Batu can't help but smile at Jurin. "We are not here to capture you, sir, we are here to help you. And none of us will be eating you, I can assure you of that, nor will we be doing any type of ritual either. You are free to go," he declares, nodding.
"Wait...I remember you...well, some of you. You're from the town, the do-gooders who were going to look for a cure for the sickness. Are...are you here to rescue us? Did my father send you?"
Kylan moves up to the child.
"Are ye all right lad? If yer hurt, I can help." He said, looking over the boy for injuries.
The boy coughs up more smoke. "Thanks. There were others with me. Did you rescue any of them?"
"We're here," Kimi pipes up, walking over to hold his hand. "Everybody except Hollin, anyway. Kobolds got him during our escape, him and Edgrin's friend. We gotta go find them. You up for it?"
"No, but there's not much choice is there. I'm not leaving without Hollin."
Oryn looks at the boy and wishes he had some more of the sweets he gave to Kimi before he responds "Hi there, my name is Oryn. We came looking for lost children of the orphanage. We will rescue all the children we find here. We met quite of few people in Falcon's Hollow. If you tell us your name, we will bring you back to your father."
"I'm Jurin Kreed. My father owns Falcon's Hollow. You'll get your reward for saving me, but we're not leaving without Hollin. And the orphanage children died years ago. There aren't any here."
"I can heal ye, if'n ye accept the burn." Offered Kylan to everyone.
as well as gives 1 burn and 3 points nonlethal damage.
as well as gives 1 burn and 3 points nonlethal damage.
as well as gives 1 burn and 3 points nonlethal damage.
as well as gives 1 burn and 3 points nonlethal damage.
The healing energy also removes the Sickened condition, if any.
In thought to Marioc's question, Batu looks around at the band of many and sees the weariness in practically all of them, including himself. "I believe if we are able, we should rest. Many of us are wounded and could very well use the rest to heal said wounds."
"If you don't mind Kylan, I could use some additional healing. Thanks in advance."
"If you don't mind Kylan, I could use some additional healing. Thanks in advance."
Kylan moves up to Oryn.
"O' course lad." Said Kylan as he put his hands over him.healed, as well as gives 1 burn and 3 points nonlethal damage. It also removes the Sickened condition, if any.
Any other votes for resting?
Kirin protests that they can’t wait, but any attempt on his own part to head towards that shaft leaves him doubled over coughing and wheezing. He eventually gives in to the logic of it all.
Anybody want to rest inside the barricaded room? Just kidding.
You pass an uneventful night at the mouth of the shaft and wake rested and fully restored (assuming Kylan used healing on everybody before sleeping).
A heavy chain hangs from a crude but solid pulley system and descends 30 feet into the shaft, ending at a large steel cauldron. You could raise the cauldron and use it to descend one at a time, or shimmy down the chain (Climb DC 10) or scale down the shaft wall itself (Climb DC 20).
Of course, somebody has some slippers of spider climbing...
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Waking up refreshed and in a good mood, Marioc comments on the cauldron saying "Well, then, I can fill this with water and Rao can make it boil. We might end up making a good meal with this!" Of course, this doesn't help anyone in climbing down. But since he has no good ideas at the moment, and isn't strong enough to hold the cauldron's chain, he thought that he should lighten the mood.
Kylan peered down the shaft skeptically.
"I always meant to learn how to climb..." He said with a sigh.
Smiling, "Never fear, Master Kylan! We will simply raise the cauldron and do this the safe way! Better safe than sorry I always say!" he says with a laugh. "Okay, okay, that's not really true. But I should say that more often because those are wise words. Anyway, off we go!" Batu then starts using the pulley to bring the cauldron up.
"I can help with that Batu once we need to start lowering people." Oryn adds. "But who will lower the last person?"
"That's right! I'm wearing the slippers!" he says with excitement. "Then I shall go last," he nods emphatically, grinning.
So who is being descended first?
Looking around at the trepidation of the group, Oryn speaks up "I will go first. I would like Kylan to go second, in case something bad is down there, he can mend my wounds. Does that sound good to you Kylan?"
”Might I make a suggestion?” Edgrin asks, then continues without waiting for permission. ”That one of us wear the slippers of spider climb and walk down the shaft wall at the same time somebody is lowered in the cauldron, then send the slippers back up with the cauldron, so that we’re descending in pairs?”
The night of rest let Rao feel better, but he could tell that he was not quite as strong as he had been. At least it was not as much of a hindrance as it had been, and that was reassuring. As the others were discussing which order to descend, he was finishing his ration— some decadent thing of dried and pressed fruit with nuts set into a half trencher of quality grains. The waterskin was in his other hand, and he took a couple of swallows to wash down the remainder.
A yawn was stifled as he came over to look down the hole. He took a deep breath, and let it out slowly before giving a half grin. "I'm slowly getting used to this life of danger and impending death... That can't be healthy."
Laughing softly, he went back to get his things.
Looking over at Rao with a smile, "Do not think of it as 'danger and death' Rao Redflame, think of it as 'excitement and adventure'! A journey to experience that of which you have never experienced! What greater treasure could there be than that?" he tells him, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
”Might I make a suggestion?” Edgrin asks, then continues without waiting for permission. ”That one of us wear the slippers of spider climb and walk down the shaft wall at the same time somebody is lowered in the cauldron, then send the slippers back up with the cauldron, so that we’re descending in pairs?”
"A fine plan indeed! Here," he proceeds to take off the slippers, "one of you take these. I will pair up with whoever is last. Or simply go down by myself. It matters not," he states matter of factly.
Kylan nodded.
"Aye, I'll be second down in the cauldron then." He agreed.
The shaft drops down into a large, mostly square chamber. A doorway opens in one wall, while two other walls have been broken through from the outside. Cramped, narrow tunnels beckon from beyond the breached walls.
Oryn steps out of the cauldron and Batu and others begin to haul it back up. Looking around, what he first assumed to be bumps or bulges in the walls quickly reveal themselves to be strange toad-like creatures clinging to the walls 15 feet off the floor. The toads secrete some sort of ooze and grease and both have a kobold rider.
Surprise Round
Both toads shoot some sort of ooze out of nodules on their backs. One aims for Oryn, the other Edgrin.
Both of you are coated with this ooze, which quickly hardens as it slops over you and the floor. You are entangled, and need to make a Reflex save DC 13 or be stuck to the floor. You can opt to take a full-round action making a DC 15 Strength check to remove the chitinous shell, or just deal with the penalty and get rid of it later.
Although those of you above can see that some sort of goo has just sprayed Oryn, the angle of the ceiling means you can't see what attacked him.
The two kobold riders each fling a javelin at Oryn.
Edgrin flings a javelin back at red rider.
Party is up.
Rules just allow you to negate the first ten feet, so Marioc takes of damage.
Oryn yells out with the covering of the goo "Yuck! What is this stuff? Watch out! There are things down here."
Oryn spends a few seconds and attempts to remove the hardening goo that covers him.
With the vile stuff removed, Oryn begins to find himself a target for an air blast.
Hearing the warning from Oryn, Batu immediately leaps over the side and lands solidly, yet also breaks his ankle but he doesn't let that deter him.
Rao and Kylan left to go.
Kylan will descend in the cauldron, not risking a fall trying to climb down.
The kids rush to grab the chain as Batu and Marioc take the plunge. They haul the cauldron up so that Kylan can climb inside it.
As Batu and Marioc scramble to their (now quite sore) feet, the kobolds give their toad mounts a kick, and they scramble down the walls. Once they hit the floor, the begin to glide on their bellies, crossing in front of Oryn as they target the newcomers with full on body slams. As they glide, they leave a trail of slippery slime.
The toad creatures are attempting to overrun Batu and Marioc. You can choose to let them pass you, or resist, in which case they may succeed in knocking you down or be stopped short. Let me know which option you prefer. The map has been updated assuming you either let them pass or they succeed in knocking you down. The orange rectangles show the area of grease, which may or may not require a Reflex save from you, depending on what you chose to do.
Whichever option you choose, their riders swing their flying talon daggers at you as they pass (or don't). Neither of them hit.
Party is up (though Batu and Marioc need to let me know first what they're doing about the overrun).
Unfortunately, Marioc slips in the greasy residue left by the sliding toad, and ends up prone on the ground. He can try to stand up, needing a DC 15 Acrobatics check, but that’ll take a move action and trigger an AoO, or he can stay prone and deal with the range penalties. He’ll also need a concentration check to fire his beam defensively.
Once they hit the floor, the begin to glide on their bellies, crossing in front of Oryn as they target the newcomers with full on body slams.
Yes it would.
Once on the ground, Master Kylan raised a hand and caused currents of aether to loft an empty wooden box against the Red Kobold.
for a possible kinetic damage.
Oryn will stab at one of the creatures as it slides past.
for
Watching Marioc slip, Oryn will fire a blast of air over the fallen sailor.
for
The road slides by but Batu keeps his footing in the slime.
So this past round was spent raising the cauldron. Kylan will be able to get in this round and disembark next round.
Oryn, between a spear and air blast, takes out one of the road creatures. It falls over, sliding into the wall. It’s kobold rider is still stuck to its back and spends this round detaching itself.
The other toad fires more goo at Oryn, who once again finds himself entangled. Reflex DC 13 or be stuck to the floor.
Its rider takes a swipe at Batu, but misses.
Edgrin begins a song, inspiring everybody to have +1 bonuses on attack and damage. Everybody’s up.