Heroes of Cadranite (Inactive)

Game Master Fallen_Mage

More stabbings. Here is hoping I don't critically fail.
Attack #2: 1d20 + 5 - 6 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 6 = 4Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Attack #3: 1d20 + 5 - 10 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 10 = -2Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
About as well as I expected it'd be.

Between Alric's stab to the chest and Zaranna's well placed blow to its head, the rat-thing crumpled to the floor.

Zaranna is stunned that it worked, and worried that someone else will come. She puts the rock down and searches the body of the rat-man quickly, hoping to find keys to help free the rest of the kids.

If no one else is coming immediately, then she will drag the body back to one of the cells as well, but not sure if we have time or not.

Zaranna pulls some stuff from the rat-man's pockets, including keys, and takes his club.

She leaves the big rock by the door in case someone else wants to use it as an improvised club, and takes the keys to start helping Shadei free the others. She first unlocks the cell that the other Aasimar is in.

She continues to unlock cells unless she is interrupted, and will also check the empty cell if we have time.

Zaranna is able to get all of the cells unlocked without interruption.

The rat creature was defeated! It was a triumphant, but disturbing moment. Fel watched the whole thing from her cell. Then her fellow Aasimar rushed to open the lock. Fel practically leapt through the open space. She looked up at Zaranna with heartfelt gratitude.

"T-Thank you. Now I can help too. I promise I'll protect you, just as you protected me."

Then she'd wait for Kaiya to also be freed. Her second best friend no doubt needed support.

Samantha goes and hugs her older brother, Oak, once they are free.'She checks to make sure he is physically okay. She also feels badly for that rat-person so after making sure Oak is okay, she will try to keep the rat man from dying.

Samantha starts to shake when she realized that the rat man is dead. Anyone who captured teenagers was probably a bad guy. But Indara had not smote him.

What does it mean? Did we murder someone?

The blade sinks in deeply within the rat's chest, the creature's look of surprise fading away as it goes slump upon the ground. His heart hammers inside of his chest hard and fast, his eyes wide as he stares down at the unmoving figure. This was nothing like hunting, not even being in the midst of predators had left him so shaken. His thoughts lasted on the rat-creature for only a moment more before he knelt down and flipped over his younger brother, checking him over carefully before patting him upon the face.

"Wake up Kristoff. Wake up!"

There came several groans from the younger sibling as he started to come to. Though not having noticed it a moment before, Alric was now hit with the realization that something was off. Kristoff seemed......diminished somehow. And as he checked him over that's when he saw it a purple mark upon his brother's right wrist.

Cardren hugs his cousin as soon as their cages are open. His face is a mix of relief and fear as he looks at the rat-man and listens to the others.

”Who is the Piper?” Cardren asks. ”Do people escape from him? Is this a Swampwood...horror? Are we in Swampwood?” He swallows and looks at the door exiting the room. ”I can sneak pretty well and my parents say I’m good at helping my brothers and sisters. So if anybody needs help, I can aid you.”

Seeing the purple mark on the boy’s wrist, Cardren examines his arms and legs looking for any strange marks. If he doesn’t find any he’ll check Chet and anyone else.

Since everyone is free and they have done what they can in here, Zaranna takes her confiscated club and warily peeks through the main door of the prison's room to see if she can find them either a clear path to safety, or at least discover what the next obstacle is.

If she stops to think about it, she knows that the fear might take over, so instead she just keeps moving, trying only to think of the next thing they need to do.

The look of concern on Alric's face was evident as he examined his brother, studying him for any wounds. There was something...strange about him. It was an odd sensation, a sense of wrongness upon him that wasn't there when he last saw him. It was then that his eyes dropped over the purple mark upon his wrist and he felt his chest tighten. He had heard the music, ended up in a cage with no memory of how he got there, but that didn't mean it was all true. Not until he saw his little brother bearing the mark of the Piper. A chill went down his spine as he looked towards Cardren.

"The Piper is a story, at least a horror story. Some say that he's real, some say that he's not. If they're even a he and not an it." Slowly, he would hoist Kristoff up onto his back and carry him piggyback style, the light boy not so heavy as to really burden the strong boy. "Those that are taken by him sometimes return. They bear a strange mark on them, something akin to the one my brother has. We need to get out of here." He was nearly a man and with so many of the others being younger than him, he had to keep calm and not show any fear. It was up to the bigger kids to find them all a way out of here.

Seeing Zaranna making her way to the door, Alric quietly made his way beside her and peered through the door with her. His eyes were not as sharp in the dark as Zaranna's were but his time in the woods had helped make sure that he could focus on his other senses; smell and hearing. He gives her a smile as they peek through, his voice a whisper. "Not bad with the rock there. We got to keep everyone calm and we'll get out of this fine, alright?" The reassurance was as much for her as it was for himself.

With the ratman down Elyana quickly calmed down. It seemed her semi ruse had worked and they had dealt with the intruder. Whether there were others or not was now the real question. The problem was that Kristoff wouldn't wake up. Elyana approached softly and when she reached Alric she said, "Let me take a look Alric."

The first thing Elyana did was check Kristoff over for injuries or that seemed out of place besides the purple mark. Once she had determined his physical wellness she began to speak in elven and cast a spell. When the magic was complete it sent out a pulse in front of her that bounced back from any magic it encountered. It wouldn't tell her what the magic was, just what was there.

So first off a Medicine check, probably should have made that a trained skill but too late for now, don't know if you want me to roll it or to do it in secret. Second will be to cast detect magic I know it doesn't let me identify the magic, just looking to see if Kristoff has magic on him right now. Not sure if I can try to ID the magic through other skills or not without Read Aura.

As they look beyond the door, Zaranna smiles the best she can at Alric, responding to him by whispering

Right.

and hoping that was the truth.

Looking around at all the freed children, the Elf made an assessment. "I don't think all of us can make it out of here at once. It would be better if perhaps half of us stayed here while the other scouts for a way out."

What did we see out the door?

Responding to Shadei Zaranna says

Without knowing the situation, I don't think we can just divide the group like that. I agree that it would be better to know what is out there, but if we're scouting, we should only send a couple of people at most to go out and come back, but if we're escaping... everyone should go. We can't leave people behind. If we're caught, then we scatter and hopefully someone makes it out, but we can't choose to leave people here.

"I'm not suggesting we leave this place without them. I'm suggesting that half of us find the way out of here, then come back and get the rest. Six people will have an easier time sneaking around than twelve."

Tomlin stepped forward and picked up the rock Zaranna used earlier, "I can protect those that stay behind. There's only one way in here, it's easy enough to defend."

Elyana looked up from Kristoff and said, "Physically he seems alright but his spiritual energy seems drained for some reason." She looked up at Alric, "Fortunately I think he'll recover given time."

As the discussion turned to leaving part of the group behind Elyana wasn't sure about that. It would be hard to protect everyone but she thought it was almost as dangerous as leaving them behind. "Maybe we should scout a short distance ahead and once we are sure nothing is behind us have them move up. I don't think we want to leave them all here and have to come all the way back for them. Who knows how far we will have to travel."

"We'll help scout! I can see in total darkness!"

Fel immediately volunteered. She was anxious to contribute. She waved an arm above her head, in order to draw the eyes of taller folk.

"Now that sounds like a good plan uh.....Elyana. Is everyone okay with that?"

Shadei turned to Fel and Kai then smiled, "You stay next to me little ones."

Moving to the door the Elf asked, "Alright, who is scouting with me?"

Kaiya's face blanched, "Oh Fel wasn't talking about her and me, she was talking about her and Vei."

Shadei looked at the other gnome with a look of slight confusion.

Since Shadei seems determined in her plan to scout with half the group, Zaranna stays behind to help the others, planning to watch for a signal or move forward with the other group as best they can.

Fel pointed at an empty piece of air.

"This is Vei. She's an Angel. I know you probably can't see her. But I promise that she's there."

The words had a weary tone. She'd given this explanation many times before. It almost never ended well. Kaiya was the only person who'd ever believed it. But Fel refused to pretend that Vei didn't exist. Angels had feelings too.

That's really cool that you can see angels.

Elyana heard what Fel was saying and looked to the spot where she pointed. Of course Elyana didn't see anything there but she gave a polite nod and smile then held her hand out in the rough area where Vei was said to be. "It is an honor to meet you holy one. I am Elyana and I am pleased to know an angel is watching over us, even if it is only because you are watching over Fel."

Elyana had no doubt that Fel was truly seeing an angel. Elyana had been introduced to enough nature spirits, and she knew of some kinds of planar beings, so it wasn't a surprise that there would be one nearby that she couldn't see. Even if there wasn't it didn't hurt to be polite anyway because she believed that Fel believed there was one there.

Cardren looks at Alric intently as he recounts the Piper’s legend. By the end his attention is fully on the mark on Kristoff’s wrist. ”Those who survive have that mark? And nobody knows why we were taken? Do you think a person who survived could find this place and help us get out?”

He keeps checking the door, as if expecting it to open. When the angel is mentioned, he looks in the apparently empty air. Why didn’t she stop you from getting taken? he thinks. ”Vei sounds like a good name. Strong. Does she serve one god?”

”I don’t see in the dark,” Cardren says. ”But I’m good at sneaking so I could go if somebody lead me.”

Samantha is shocked that the other kids were talking so casually about spirits and gods. From what Old Mother Dimas had taught her these were no casual matters.

She clutches tightly to her older brother's hand and she follows the larger folk.

Vei received a better reception than usual. Perhaps the other kids were more open-minded. Or maybe they were just humouring Fel. Either way, it was a step up. She responded to each query in turn.

"Vei won't tell me which god she serves. Something about it being 'part of the trial'. And Elyana, Vei says..."

She paused to listen. When she next spoke, it sounded like someone taking dictation. The words clearly weren't her own.

"'I am likewise pleased to make your acquaintance. Sadly, 'watching over' Fel is all I can manage. Once the link between us grows strong enough, I will be able to manifest physically. Until then, I rely greatly on kind souls like yourself.'"

The Elf startled a little with Fel's voice changed. Feeling a little uncomfortable, she took a step through the doorway then turned and asked, "Whoever is scouting, fall in behind me."

Alric was reluctant to put his brother down, not out of a sense of mistrust but out of a protectiveness that was borderline too stubborn. He finally relented though, setting him down carefully away from where the dying rat creature laid and letting her evaluate him. When she cast her spell, his eyes widened at the pulse of power that emanated from the young elven girl. When she gave him her diagnosis, the look of concern was evident on the young man's face even though he tried to hide it. He stifled the fearfulness in his voice, calming himself and giving a nod of thanks.

"I appreciate it Elyana. I really do." His eyes couldn't stop staring at that mark though. The discussion to split up the group or travel as one whole pack was being discussed and when Shadei asked who would join her, he would lift his hand. "I know how to be quiet. I can't see in the dark like you or some of the others here but I'm used to being quiet." He would turn to Zaranna, wiping off the crimson stain on the sharp rock before offering it out to her. "Would you mind if I took the club? It looks a little more balanced than this blade and...well...I want every advantage I can get."

The conversation about the supposed angel in their midst didn't bother him at all. Gnomes were known for being a little strange and plenty of children had make-believe friends. He would bring his unconscious brother over to Tomlin and gave the boy a serious look as he placed him down gently. "Keep my brother safe, alright?" It was hard to leave him behind but to move quietly, he couldn't afford to have that weight on his shoulders either.

"I don't know...someone could? Most stories say that those who get out remember nothing about it. The mark and the music are the only things that are really remembered." He would pat Caldren gently on the back, mustering up another smile as he nodded. "There are a bunch of us here and I am certain that we can get out. We just have to be brave. Come on." With that last statement, he would follow Shadei down the dark corridor and out of the room, with either the club or the makeshift dagger drawn.

The next door was opened carefully, quietly, and within it was a lantern that illuminated the space within. Carefully, Alric moved in and looked from one place to another, seeing if there were any dangers hiding in the room. Strange tools and glassware adorned the table and at the end of it laid a large chest with a complicated looking look upon it. He quietly moved to the other side and listened at the door, hoping to hear if there was anything waiting for them on the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Zaranna stares at Alric, wondering why he thinks that a club would be more useful to him than to her, as though they wouldn't need to defend themselves as well... but instead of arguing, she just turned it over, the image of the crushed rat-man's head fresh in her mind, and not wanting to think about killing anyone else.

She walked over and picked up her makeshift rock-club instead.

Just FYI, leather-bound club with non-lethal trait.

She then starts gathering up the rest of the group so they are ready to follow the scouts when they get the all-clear... or else run for it if the scouts run into trouble. She wasn't going to leave anyone behind.

Cardren nods to Alric as he pats him on the back. ”So they wouldn’t remember,” he mutters. “Yeah, okay,” he adds in a louder voice. ”We’ll get out of here. Just got to be brave.”

Looking his cousin in the eye, Cardren steps close to his cousin. He whispers something to Chet then they both punch their fists in their open palm three times and reveal a finger or two. ”I win,” he says. ”You stay here until we come back.” His mouth opens for a moment then he closes it. He smiles and gives his cousin a fierce hug. ”We’re escaping. Don't doubt it.

”Faluun guide and protect us,” he says quietly as he begins following Shadei and Alric.

As Alric listens at the door, Cardren runs one wand back and forth along the wall, feeling the surface with the tips of his fingers, using the sensation to stay focused and quiet.

Fel padded along behind the larger children. She kept careful watch for anything suspicious. The circular room definitely counted as such. Her eyes lingered on the central chair. Had the Piper planned to strap each kid into that thing? Fel couldn't fathom why anyone would do this.

Not seeing any threats in the room, Shadei headed back to the detention cells, "The next room is clear."

Turning to Zaranna she asked, "Can I have those keys?"

Alright everyone, time to move to the next room. As quietly as you can.

She gathered up the rest of the group and they moved up to where the other group had already scouted.

When Shadei asks for the keys Zaranna says

Why? Have you found the way out yet, or something else to unlock?

When she saw the chest in the next room, she went over and tried to unlock it.

I've got this... go further. We need to get out of here.

Zaranna asks if anyone wants the dagger to use while scouting, shows everything to the group in case they want to examine something (she warns them that unidentified potions are dangerous to drink), then tries to read the papers.

Also, for the benefit of the party here is the loot so far... not sure we can identify anything without real skills, and we are also probably in a rush to get out of here, but that said here it is if you want to try to use something:

@Everyone: For the vials and papers, if anyone trained in Crafting or wish to try and Identify with a different skill, please let me know so I can roll Secret checks to do so.

How do the vials work if we don't have a Class DC yet?

In this case it would be 10 + ability mod of the class you plan to take or Dex Mod if you do not know which class.