To face a God of iron. (Inactive)

Game Master DBH

Figgy will walk over to the tied up skulk, squatting down beside the creature. it isn't that far down

"I got some of this venom from that frog thing back there." He points his thumb over his shoulder.

"Care to see what it does?" Springy takes out the vial of blood.

[dice=Intimidate]1d20+1

The Skulk looks confused. You killed Pet?" He mutters in realization. "So that's where he got to!"

He then looks at you in more confusion. "But Pet wasn't poisonous?"

1. "I'm Luepel. Don't kill me!"

2. "Watching for more intruders. Please don't kill me!"

3. "Yes, three more, that's all that's left of us. Promise you won't kill me?"

4. "There's these Gremlins that keep attacking us and stealing our stuff. There's that Brown mold down that way." He indicates the South west passage with his chin. "An there's these four armed skeletons in the weird desert through the metal doors. We can't go passed them cause they keep killing us. You're not going to kill me are you?"

5. "Well first here was these thugs, but we kicked their asses. Then this other bunch came through with a Wizard in charge an he offed the boss. They was the ones who came out with that tin man. We hid from the next bunches who came through. They went through the metal doors, including that Wizard again, but none of them have come back yet. Can I go now?"

Tybalt nodded slowly as the prisoner gave him the information. "One more question and then you go free: You avoided confronting more dangerous adversaries. What will it take for your group to leave us alone?"

Knowledge (Nature) check to identify brown mold

Knowledge Nature + Inspiration: 1d20 + 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (13) + (3) + 7 = 23

Raktar stays watching at the tunnel junction, but can't help hear the skulk babble out a stream of information as he cowers from Roga, Tybalt and JJ. "Good work guys," he mutters to himself, pleased with how things are going with their impromptu group.

Jeremiah took the prisoner's information with a grain of salt. Considering he was being held hostage, he could've been saying anything to make it out alive. Still, it was information to work with, so he'd take what he could get. As Tybs questioned him further, he rested his head on his hand, wanting to appear bored and unsatisfied with the information given.

Tybalt nodded slowly as the prisoner gave him the information. "One more question and then you go free: You avoided confronting more dangerous adversaries. What will it take for your group to leave us alone?"

Knowledge (Nature) check to identify brown mold

[dice=Knowledge Nature + Inspiration]1d20 + 1d6 + 7

leupel actually perks up at your question, mainly as it's the first indication he's had that he might survive after all. "Ah, if ya talk to Sef - She's the boss now. This useta be a good lair, but now everyones comin through and we're gettin offed. So we really wanna get out of here. You get rid of those damned Gremlins for us and Sef will deal straight with you."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

JJ felt he was good at reading people. It was obvious to him the the Skulks just wanted out, especially since one got his ass kicked by a lucky crossbow shot, a bomb, and a thunk to the head. With a sigh, the gunslinger untied his binds. "Alright. Go tell your friends we'll take care of the gremlins for them if they leave us alone and leave soon after. No delays, no funny business."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Tybalt had some doubts about the skulk's honesty; considering everything that happened to it and JJ's brief description of his species, deception for the sake of survival wasn't an impossibilty... but with JJ undoing the captive's ropes, he chose to trust in his judgement.

"New information very valuable... and frustrating." He pinched his brow. "Anticipated gremlins, robots, and scavengers... but not undead. Brown mold also troubling, but less so. Absorbs heat, but can be dispersed by sudden decrease in temperature. Have perfect in item in mind, but may need to return to town to retrieve it..."

Roga was not convinced, "Ask him who killed the half-orc, the one with a lot of stab wounds? Was it him or his people?"

He then added, "And is he sure that the frog-thingy is not poisonous?"

K. Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Where are these Gremlins? How many? Also thank you for your information about your pet not being poisonous. We are sorry to have killed it but it attacked us first."

Figgy will stand up and move towards Roga, motioning for Springy to follow him.

Roga was not convinced, "Ask him who killed the half-orc, the one with a lot of stab wounds? Was it him or his people?"

He then added, "And is he sure that the frog-thingy is not poisonous?"

Leupel's face looks rather shifty now. "Half-orc? What Half-orc? I didn't see no Half-orc."

On the matter of the Blindheim. "Well he bite me a lot when I 'played' with him. Never got sick."

[dice=K. Nature]1d20+7

"Where are these Gremlins? How many? Also thank you for your information about your pet not being poisonous. We are sorry to have killed it but it attacked us first."

Figgy will stand up and move towards Roga, motioning for Springy to follow him.

"Dunno? The little shits are always popping in and then vanishing on us when we try to stomp them."

He just looks confused when you express your regrets about the death of the Blindheim.

Roga, savage technologist wrote:

Roga was not convinced, "Ask him who killed the half-orc, the one with a lot of stab wounds? Was it him or his people?"

He then added, "And is he sure that the frog-thingy is not poisonous?"

Leupel's face looks rather shifty now. "Half-orc? What Half-orc? I didn't see no Half-orc."

"And if he or another skulk indeed killed her, what would you have us do, Mr. Roga?" Tybalt questioned. "Avenging her pointless; Wouldn't undo her death, would provoke aggressions, waste resources and time. Time that Torch and possible survivors are losing..."

Roga was not convinced, "Ask him who killed the half-orc, the one with a lot of stab wounds? Was it him or his people?"

"And if he or another skulk indeed killed her, what would you have us do, Mr. Roga?" Tybalt questioned. "Avenging her pointless; Wouldn't undo her death, would provoke aggressions, waste resources and time. Time that Torch and possible survivors are losing..."

JJ looked at Tybablt before heading up to Roga. "Tybs is right. We can't really afford to get into fights we can avoid if we can help it..." He then got close to his side and made sure his head was facing away from their 'guest'. "At the very least, wait until the time is right before doing something crazy." He added with a whisper and giving him a pat on the shoulder.

Taking all the conversations in Dilana sends Lancelot over to poke at the captive a bit just for sport.

"Avoiding fights sounds good. How do you signal this Sef?"

Taking all the conversations in Dilana sends Lancelot over to poke at the captive a bit just for sport.

"Avoiding fights sounds good. How do you signal this Sef?"

Roga raised his hands, "No, no. I do not want to start any unnecessary fights but I would like to know if this creature and his companions are capable of murder. That's all."

He then waited to see where its leader, Sef, was...

I would like to know if this creature and his companions are capable of murder.

"Well I wouldn't turn my back on someone who live in a cave under a stinky river."

"Take us to your leader? Sounds like a plan then we help with the Gremlins and you help us find the wizard."

Figgy winds Springy a bit and moves the automaton back from wandering off.

Map updated.

You free Leupel's legs and he leads you towards where he was heading when you detected him.

The ceiling of this vast chamber rises nearly thirty feet overhead.
A five-foot-wide ledge runs along the western wall, sloping down to the cave floor ten feet below. Four ramshackle huts made of what appear to be strips of metal, hides, and some sort of fibrous plant matter sit in the cave, while to the south yawns a dark pit.

This cavern is dark, but as you possess a source of illumination or can see far enough, you can spot the strange metal wall at the far end of the cave.

There are two more Skulks here, but the moment you come into view they instantly dive for concealment. Somewhat marred by the fact that one of them, a female immediately starts yelling at Leupel in Undercommon.

Leupel grins sheepishly. Unlike the female he stick to the common tongue. "Hey Komak. Sorry, these guys are too good. They caught me easy. But they're willing to talk. Go get Sef and we can cut a deal.

Another female slinks out of where she was watching to your north (A9) and looks almost hopeful. "Really? They will make a deal? What do they want?"

The party can now negotiate, ask questions and get paid if you want?

JJ took in the sights of the caverns with a small amount of awe. The sight of the sloppily built shacks took away from that somewhat. Seeing the metal wall at the end of the it all made him curious and hopeful that treasure and tech would soon be in their clutches. His focus was brought forward when another Skulk appeared and squawked in some language he didn't quite understand.

Leupel grins sheepishly. Unlike the female he stick to the common tongue. "Hey Komak. Sorry, these guys are too good. They caught me easy. But they're willing to talk. Go get Sef and we can cut a deal.

Another female slinks out of where she was watching to your north (A9) and looks almost hopeful. "Really? They will make a deal? What do they want?"

He gave them a confident and friendly smile as he stared at the female.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Raktar follows along behind the group as they go to cut a deal with the skulk leader, bemused by the extent of the civilisation these creatures seem to have developed beneath the town without anyone noticing.

The appearance of the skulks' cave is startling, not least because of the slab of metal which forms one wall. The two skulks in the cave seem twitchy, and Raktar listens to one of them berate their former captive.

He nods appreciatively at JJ's honesty and adds his own appeal. "The wizard is very important to us, he's a friend and we would dearly love to see him again. We're happy to help you if you're willing to help us," he adds. Raktar sees the skulks react similarly to many others over the last two years - a barely concealed sense of revulsion at his burns - and he wonders how much his statement adds to the group's situation.

Diplomacy to aid another: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14

Sef, the leader of what remains of the Skulks approaches warily. She has an offer for the party.

The deal Sef offers is this:

In exchange for leaving the skulks unharmed and driving off the Jinkin Gremlins north of the Skulks Sef offers free passage through the area, a strange device she found and information on what the Skulks know regarding people coming through the caves.

One piece of information she drops during the negotiations is very interesting to you.

There have been five expeditions so far into the caves that you and the town are aware of?

1. A band of Halfing adventurers. - Sef has no knowledge of them.
2. A band of local thugs. - They and the Skulks fought,the Skulks just winning. You've found the body of one of them (Parda).
3. Khonnir Baine's first expedition. - They fought the Skulks and slew the previous leader of the tribe. Finding the repair drone just inside the door in the metal wall, they then took it back to Torch.
4. A band of adventurers dedicated to the Goddess Brigh entered the caves. - The Skulks hid and let them pass, now too low in numbers to fight.
5. Khonnir Baine's second expedition, from which he has not returned. - Again the Skulks avoided conflict.

The Skulks were led here from the Darklands by their previous leader, a Sorcerer whom they both feared and loved. They clashed now and then with the Gremlins to the north. Always driving them off for a time.

Sef reveals some interesting information about recent visitors to the caves, particularly the detail that a purple-haired woman and a group of
humans, orcs, and ratfolk were, in fact, the first visitors to the caves, and that the woman met with Sefs predecessor and arranged a significant payment in return for an agreement-the skulks would attack and kill any and all others who passed through the caves. The purple-haired woman and her followers then went north through the gremlin caves (temporarily scattering the gremlins) and have not returned.

Another big dump, but it was needed to speed things along.

It's very simple, kill the Gremlins and the Skulks will give you any loot and information they have and won't bother you.

Figgy will inspect the door, looking all over it as high as he can reach, even attempting to stand on Springy's shoulders.

K. Engineering: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"So the halflings didn't come or there was a group before them? Where did all the rest of the groups disappear to? That Large metal door? Can I have it once we are done here?"

This is what the wall and door look like.

A8.

A smooth wall of dark gray metal bisects the cavern here, its expanse pitted and scorched but quite solid looking. A strange, circular opening pierces the wall five feet off the ground, allowing access to some sort of hallway on the other side.

Talking quietly to Tybalt; "Goblins cause problems and are tricky, I know that. Not to be cold but I am just a cobbler. Any idea who the bigger threat is?"

To the group: "So whats with the hole?"

Tybalt stayed quiet and processed what new info he'd acquired as their 'prisoner' led them to their makeshift home. He did much the same thing while JJ and Raktar spoke with the leader. And now...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Talking quietly to Tybalt; "Goblins cause problems and are tricky, I know that. Not to be cold but I am just a cobbler. Any idea who the bigger threat is?"

"Difficult to tell." the half-elf mumbled back. "Skulks desperate to survive and have reputation for being hard to trust but these ones seem honest enough. On other hand, gremlins don't seem friendly in slightest. And then there's this mysterious group who they'd dealt with before..." He paused and took a breath. "Technic League? No, too subtle. Far too subtle. Would've killed both groups and left no tech behind... Ominous. Bears further investigation."

"So the halflings didn't come or there was a group before them? Where did all the rest of the groups disappear to? That Large metal door? Can I have it once we are done here?"

To the group: "So whats with the hole?"

"Might be our way ahead. Should secure area before making sure, though." He suggests, moving north to peer into one of the caves ahead.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

JJ felt some sense of relief when Raktar spoke alongside him when their leader showed up. He seemed like the kind of guy who, even with burn scars on his neck, knew his way around a conversation well enough. Unfortunately, Sif was a harder person to read than Lupel for some reason. While he felt close, he couldn't tell alone if she was going to leave them alone or stab them in the back. Luckily, Tybalt didn't seem worried, and he trusted his long time partner. Besides, he felt prepared for either circumstance.

"So whats with the hole?"

"Might be our way ahead. Should secure area before making sure, though." He suggests, moving north to peer into one of the caves ahead.

"Yeah. We've got an agreement to uphold after all." He spoke as he tried to get a good peak and see potential dangers

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Roga looked to the more learned of the group and asked, "So why are these critters so dangerous? Are they hard to kill, have some magical ability, or what?"

tag?

He pointed to the metal doors in the eastern side of the cavern and then asked the leader of the skulks, "Did all the groups go through those doors?"

Roga looked to the more learned of the group and asked, "So why are these critters so dangerous? Are they hard to kill, have some magical ability, or what?"

"According to earlier research, they are a type of fey. Unusual, otherworldly, with personalities that range from complete apathy to aloofly friendly to unparalleled viciousness. Difficult to slay, but share one of the same weaknesses as home's demonic invaders: cold iron. Had meant to acquire weapons to exploit such weakness, but hesitated. Twice as expensive as normal weapons, but felt too situational for crossbow bolts." The investigator looks down in shame. "Regret decision now, obviously."

Roga, savage technologist wrote:

Roga looked to the more learned of the group and asked, "So why are these critters so dangerous? Are they hard to kill, have some magical ability, or what?"

"According to earlier research, they are a type of fey. Unusual, otherworldly, with personalities that range from complete apathy to aloofly friendly to unparalleled viciousness. Difficult to slay, but share one of the same weaknesses as home's demonic invaders: cold iron. Had meant to acquire weapons to exploit such weakness, but hesitated. Twice as expensive as normal weapons, but felt too situational for crossbow bolts." The investigator looks down in shame. "Regret decision now, obviously."

Roga pulled out a dagger that was about as large as a shortsword. He smiled, "Like this beauty."

He offered it to the half-elf, "I will let you borrow it if you promise to kill one of the critters."

He quickly added, "No really. I feel your information is well worth your safety so you may use it if you will be engaging the fey."

He extended the large dagger again, "Really. I'll just smash them with my magical flail."

tag?

He then asked, "So they are not poisonous right? You're sure about that, right?"

tag?

Roga pulled out a dagger that was about as large as a shortsword. He smiled, "Like this beauty."

Tybalt gives the blade a quick examination. "...Precisely."

He offered it to the half-elf, "I will let you borrow it if you promise to kill one of the critters."

"What?"

He quickly added, "No really. I feel your information is well worth your safety so you may use it if you will be engaging the fey."

"Um..."

He extended the large dagger again, "Really. I'll just smash them with my magical flail."

Tybalt pushes the dagger back toward Roga. "Kind offer, but... not a frontline fighter. Much more useful in your hands."

He then asked, "So they are not poisonous right? You're sure about that, right?"

The half-elf paused to think. "Guarantee gremlins themselves not venomous. But prefer to set traps and ambushes, so... wouldn't be surprised if traps were poisoned."

"Difficult to slay, but share one of the same weaknesses as home's demonic invaders: cold iron."

"Can I assume magic will work on them? I was pretty useless on that construct but fey should be ok."

Back to the Skulks:
"You guys have fought them, what weapons do you use? Perhaps a loan, not that I am good with weapons but to one of the more practical folks."

Roga seems uneasy about poison. If this takes more then one trip I will buy something to put his mind at ease.

On the matter of where the groups went Sef tells you the first group went to the north and haven't come back. Baines group was the only one to use the door in this cave, they went in, found the robot and came out immediately. Then went in a second time, they haven't returned from that entrance.

Figgy The door is a circular opening, now stuck in the open mode, it's clearly been forced open by Baines party, beyond it what you can see.

The walls, floor and ceiling of this slightly curved hallway are made of smooth dark gray metal . You identify this as the iron/adamantine alloy called Starmetal or Glaucite that seems to be used in all the strange ruins and structures found across Numeria. Panels of lighter material run along the ceiling eight feet above. To the north and south the tunnel is blocked by walls of metal junk and rubble, while an open doorway yawns to the east.

Sef can give you a rough map of what the area inside looks like, but only the first few rooms, which the Skulks have picked over, beyond that is a large open area, with the four armed skeletons that attack anyone who comes close.

Sef warns you that the Gremlins love traps, so the caves they inhabit to the north are trap ridden.

That's really all she can tell you. What is the party doing now? Heading north to kill Gremlins, heading back to town to stock up. Killing the Skulks?

Figgy will check his reserves of bombs and other oddities, feeling satisfied he will go and gather Springy back to his side and they can head out whenever everyone else is ready.

JJ was content with the situation as is. While he wouldn't mind taking some time to craft some cold iron bullets, he figured that taking on a few gremlins would be easier since they were still pretty healthy and amply supplied.

"These gremlins sound unpleasant," Raktar remarks at Tybalt's explanation, then hefts his hammer. "I've forged steel with this, I shouldn't think gremlins would prove much more resistant. Will have to look out for their traps though," he adds cautiously.

He checks over his kit, making sure all his tools are still OK after their dunking in the pond, and looks around at his new friends. "Shall we see what these gremlins look like?"

"These gremlins sound unpleasant," Raktar remarks at Tybalt's explanation, then hefts his hammer. "I've forged steel with this, I shouldn't think gremlins would prove much more resistant. Will have to look out for their traps though," he adds cautiously.

He checks over his kit, making sure all his tools are still OK after their dunking in the pond, and looks around at his new friends. "Shall we see what these gremlins look like?"

Tybalt looks over to the oracle and smiles. "If you can dismantle obstacles, we might work together much better then expected. With that, he starts examining the path before them.

Perception to find traps: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Dilana falls in near the end of the pack is usual, refreshing the light spell on Roga's weapon so they can all see.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

She does her best to help scout for traps or even the goblins but somehow thinks she might miss things.

"Never seen a goblins actually. Lots of new experiences today it seems."

Tybalt You immediately spot a trap in to first small cave you come to, a trip line leading to a counter weighted jagged spike of metal.

The ceilings are low here, only five feet tall, most of you will have to slouch slightly.

The trap is the red 'X' on the map. Everyone can give me perception rolls while Tybalt gives me his Disable device roll.

As a class with a wisdom based pool of energy, Perception should be a snap for me. XD

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Roga frowned as he saw the trap and looked at it closely to see if any of the blades was coated with something.

He let the half-elf do his thing, "Don't worry, I got your back. You just pay attention to the trap there."

-------------
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"I hope so," Raktar replies to Tybalt, smiling back at him as he takes his place at the back of the pack. He keeps his eyes open as they move.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"A trap? Where? Think we can get it out intact?"

Disable Device to aid?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

As they started making their way through the gremlin caves, Tybalt saw it: a trip wire. He motions for the group to stop, gives a quiet "Trap ahead of me...", and points toward the jagged metal spike.

"A trap? Where? Think we can get it out intact?"

"Will soon find out..." he says as he cautiously moves in and tries to neutralize the trap.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Tybalt easily disarms the trap. It's nothing worth any coin, only a sharp piece of metal, weighted to drop nastily onto whoever trips the wire.

Jeremiah While Tybalt focuses on the trap something makes you uneasy, looking around cautiously you see two Gremlins sneaking towards the party weapons in hand!

Dilanna - You didn't see either of the Gremlins.
Raktar - You didn't see either of the Gremlins.
Figgy - You see the Red Gremlin.
Roga - You see the Red Gremlin.
Jeremiah - You see both the Red and the Yellow Gremlin.

Jeremiah, Roga & Figgy can have an action on the surprise round now.

Map updated.

Roga spotted the little fey just north of where they were.

"There's one of them!"

With knife in hand, he leaped after the critter.

----------
trying to charge; if possible see below

"There is a creature over by you Roga, looks mean and hungry. Could be the gremlins, I am to far to help."

The little gnome will hurry his little legs to help Roga, "Springy bring the torch!"

Jeremiah did his best to keep an eye on his friend's back while he was disarming the trap. However... he couldn't help but have a bad feeling. Suddenly, he saw a shadow moving in the light of their torches and spells. He quickly realized said shadows belonged to the creatures they were hunting. A gremlins were readying to attack.

"There's one of them!"

"There is a creature over by you Roga, looks mean and hungry. Could be the gremlins, I am to far to help."

Roga and Figgy had better reaction time. Still, he wouldn't be beat. As he readied his pistol, he turned to yell to the group when he saw a second one behind Dilana.

"Look out!" he yelled as he aimed for the thing behind her and took a shot with his pistol.

Attack Roll vs. Flat-foot Touch + Precise Shot - Cover: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 4 = 11
Damage Roll: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Both creatures screech in dismay as their nasty ambush is painfully turned on them.

Sorry Roga, this was a surprise round, only a move action for you.

Roga Moves up to menace his Gremlin.

Jeremiah's shot just buzzes passed the wide-eyed Gremlins ear.

That was the surprise round, now the party can go with a full round of action. Those of you who didn't spot them can now see them and attack.