#10-16: What the Helms Hide

Game Master Baerlie

Helga tells you about the strange noises, although Urgrin stays silent in this regard.

"It seems Shaine sent a bunch of good agents. I'm glad to hear that. If you could look for whatever causes the noises inside the caves while looking for clues in your case, that would be great. Maybe you find something." Helga says and stops in front of a cave entrance: a simple stone archway.

"Here we are. We are going to wait here. Or maybe over there." Urgrin says and points at a place with several rocks, big or small enough for a dwarf to sit on them.

The cavern’s entrance begins with a simple stone archway. Its walls are made of smooth stone, completely lacking in decoration. The rooms are dark and have 10-foot ceilings.

KnowRel: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Looking at the stonework and whistles.
"This looks more like something made by droskar. Seems like this is a duergar area!"

Knowledge (engineering) DC 14: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Tenibri fishes a couple of wands out of his bag; his own knowledge confirmed what Sirius was saying, and duergar were a fierce foe. "Let's be ready if that's what we might face."

Casting mage armor and heightened awareness.

Duergar? That is interesting...one moment... the swordsman says, fishing about in his pouch. He holds up a dull glowing stone and lets it go. He then fraws his blade, the floating stone getting brihter until it sheds light like a lantern.

ioun torch

"Grreeeat. Well, let's go!" Pai's cheery nature comes through at the end as she activates her Enveloping Winds ability (taking 1 burn for 25% miss chance on projectile weapon attacks, just like before). She sticks close to Mykel so she can see better.

Duergar are usually outwardly hostile. I have yet to meet one that would listen to reason... Arin follows with the group, towards the back.

Do they use necromantic magic often?

Asks Erhun to Arin.

It seems the lanky warrior has an hard time not speaking about his obsession

You move further into the cave.

Furter inside, after twists and turns, you come to a hall. Once a statue garden, these halls are cluttered with scorched and shattered stones. Short, dusty pedistals have little to showcase, save for rubble and the occasional stone foot. Several stout skeletons lie beneath the piles of ruin, their brittle bones snapped and scattered. A single pristine warhammer rests on the floor to the northwest.

Please consult the map, entrance is south, the hall is downstairs to the east of your location.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Be careful....

Seeing the skeletons on the floor, Erhun swaps weapons, taking his bec de corbin instead of his axe.

The weapon is as massive, but it has a bludgeonning head, better to destroy fleshless undead

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"Been having run-ins with them Arin?" he asks before pointing out some tracks.

"Hey. over here. Footprints and they were dragging something. They were heading both ways." he warns the others.

"Well, if they are necromancers, Erhun, these are unlikely to be their subjects... as poor shape as they're in." Tenibri studies the opening to this hall, then picks his way carefully down the carved stairs.

Perception, heightened awareness: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 = 31

Well, let's see if we can put this "haunted" myth to rest...watch your backs... Mykel says, his grip on his blade tightening.

Rook downs a glowing liquid that causes his body to become more lean before skulking ahead towards the branch on the right.

Dexterity Mutagen: +4 Dexdterity|+2 AC|-2 Wisdom / 10 Mins.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Sirius casts see invisible and heighten awereness.

Pai slips along as quietly as she can, keeping close to Mykel and his glowing torch-stone thingy. When Mhazruk points out the tracks, she notes their size. Oh, okay. So not haunted, per se. But maybe infested. Little creatures won't be a problem for us. Unless they hunt in packs. Or attract bigger things."

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Arin, Mykel, Sirius and Tenibri hear the sounds of toiling and weeping before something weird manifests in front and around you. Several dwarves bearing the symbol of Droskar appear in the area and draw their hammers. One of them begins to mutter incoherently before turning his weapon on his brethren. Then, one by one, they all break into a riot of muttered gibberish and violence until one remains standing. This dwarf looks down the warhammer in his hand and states. "This weapon struck no enemies, only my brothers and sisters. I have failed..."

This survivor then backs away towards the east, begging for his life, as a female dwarf in a domino mask approaches him. She draws a blade and cuts him down, his body dropping in the same space as the warhammer. She turns towards the creatures that triggered the haunt and glares at them, crystal tears trickling from her eyes.

As fast as this vision appeared it disappears again and silence returns to the halls (interrupted by water dripping from stalactites). The weapon of the last dwarf to fall still remains, leaving a surprisingly intact warhammer.

Due to his low ini roll, Tenibri is super surprised by the haunt and I need a will save, please :)

1d20+4

rng is screwing up for me...did it the other day too...if someone can roll for me to expedite things that would be ok with me

@Mykel: I think it is only Tenibri that needs to roll a will save.

"What the fudging heck was that?" Pai's eyes are as wide as saucers as she stands stock still, wondering if she would set something off if she moves.

Moments ago...

"Been having run-ins with them Arin?" he asks before pointing out some tracks.

I did a mission in Jormurdun, and the place was at times overrun with them. Most unpleasant.

Back to now... the haunting...

That was... unexpected. Haunts usually don't just disappear. I wonder if it is still present, if not triggered. I have the tools to destroy it if so...

Cast detect magic in the area where they saw the vision.

Will, timelost chronicler: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16 +2 vs shadow subschool
Tenibri has a Banish the Hag boon that allows a +4 bonus vs a curse or witch's hex before the roll; if this is a curse, he will use that boon here

Tenibri stands stunned, jaw agape, as he tries to process what he just saw.

Tenibri's save was high enough

Arin thinks that the haunt is still active, although it triggers only when somebody enters the room and it takes about a day to reset. The skeletons in this room stay dead.

Sirius moves deeper in the caverns but turns back when he reaches a deep end. He points to the bigger room.

"I did not like ghosts back in the Drownyards and I still do not like them now, let's keep going so we can finish up here." Rook says quietly to the others before quietly moving towards the non-dead end.

Yes, I suppose we can leave them well enough alone. I detect this haunt can only surface once a day, roughly.

"So it won't suck us dry or make us kill ourselves or anything? We're free to go? That seems too easy..." Pai finishes by muttering to herself as she follows the group.

I Don't like that either, but as long as it can only frighten someone and not cause any harm.. I'll guess we have bigger fishes to fry for the moment. Maybe we can destroy it later, on our way back.

[b]Don't worry, Pal. I'll make sure none of them get to you...[b/ Mykel says, leading the way.

Pai should totally have a twin brother named Pal Shecks, lol

Arin gnods at his fellow gnome. Indeed, this isn't as aggressive as the haunt you and I encountered last time. No drying out. We remain moist. he says matter-of-factly, un-aware of how certain words grate on the nerves of more socially-aware folk.

He walks alongside her as they follow Mykel and Rook through the next passageway.

I moved your tokens to the north, I hope this was ok.

You move to the other end of the cave and suddenly you realize that you were awaited. You hear voices in goblin language, shortly before some guys with green skin attack.

An arrow flies towards you from the room to the east.
Mukrood vs. Arin: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Sneak Attack: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1) = 11

Round 1
Mukrood white
-----
Tenibri
Pai
Mykel
Erhun
-----
Shatu blue
Haja yellow
-----
Mhazruk
Sirius
Arin
-----
Rikshi red

Erhun rushes to the lone goblin on their right, and strikes.. but totally miss, nearly stumbling over his own feet

Power attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 - 1 = 5
2H dmg: 1d10 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 3 = 8

Oh did they say anything funny? Rook can understand the little buggers. Lol.

Bringing a pinch of fine ground mica to his lips, Tenibri whispers an arcane word before blowing the dust to the east. A glittery dust appears in a giant cloud at the back of the cavern; the dust descends over the farthest pair of goblins, coating them in a golden brilliance that clings to everything and gets in their eyes.

Mykel rushes forward and slashes at the first goblin he sees. He readies a defensive parry if attacked.

Hello, little anklebiter. Goodbye, little anklebiter!

attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 141d8 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 5 = 19

[spoiler=p/r]p/r: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 131d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 261d8 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 5 = 15

unsure about the current position...if i can't attack or if there's a penalty, that's fine. I will keep the parry/riposte though

I moved your tokens to the north, I hope this was ok.

This is fine. I was pretty unsure of where we were really at and which direction we were moving "next". Is it the goblin at the right of the map that shot Arin?

Pai takes a step closer to be able to see around Erhun's body a bit, then smirks and sends a crackling blast of electricity at the green goblin.

Electric blast vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 202d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 6) + 5 = 13
Includes Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Elemental Overdrive

@Mhazruk They say something like "Let's kill them and loot. They are close enoug!" and "I like when loot comes into the cave walking on long legs."

@Arin Yes, it was the single one to the right.

Erhun misses his first strike against the goblins while Tenibri casts a spell and a cloud of glittery dust appears in the room to the west.

Will red: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 fail
Will yellow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 fail

Mykel rushes into the room and strikes at one of the goblins, cutting a deep wound into it's chest. The goblin drops to the ground. Pai's electric blast hits the goblin in the eastern room directly, but the creature is still standing.

One of the goblins starts to rub it's eyes to get rid of the dust.
Will yellow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 fail

Round 1
glitterdust 1
Mukrood white -13HP
-----
Tenibri
Pai
Mykel (parry/reposte)
Erhun
-----
Shatu blue down
Haja yellow (glitterdusted)
-----
Mhazruk
Sirius
Arin
-----
Rikshi red (glitterdusted)

The gnomes hair lights up brightly, as do his eyes when he begins chanting an incantation in Abyssal. His skin seems to take on a bare sheen of sickly green sweat.

Cast Bless, standard action

All allies: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects; duration: 40m / 400 rounds

He moves out of the view of the goblin who struck him with the bolt.

10' S, move action

As a swift action Sirius activates sudden speed and moves toward Rikshi, taking his time to get the bless and swings his polearm.
Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 261d10 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 221d10 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"Tell them to give my bombs some more juice too, Arin!" Rook jokes before throwing one at the goblin with a large red hat.

As the bomb is sailing through the air he taunts the little menaces.

Bomb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10 DC Reflex 14 for half-damage from splash.

Arin blesses the group before moving out of sight while Sirius and Mhazruk attack the small guys directly. Sirius knocks out one of the goblins, the bomb misses it's target.

Reflex vs. bomb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

The lone goblin takes a step back and shoots another arrow at Erhun, but the arrow hits the cave's ceiling.
Attack vs. Erhun: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Round 2
glitterdust 1
Mukrood white -13HP
-----
Tenibri
Pai
Mykel (parry/reposte)
Erhun
-----
Shatu blue down
Haja yellow (glitterdusted) -4HP
-----
Mhazruk
Sirius
Arin
-----
Rikshi red (glitterdusted)

Pow Att: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 1 = 24
Dmg: 1d10 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 3 = 9

Pow Att, Crit?: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 1 = 18
Dmg: 2d10 + 14 ⇒ (4, 9) + 14 = 27

Erhun correct his stance, after nearly falling on his first attempt at maiming the goblin, and delivers a solid blow.

If the Critical is confirmed
This time, the massive weapon catches the goblin in the ribs, and lift him from the ground, smashing it into the cavern's stony wall.

The small humanoid falls on the ground, either barely moving or already dead

Mykel bounds forward and slashes at the goblin, his blade flashing in a blur.

attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 1 = 291d8 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 5 = 13

Assuming that Erhun can handle one mostly-crispy-fried goblin on his own, Pai skitters after the others and up the stairs to see if she can help in there. "Aww. Looks you've got it here. Anything else around the corner?" She's itching for a fight, but this seems too easy.

Sorry, I forgot the Goblin war song:
“Something creeping in our home.
Is it dwarf or is it gnome?
Either way we’ll stab it right,
Then we eat some meat tonight!
Steelfang slashers we the best,
Burn your banner, smash your crest!
Come and get us if you can,
Face our mighty goblin clan!”

Erhun kills the arrow shooting goblin while Mykel defeats the remaining glittery individual in the western chamber.

With the goblins defeated you are free to explore the chambers. The Steelfang goblins were in the middle of sorting out their latest haul, which still rests in an open leather bag propped up against the wall. The contents mostly consist of personal effects of negligible value, but it also contains a wand.

The goblins’ lair is littered with the broken stone from shattered statues and alters, though a few stone tablets remain. They are defaced with paint, each bearing a drawing of a round goblin head with knives for teeth, but they are otherwise undamaged.

know local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Well, this is not a story I would be telling the young ones...a bit too dark, I think. Might be worth some intrinsic value to a dwarf though... Mykel says after looking at the stones.

At Mykel's statement, Pai patters up to inspect the stones as well.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"Huh? What do you mean? I don't get it..."

Arin listens in as Mykel tells the story in the stones.

Hmm, I suppose there must have been a time when they had internal conflict and needed to pull together. I wonder if this is from their time of the Quest for Sky...

He tries to link it to the dwarves' history for no particular reason, then turning to look over the wand.

spellcraft, DC18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Well, I guess we can hold onto this and figure out what it holds later, unless somebody else wants to try.

Sirius takes the wand in his hand for a minute and replies.
"Wand of prayer. 5 charges. You can use it or I.

Ah, thank you! If you don't mind, I think I could employ it with ease.

no UMD check for Arin

Lets go forward, so. Should we send a scout ahead?