The night passes without incident.
party action
Maqej-Unless you learned how to spider climb looks like it's time for me to say hello to our slippery friend. Hope he doesn't have a bunch of family. Wait here and let's see if I get lucky.
Dolgrin wades out into the water, blade ready, and prepares to battle the evil eel.
Heeeere lil' eel
Dolgrin ventures out to where he encountered the eel on the previous day, but encounters nothing.
Seeing his slippery friend is not active this day-Come on in Maqej, the water's fine. Just stay far enough behind that we don't both get zapped.
He motions Anvil forward and pushes on into the water.
In I go...
The water stays as deep as Dol's chest for perhaps a 100 feet then starts to shallow, shortly after you reach a 5'x5' landing with some steps leading up.
Something about the steps doesn't seem quite right to Dol, perhaps a trap of some sort?
Sensing something is amiss-Hold up Maqej; Anvil. Something doesn't seem quite right up here. Let me get a closer look. I'll either figure it out or set it off, but no sense all of us taking a pounding. He then proceeds to advance and investigate.
Plus any relevant bonus for dwarven stoneworking/engineering knowledge!
Dol steps onto the landing and peers closely at the stairs. Based on your knowledge of dungeoneering and stonework, you don't believe the trap is mechanical in nature.
Maqej, whatever the trap is looks like it may be more up your alley. It doesn't appear to be mechanical. Come up and take a look. Anvil and I will hang back and watch the rear. Don't blow us up...
Come on bug!
Dolgrin and Anvil stalk back to what they hope is far enough to avoid blast damage should things go awry with Maqej.
I'll go take a look
cast Detect Magic
You determine that it is some sort of magical fire trap but you dont know what the trigger is or how to disarm it.
Not sure how to disarm it, stand back while I give it a go...
{haha, I roll some classic 1's.}
"I think if I use my teeth, it might work..."
Flames burst out from the steps engulfing Maq.
DC 16 reflex for 1/2
Ouch,
-10 from fire resistance...
You all right Maqej? That didn't look like too much fun. Let me take the lead again.
Dolgrin motions for Anvil to advance on the ceiling and begins moving up the passageway cautiously. They must be getting close to something if someone is taking the time to trap the way.
You get half way up the stairs when a couple of drow appear at the top shooting with their hand crossbows at Dolgrin.
DC 19 Fort save or
Party action. Dol can move forward and attack with sword this round if he wishes.
Cast flaming sphere behind them rolling forward
Sneaky bastards!
Dolgrin rushes with dwarven speed to the top of the stairs, sword-a-swinging.
It's not an eel or magical trap so I'm golden!
Delicious foes!
Anvil skitters up to drop down and attempt a trip on the one that Dolgrin did not attack.
Dol still needs to save from last round.
The first drow feels the effects of Dol' s blow and misses his strikes but the second one connects twice.
Both drow are burned by the sphere.
-24HP
-2AC next round
Another round of spherical flame
Dolgin stumbles during his attack and barely keeps hold of his sword. Off balance he finds himself cut up by the flashing blades of the remaining drow soldier. Anvil runs into the wall and stuns himself for rounds
Both drow burn some more, one going down in a smoldering heap.
Keep the flame coming....
-38HP
Watch out for that slippery spot there elf!
Blzzyblzzlby...
The drow avoids Dolgrin's attack as well as the flaming sphere and scores another hit opening up yet another wound on Dol's bleeding body.
Come on flaming death!!
-43HP
BONK!
Apparently still dazed, Anvil crashes into the wall a second time while Dolgrin finally connects with a powerful blow to the second drow. The deadly drow evades Maq's sphere and strikes back at Dol slashing first with his sword and then with his dagger dropping Dol to the ground.
The drow steps over Dol and starts down the stairs towards Maq.
Dol!! Cast Elemental Ray1 on the drow
Maq's ray burns into the drow as he starts down the stairs. A second later, a massive warhammer smashes into the back of the drow's head: blood, bone, and brain matter splattering the stairs and passage walls. The drow's form falls to the ground lifeless. Behind the drow stands a large red haired dwarf, a shield in one hand and a blood covered warhammer in the other.
The large dwarf spits on the drow corpse, then looks at Maq: "You can call me Angruk....Bloodhammer, we best tend to your friend."
Rush over and cast infernal heal on Dol...
Thanks mister Angruk...
Angruk grunts at Maq's words.
As Maq's spell works: "Nasty bit o' healing, that."
Then he casts his own heal on Dol.
"That should bring him around."
-31HP
Dolgrin struggles to his feet, feebly swinging his massive sword about-You won't take me you filth elf! I'll...., coming to his senses he realizes that there is no dark elf to face but only those of Maqej and what appears to be another dwarf.
In stunned amazement-প্রথম পাথর দ্বারা ; ওয়েল ভাই পূরণ ! আমি আপনাকে আমার বন্ধু Maqej সেরা আমাদের শত্রুদের সাহায্য করেছেন বলে এক অনুমান ?
"The sound of battle drew me here, the drow was intent on trying to get to your friend and never realized I was there until my hammer crushed his head. Name's Angruk. I could offer you more healing but I lost my holy symbol several days ago in a scuffle with some ants and can't channel Torag's blessings without it."
"Oooh! I think we found something like that yesterday!! Remember Dol, remember?!?", Maqej bounces up and down excitedly.
Dolgrin searches through his pack and finally pulls an iron necklace with small hammer attached out. Presenting it to Angruk-Is this yours? We found it buried back a ways with in a cave with some ants.
"That my friend it is, Torag must be smiling on us all today."
He takes the symbol back and works a mend spell on the chain making it whole again. He places it around his neck and grasps it with his left hand and holds his right hand out in a benediction. "Torag's holy power wash away your wounds."
"That feels good!!"
-7HP
Thanks again Angruk. Where does fate take you next? It would be nice to travel with my kin again if your steps lie as ours do. Maqej and I are trying to get to the isle in the center of the lake above. There's drow there and it seems they are the ones behind the mess on the surface or at least know the cause of it.
"i got no place in particular where I need to be, if killing drow might help sort the mess on the surface then sign me up."
Consider yourself signed! I've been lugging some gear around waiting to find it a home. Let me know if you can use any of it.
Offer Angruk from the following:
Heavy wooden shield
Morning star
Light xbow w/9 rounds
MW chain shirt
chain shirt
2 MW daggers
CLW wand w/9 charges
50' hemp rope
Any thoughts about where we head next? Not sure how you got here in front of us, but our path seems to continue forward.
Unless Angruk has any better ideas continue up the stairs and forward in the direction I believe leads us to the isle.
"I'll take one of the daggers and can use that wand. No idea where we should head, truth be told I've been wandering, trying to stay alive, and praying to Torag to give me purpose. He still grants me spells and I can channel his energy, but my link with him seems weaker since ice covered the world. I imagine he is somehow besieged too, and the loss of so many of our kind has hit him hard."
You note that he already has MW breastplate and a MW shield, his warhammer is magical.
After giving Angruk the wand and dagger, Dolgrin makes sure Maqej and Anvil are ready to move and then heads down the hall. His stride is more confident and sure than it has been in many days with a fellow dwarf nearby.