In both directions, the path widens and becomes tall enough for a person to walk upright.

Secure in his borrowed finery, Norrin is in no danger, but anyone unequipped would surely suffer considerably traversing the passageway.

Note that I've done my best, but my skills are not good enough to show you an accurate narrow twisting passageway.

MAP

"…and at the end there's a junction. Both directions looked tall enough for us to stand upright."

Norrin returns the awesome cloak to Lyan, and disassembles the other ropes and pitons.

Norrin will stay at the top of the well to guide the rest of the group down the rope to the twisting passageway. (Group check on Athletics?)

I can accept that. As long as half of you make the check you can all descend safely, although you'll each take 3d10 necro damage for passing through the rain to get to the passage.

It's not easy getting down a rope shrouded in necro-rain to get into a passage you can't see properly, so it's a DC21 including the aid.

Norrin - 3d10=19. You took 4 necro on the return journey through the rain cascade.

How difficult would the climb be without the aid of the ropes? They have come in handy so far, We may need them again.

Very difficult without ropes, but do bear in mind that you're only using one at this point. Norrin unpicked the rest of the network and presumably has returned ropes to owners.

Lyan re-dons the cloak and starts down the rope.

Athletics 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 Consequence?

Make a save to stop yourself from falling please and take 3d10=14 necro damage (none at all then0.

1d20 ⇒ 15

Guessing trying the Athletics again 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Lyan crouches in the narrow passage and awaits his companions.

Where are you going? The distance in terms of the amount of necro you take is irrelevant to you, of course, but it would be helpful to know.

At this point, just far enough in to let the next person in. Not exploring solo!

From the top of the rope, the ranger offers guidance to his teammates.

Athletics 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33 as part of the group check.

Samson helps his companions as much as possible before heading down himself.

1d20(6) + 17 = 23

Hating the idea of the party strung out along the way, but knowing Norrin and the others will suffer from the sludge, Lyan leads the way into the dark passage.