Might and magic, Lords of the Contested Lands

Game Master Chyrone

The rat is utterly skewered. A rat the size of a small dog.

Serena hears a quick squeak.
"Tha' answers the ski'erring source to be."
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Lone ratty approaches Daniel.
Bite: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16 Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Daniel lifts his foot in time, or the teeth might have sunk into his foot.
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Serena casts guidance on Brunhild.

Brunhild & Rowan
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Bats
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Astella & Estelle

Sorry... how does Alexis cast something on me? I thought that Roderick, Zoltan, and Alexis got locked out/separated from the party... did I misread something?

I edited that out just now. Oversight error on my end. Only Serena is with you.

Hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Crit: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

A deep breath later and the rat’s open maw was filled with a well placed arrow.

2 crits, nice going.

Indeed the 2nd vermin lies pierced on the floor.
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Rowan
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Bats
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Astella & Estelle

Roowan waits to see if anything else comes at them.

The bats fly towards Daniel.
2 bites: 2d20 ⇒ (5, 16) = 21
1 hit for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Astella & Estelle

Assume both bats are in melee with Daniel. Moving tokens on phone isn't working atm

Silently thankful she had such good allies who would no doubt finish this just fine without her, she steps forward to lunge at the bat that wasn't partly behind Daniel!

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

...Sure enough, she misses again.

Though this time, perhaps there was some use if Alexis thought she was incompetent and the other team overlooked her later on...

Astella moves up until she can see a clear shot between Estelle and Daniel and then shoots at Blue.

Sling Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 - 1 = 21
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Additional Crit Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Cyan eats an arrow, barely standing on its legs, after Estelle's swing goes wide.
=================================

Vermin, round 2

Daniel
Brunhild, Serena, Rowan Two can post ahead.
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Bats
(Cyan -4)
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Astella & Estelle

Daniel returns the bats bite with steel.

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

critconfirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Holy...you guys are making up for the crab encounter, aren't you?

What happens to the bat..

Serena casts guidance on Brunhild.
Brunhild, Rowan
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Cyan bat (-4)
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Astella & Estelle

@Chyro I find it somewhat soothing to think Estelle is just subconsciously siphoning her luck to everyone else :)

As long as luck doesn't run out, you'll be fine, then.

Hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

One bat. Two arrows. It would seem that the group was far more adept at fighting underground than in the surf.

Astella looks around.

Where's Alexis?

The 2nd bat drops dead. Combat over.

Serena looks at you with a surprised expression, which turns into a inquisitive grin.

"She -and the lads-, are locked ou', or was there something on your mind for you no' to catch your attention?"

Uh... bats...?

She goes over to see if she can find a way to get to Alexis and the other members of the other party.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

The doorway is as before the solving of the puzzle. All stone.
And, as before, there is a similar panel puzzle.

As for the room you're currently at.

The stairs lead down into a large 30ft by 45ft hall. Old checkered tiles lay around a light grey circular center. Three pillars on both sides support the slightly domed ceiling, some 25ft up.

At the other end, a stairs leads to an elevated floor.
The grey area is 15ft up.

So, we can't get to them by redoing it? I don't understand if this is a challenge or just a plot device to keep the parties separated.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

The amulet's glow is gone, you come to realize.

The amulets no longer glow. You'll need to recharge one to activate the panels again.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Caution. There's a sound from up there." Brunhild said, as she retrieved her arrows. "Could be more bats."

Nodding at Brunhold's warning, Estelle glances back mostly to take note of what Serena was doing behind everyone. If nothing appears off about her, she carefully walks further into the room, trying to be alert for both enemies above and oddities with the floor.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Astella asks everyone with an amulet to come over to the altar/basin, and they again work on combining light and water in the basin with the amulet in the offering bowl, attempting to "recharge" all of them.

If that works, she returns each of them to the people who previously were carrying them, and attempts to use hers to get the rest of Serena's party back with the group... or let Serena rejoin them to go another way, if they preferred that, of course.

Serena was just leaning against the wall, when Estelle looks back a few times.
"Something wrong, lass? You're looking at me like i'm a dire animal abou' ready to jump you lo'. I's jus' me with you five."

She doesn't see anything of particular interest. The floor is done nicely, that's about as interesting as the hall is for Estelle. The few dimly lit braziers are nice.

Astella looks for another shrine on this end and finds one near one of the walls beneath the pillars. A little while later, she opens the door.

The other three are no longer on the other side, however.
Serena shrugs.
"They'll be ou' looking for a differen' way in. Oh well, they'll be fine."

Okay... says Astella, a little worried, but not letting it creep into her voice.

She reloads her sling just in case, then she moves towards the checkered tiles to see if they qualify as "decorative."

These should work as decorative tiles, right guys?

Estelle studies Serena further when she speaks and takes a moment to think how to respond. "...Let's say the setup of this entire competition bothers me. No rules of engagement, the race to be first and no idea of how many items of each kind there are directly incentivize the teams to turn on eachother. And set against the prize of promised lands, titles and presumed riches? Betrayal, if it can be called that, feels inevitable. And while I hope i'm wrong and won't throw the first hit, I'll keep my guard up just the same."

Serena keeps a neutral face as Estelle voices her concerns.
When done, she nods faintly.

"Keeping on guard is good. Stone ci'y would suffer a second Nighon incursion if we wouldn'. I've to say, though, humans seem more bothered by compe'i'ive cooperation than other folk."

She tilt her head slightly,
"Look me in the eyes, lass.", her eyes lock with yours.

"You have nothing to fear from us."
She smirks, then heads into the hall. As she walks by, she taps you on the back.

"Last person to betray us walked ten miles in just his loincloth."

The checkered tiles could classify as decorative, though few are loose to take out. A few tiles are damaged, or broken, as if something solid smashed upon them at some point.

And it's time to go, i'll finish later.

Astella sits down by the tiles and starts working on loosening a few, using her mending cantrip to fix any that are chipped and cracked.

I know Estelle is worried about the competitive nature of all of this, and all of us would like to win... but here's an idea... only one team can win anyway, and if we take some of these tiles back with us, maybe we can sell them to other groups, so even if we don't win, we will still have some money? If we have a supply, that might also cut down on people that would harm others to get them... I know, it is the group's call, but just a thought. If we sell a few even, then maybe we can buy that bow we need for the scavenger hunt, and better equip ourselves?

Astella's middle name is now Sally.

1d3 ⇒ 2 tiles can be pried loose.
Roll a DC 13 str check for a tile. These tiles are still pretty tight, despite time worn state. Not very light either, 35 lbs per tile.

Serena muses the wrecking of the floor, her dwarven nature appreciating underground construction.
"A pity. This place could be repurposed, seems a waste to start removing pieces of the floor."

Daniel quietly watches, but waits.

Brunhild, Rowan, what would you like to do here?

Responding to Serena Astella says

Repurposing this place would be cool, actually, but I don't see a way around it if we need them for the scavenger hunt. Maybe if someone ends up repurposing this place, they can get new ones made, or else recover the ones that people turn in to the scavenger hunt committee, right?

35 pound floor tiles? Holy cats. The people who lived here had to be insane to go to that much trouble. ... Also, are you saying that we can get two total, or can other people try as well? I guess mending is out because of their weight, so it would be an effort to get a whole one.

Strength Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 (pass)
Strength Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 (pass)

At least we recovered the two we came for.

Astella works carefully to extract two of the heavy decorative floor tiles from the pattern on the floor, wrap them carefully in her bedroll, and place them in her pack.

I'm sure someone else will search first while I am busy with the tiles, but here's my perception check for later, after I am done:

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 (pass)

Despite the situation, and herself perhaps, Estelle snorts at the image of the traitor walking through the wilderness in his underwear and a small grin forms on her lips at the dwarven women's bravado. "I'll... keep that in mind. It sounds like an amusing story."

She doesn't comment on Astella's proposal as the bard had correctly assumed her stance on it already, and instead she starts looking through the area further while trying to keep the strange sounds from upstairs in mind.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

She fails to notice anything hidden and settles for taking a position near the stairs, in case something hostile came down.

35 pound floor tiles? Holy cats. The people who lived here had to be insane to go to that much trouble. ... Also, are you saying that we can get two total, or can other people try as well? I guess mending is out because of their weight, so it would be an effort to get a whole one.

Average floor tiles of 1 by 1 feet, by 2 inch weight approx 23 lbs. These tiles are a little bigger. Your backpack better be spacious. ;)

Also, the people who built the place were very devoted.

I'm wasn't trying to contradict you at all, I promise. Most modern tile is less than a foot across and more like a half-inch thick. I was just trying to imagine re-tiling my house with that heavy of tile and thought it might kill me. :) But I am totally on the same page with you that *this* tile is thick and very heavy, and those people were definitely devoted. :)

Heh, no worries, didn't feel like that to me. I base off the above from what a search result gave me for average tiles back over here, and what i'd imagine more majestic tiles to be. Tiles in Cathedrals can be big, no joke.

Daniel offers to carry one of the tiles, if it is too much for Astella.

When near the top of the stairs, the unfamiliar sound becomes better to hear. You also see two bolt of fire coming in rapid succession, one from each side, from corridors to your left and right.

Navigating through (parts of) the path of 1 corridor to the other, reflex save DC 11 to avoid getting hit.

Where would you like to go?

Before we go into the meat grinder, Astella made the perception check for the hidden cupboard... shouldn't we search that?

Ref: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Brunhild just barely avoided getting hit by the bolt of fire that came hurtling towards them. She couldn't see a difference between going left or right. But the right way was going to be the right way to go, right? "We can't stand here and I don't see an enemy. Let's keep moving forward." She called out.

After packing up and looking around, Astella says

Hold on just a sec. There is an old cabinet up here, let's check it out before we get crisped by a fireball.

She reaches out to open the cabinet.

Roll a reflex save then, as you'll cross part of the corridor line.
These bolts fire every time someone stands in that area.

The hinges of the doors of the cabinet are rusted, but not to the point you'd need to force off one for access.
Within, there is a small metal box containing incense candles.

After seeing Astella open the cabinet and Brunhild skillfully dodging an arrow, Estelle runs forward to try and keep up with the archer...

reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Unfortunately, she gets hit. This really hadn't been her day - days? - competition so far.

Firebolt: 1d6 ⇒ 1, the injury Estelle takes is minimal.

Firebolt for Astella's pending reflex: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Astella dodges a firebolt.

Yikes. That seems a little bit dangerous for a temple. Hope they didn't have kids running around in here with firebolt traps.

Appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Astella carefully opens the rusty cabinet and finds candles and assorted coins. She pulls it all out and then gives the candle and donation boxes to Daniel to carry as they continue, since her pack is really stuffed with the big tiles, and he offered to help.

Do you guys realize that we only have one item left to find for the scavenger hunt? We also have to buy the longbow, but we know where that is, and we have the money.

reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Daniel spends most of his time taking in the sights, it wasn't everyday you delved into an ancient temple after all. However the fire caught his attention, and he manages to get across, using his shield to deflect most of the fire as he moves.

3d20 ⇒ (7, 12, 14) = 33
Briersting, Rowan, and Serena, all dodge their respective firebolts, also now standing on the elevated platform.

Yet, to get to the right hand corridor, one would need to dodge more firebolts.

When you get to the safe part of the pathway, make a perception check.

So we don't find anything on the elevated platform itself? Is that the safe part of the hallway or is that after we all roll again to cross the right path?

Nursing the fresh burn wound on her left hand, Estelle grimaces and looks around partly to distract herself in this moment of respite.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Sorry, I'm not clear on what area is safe and what is not, and how often we have to roll reflex saves. I apologize if I missed something obvious.

Astella watches as people are dodging firebolts and pays close attention to where they are coming from to see if there is a place where she might be able to disable the trap.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

The safe area (platform/upper floor) is the dark grey tiles right of the 5ft corridor path.

Astella & Estelle make it past the firebolts again and, now on the other side, see the firebolts come from an opening in the wall.

Astella tries to disable the trap.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Making sure she is not in front of the opening, Astella inspects it.
She notices nothing of a mechanism that can be disabled through conventional means.

The opening is about the width of a longdrink glass, at chest height if one would kneel. About between 1.5 and 2 feet.
My err on forgetting that in the description earlier.

While Astella is wondering if she'd do something about the opening, Estelle hears something from behind a closed door.

3d20 ⇒ (17, 15, 9) = 41
Briersting, Rowand and Serena, who casts resistance and guidance on them all, Brunhild and Daniel included, make it to the safe part.

+2 to next saves.