He whispers to those at his back, "I hear voices, anyone else want to take a listen or should we charge into the room?"
I believe most of the rest wishes to rest. She whipsers.
It is perhaps more prudent if we fully assemble before charging into this room. She adds.
”He is a madman, Bhashir thought as Aukan moved forward. He reluctantly followed spear in hand, Hopefully, Varvara can tal some sense into the unstoppable giant.
He nods agreeing with her words though a bit upset. He thought, at the use of potions if we were just going to rest.
Aukan follows Vivi and Bhashir back to the rest of the group. He lets them know, "The stairs lead down to a maze of some sort. I think those stairs," pointing to the center of the hall, "Goes to a nearby room that is vacant. Blog, do you know where the staircases go in the next room where the Hyenadons were?"
---
He states, "Let's move back to the tunnels that we came from. I can move some of the larger boulders back into place and we can set a guard of slave, capable previous slave, and someone from Kelmarane." He continues moving in that direction ready to put this day behind him.
---
He offers to watch for the first two shifts. Adding, "How about you and Vivi join me watch," pointing at one of the commoner slaves, "Then we can try to sleep." He pulls out extra bedrolls and blankets for those who don't have any but it is not enough to help everyone. Though two could easily sleep in his bedroll if they wanted.
The goblin nods his head, "Down to the throne of the Carrion King. Up to the top of the House of the Beast. They all heard the ruckus we made. Good screams of gnoll death. If we want rest we should go north, perhaps kill that ogre."
---
"I sleep first and once I wake I can watch! Oh Mother thank you for this wonderful..." He is obviously mad/crazy, though he seems neutral to the group. He does say many things in goblin:
aloud in Goblin.
The group gets back to the rest of the freed slaves and Soraya. Thorgar had returned to make sure they were safe, at least that is what he says. Aukan and the strong party members can easily move the large boulders into place to mostly block the opening.
The slaves have been trying to rest but to no avail. With the additional proximity of the group they all relax more.
The first two shifts is 4 hours. Who will take the second two shifts? Who will take the last, most likely the casters? Who needs a full eight hours of sleep to prepare spells: Blobog, Victrix, Liam? I am not sure and asking.
Vivi is a caster, and would prefer first or last shift.
Eh, my family history? Buckle up its going to be a bit of a ride... As she settles in, keeping watch while talking.
Before Baba Yaga showed up, my family were "duke equivalent" on old Irrisen. Degrees of prophetic power were pretty widespread, we mostly worshipped the Lord in Iron and the Savored Sting. Well, then Baba Yaga came and my ancestors opted to fight rather then yield. Short version, they got scried and fried because Baba Yaga doesnt play fair ever. The more realistically minded member of my family fought on as Guerillias, after figuring out how not to get scryed and then fried, actually scyred and then frosted, by Baba Yaga.
Then two things occured to them, first, they were pretty drat good at fighting, second, to actually mess with Baba Yaga, they needed something powerful behind them.
As in Demon Lord or Arch Devil powerful. So, half of the Vladimirovichi became mercenaries for Cheliax, some of the other half actually did mercenary work in Alyushinnara, which was highly rewarding but insanely risky. It did kind of work in that hell and the abyss are more in a "bidding war" over us, and I can say with great confidence that our Shadowrunners, thats the Abyssal branch, know how to party.
I am of the more numerous but less individually powerful Chelish branch, but there is actually a fair bit of switching back and forth.
Vivi Chuckles as if remembering an excellent lark as she speaks of switching.
As to what happened, my understanding is limited but well Aukan, you nearly died, and a Valkyrie showed up to collect you. For whatever reason, it manifested in my brain instead, we had a chat and well, she made me a really good offer, if I were to prove my worth, so I charged and then, you saw the rest. Come to think of it, my family was worshipping Gorum before Baba Yaga ran us out of Irrisen, the Valkyrie may have been one of my ancestors, so to speak.
Sassara will volunteer for second shift. She can handle an interrupted rest.
Vivi looks at Varvara thinking a bit.
You do not wish to make decisions without orders? And I get to order you? Well: She pauses, thinking a bit more.
I give you the following order: Use and improve your abilities and strengths in any way you see fit, with the provisio that you act towards your allies as you wish for your allies to act towards yourself.
Make independent use of any resource you acquire or find.
And if you have questions, ask them.
Yes Sister Vivis copilot speaks in Vivis mind
Help this one find her strength, her erstwhile master may soon discover that discarded and broken blades can be reforged.
Interesting, am I a broken blade to you as well Vivi replies.
No, you are more like a flail, unpredictable, flexible and violent, just as I like it.
Bhashir offered, ”I can take any watch.”
In the second hour of the first watch, Vivi and Aukan are likely still talking near the piled boulders. All three of you stop talking as you hear it, the growling, the slow movement of something large coming closer.
The boulders budge and roll as the Unchosen tries to get through.
The slave backs off and whispers, "Should I get others to help?"
He raises his blade in anticipation, .
+2 vs. gnolls
He whispers back, "No, it is only one of them."
We dont know its just one! Snarl-whispers Vivi at the slave as she enters battle positions beside Aukan.
Vivi enlarges herself and gets ready to lunge.
She cannot ready an attack, but can do considerable damage with attacks of opportunity.
Crit?
The large gnoll does come through. Aukan misses and Vivi only gets one AoO. With Vivi's cut the creature backs off as its claw hangs limply to the side. It roars at you and retreats.
You could climb over the boulders to follow it.
I am currently big. If I get stuck, the other big guy cant get through and I become easy pickings for possibly a bunch of archer behind that. Lets not turn our chokepoint advnatadge into a trap.[i] Thinks Vivi.
[i]I agree Sister, it is unwise to strike without gathering once strength. says her copilot.
Let me try something
Bravely bold Sir Gnollface,
ran forth from escaped Slaves,
he was not afraid to die
oh brave Sir Gnollface
He was not at all afraid
to be smeshed into a pulp
or to have his eyes gouged out
and his kneecaps broken
to have its arms ripped off
and rammed up its arse
brave brave brave brave
Sir Gnollface
+4 if the Gnoll isnt large itself because Vivi currently is.
Alternatively it could be ruled as diplomacy to piss it off more.
This would be her standard, her move would be to stay in formation with Aukan so probably stay in place.
He whispers to Vivi with glee and an impressed look on his face, "Nice hit! Yeah let's stay here and hit them should it or a friend of its returns." He then raises his blade readying another attack.
After a minute of rounds he brings the sword down and asks, "Shall we move the boulders back into place?" Getting her acknowledgement he begins moving the boulders back into place with her ready should something appear.
---
As the next group comes to relieve them he offers up, "Be wary Vivi dealt with a large gnoll, it might not have one of its claws anymore. So stay sharp!"
---
The creature does not return. The boulders are set back into place and soon you are releaved from your duties.
Luckily no other threats wander to the chokepoint the rest of the night.
Next morning what do you do?
I am on top big boy, oh, I neither demand nor expect nor offer exclusivity.
You hear muffled Happy Aukan Noises out of his tent.
Lets keep everything else PG-13.
Satisfied She grins at him?
I will not share your bed for the night though, there is the size and weight difference, the tactical impracticalities of being in one bed in an ambush-combat situation, and some shadowrunners played on hell of a bed-mimic-involving prank on me once, well, actually on one of them but I just happened to be in the same bed because reasons.
Vivi leaves his tent half an hour later, looking quite smug and satisfied, before she gets into another bedroll she salvaged from somewhere.
"Well thank you for the shared experience. That makes sense. Oh! You will have to give me more details on that in the future." He is positively beaming as he lays back into his bedroll now that she has left. 'What a woman!' He thinks to himself.
The next morning he is up and quietly humming to himself in tune with the little mechanical bird on his shoulder. He begins to collect food from his pack and make breakfast. He offers, his four waterskins and up to two of his 40 wandermeal rations. Knowing the previous slaves likely are malnourished. Four extra mouths to feed beside the group would eat eight. So he has 31 wandermeal rations left and 6 regular rations. He is no cook but he can make sure everyone is fed with something.
Yeah he had 7 bedrolls, so 6 extras! He also has 3 winter blankets.
When Vivi wakes up, likely a bit later than the rest, a red praying mantis is valiently guarding a mess kit with a ration of jerky, nuts, and dried berries.
After breakfast he does his jumping jacks, stretches, crunches, more stretches, pushups, more stretches, high kicks, and a bit of sparing with his large greatsword, of course away from anyone. Likely between the chokepoint and the resting party. Though by now everyone should be up.
He would ask Sassarra, "Would you be willing to fill my waterskins? You never know when we might need it, but with you that won't be a problem. Do you know what those lenses were that you took from the gnoll?" He seems to be genuinely interested.
Then he would try to find the goblin, not finding him he would ask, "Anyone know where the goblin went?"
Sassarra is up early, though at first she shakes her head at how sharp everything looks. After securing the water she uses to protect herself, she'll open each waterskin and hold it for a while. As she passes it down, people will note a distinct lack of leather flavoring.
As she passes out the wandermeal rations, she seems quiet, as do many of the slaves. But this soon turns to wonderment. What had seemed like scant rations were wonderfully filling.
Aukan got a very happy Vivi look, she is still stealthy and does not make happy noises herself. She is also considerate on other peoples need for sleep :)
Seeing the Red Mantis she tenses Achacheckek? What the flying f#+#?
Relax sister, sometimes an unusually colored mantis is just an unusually colored Mantis. Says the voice in her head.
** spoiler omitted **
Then he would try to find the goblin, not finding him he would ask, "Anyone know where the goblin went?"
Bhashir shrugged, ”I have not seen him this morning.”
The red mantis seems to almost stand guard protecting the food.
He would ask Sassarra, "With your water, could you give a shower. I am just thinking it would be nice for many of us."
If the answer is a yes, he does his best to help as needed to setup a shower blind. He could use his tent or large shield. Once everyone has had a shower he dries off himself and collects his equipment. Taking the lead to begin exploring again with stealth, you never know what could be around again...
"Shall we head straight down to the level below or finish clearing this level first?"
Lets smesh everything in this level first, something tried to sneak up to us, and probably lurks around there, wishing it didnt, so lets put it out of its misery.
Earlier with the food:
Vivi attempts to coax the red mantis in moving on one of her shoulders and guard her instead, because why not.
You are a good girl arent you? Pretty brave with a huge giant, from your perspective, in front of you, besides, not only Achach-too-many-click-sounds-kek likes the color red.
True words spoken Sister
Dont assume that rooms we have been through are unoccupied!
The red mantis hops onto Vivi's hand and watches from her shoulder.
As the group leaves your initial tunnel, Aukan goes to the left stealthily down the hall to find the tomb still empty. Backing up he points to the right. Following Vivi or taking the lead again he gets to the end and there is still no sign of any threats. Backing up and going back right, you don't hear anything coming from the South, going by H9, there is still no sign of threats. To H13, H16, and H17 still no signs of any threats.
Once H17 is found clear he eases up a bit and raises his free hand to Vivi. Where the red mantis jumps into it and takes its perch on his free shoulder. He asks, "Should we see what is past that door?" He pulls out one wand, stating, "Omi One Yaga."
He puts the wand away and pulls out another wand, he states, "That was mage armor and now this little knob is bull's strength. Gorum." with a flick of his wrist the spell does nothing.
He states the gods name again, "Gorum" with another flick of his wrist the spell enhances him.
Then he puts the wand away and pulls another wand, "And this one is shield...I will wait for battle to use this one. If you would open the door..."
Sassarra is more than willing to give everybody a shower. And when they are done, the water simply flows off, leaving everybody dry.
As they prepare to fight, she moves to a place in the back where she can cover the people up front.
”No wish to offend but I will decline this shower,” Bhashir said as he bowed to Sassarra. The Investigator keeps his spear out and takes a position towards the front.
Retcon:
Vivi, after putting her newly acquired Mantis lady friend away, accepts a shower stating:
Anyone who makes a Golden Shower joke gets a whack with the Vicious Greatsword. to everyone else with a chuckle.
Thanks Sister, I definitly needed that after my recent "split big gnolls into small gnoll parts" actions! giving her a genuinely fond smile.
Putting her armor back on, and having her newly acquired mantis friend hop back on to her.
Could I have been like her if enslaved long term? She thinks as she watches the slave.
You are prudent sister to recognice fate and circumstance, but the chains of even fate can be broken, and the chains of slavery are far weaker. Only one who is willing to fight for his/her freedom is free, and one who loses his will to fight for it loses his freedom, even if he may not yet know it. By this reasoning, his *slave* is freer then many a freeman living in comfort in Absalom spoke her copilot
True, nothing is yours unless you are willing to protect it with violence. I guess that one thing that Gorum and Nocticula have in common.
A bit more then that, the Lady in Shadows is one of the few Demons worthy of a degree of respect, her kills are impressive in terms of quality, although she cares nothing about honor when she aquires them.
At the door:
Vivi casts enlarge person on herself (active for 3 minutes), does a 15 second count down (enough for 2 rounds of self buff casting if other characters want) and then opens the door, while staying in cover of the door frame.
Sassarra seems confused for just an instant at Bhashir's words. "I'm not offended." The whole concept of being able to be offended is new to her. "Let me know if you change your mind or if you need water for anything."
She seem happy to be helpful and appreciates Vivi's kindness.
Sendi stood beside Vivi, only taking a step back to make space when the woman grew in size. Without any such magical abilities of her own to call upon, she waited for Vivi to open the door and followed her comrade inside.
As Vivi begins to pull on the door but it is stuck. With help or just a great pull the door swings back...
Once you get the door open you see it is covered in sticky webs from the other side. Looking into the room you see a huge spider that is coming to greet you for your intrusion. It rushes forward in Surprise round and bites...
Surprise Round
Initiative:
Aukan
Balan
Sendi
Auso
Bhashir
Vivi
Sassarra
spider
He first puts away the wand and secures his sword to his back then Aukan lends a hand if Vivi struggles with the door. With great strain they are able to pull it free. The sound of ripping can be heard and then we see the room filled with webs and a giant spider coming to kill us.
Once the door is open he does not see the spider until it is coming to their faces.
Round 1
He draws his sword if needed, then takes a five foot step and swings his sword.
OH YESSSS
Confirm?
Probably not
Spiders! for every time she woke up to legs crawling on her she fires a blast at the spider.
She shoots wide in her panic.
Growing increasingly nervous about how depleted his spells are getting, Liam casts Cure Light Wounds on himself before engaging.
Growing increasingly nervous about how depleted his spells are getting.
|
Positioned as far from the door as he is, without his bow at the ready, all Auso can really do in the surprise round is alert everyone else.
"Giant spider inbound! Guard the door! Watch for more!"
But he'll also pull his bow, because despite how little he expects it will contribute, it will be better than trying to cram into the doorway with everyone else.
Bhashir quickly reached into his belt pouch and consumed his mutagen.
Bhashir quickly reached into his belt pouch and consumed his mutagen.
Balan stands quietly beside the door, prepared to strike once the spider closes in.
Sendi took up position on the other side of the door, ready to do the same.
Growing increasingly nervous about how depleted his spells are getting.
Surprise Round
The spider bites at Aukan with its reach opening a massive wound on his shoulder.
plus poison
Round 1
Aukan draws his large greatsword and steps in with a large swing cutting one of the spider's legs.
The spider takes a step back and then misses as it bites once more at Aukan.
plus poison
Biggin’CR 7
XP 3,200
Advanced HD elite monstrous funnel web spider
N Huge Vermin
Init +4 Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., Perception +10
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 13 (+4 Dex, +5 natural, -2 size)
hp 133 (14d8+70)
Fort +14, Ref +8, Will +5
Immune mind-affecting effects
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee Bite +14 (2d6+9+poison)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks poison (injury; save Fort Dc 22, frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Strength damage; cure 1 save); Web (+12 ranged, DC 22, 14 hp)
STATISTICS
Str 23, Dex 19, Con 20, Int -, Wis 12, Cha 2
Base Atk +10; CMB +18; CMD 32 (36 vs. trip)
Feats None
Skills Climb +30, Perception +10, Stealth +10 (+14 in webs); Racial Modifiers +16 Climb, +4 Perception, +4 Stealth, +4 to Stealth in webs
Languages none
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Poison (Ex)
Poison (Ex) Bite – injury; save Fort Dc 22, frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect 1d4 Strength damage; cure 1 save.
Round 1
He swings his sword overhead as the spider hits the wall instead of him. He opens another wound upon its head as the blade connects and makes a satisfying *Thunk*. Black inchor like blood seeps from the wounds.
definitly does not hit.
Vivi is able to hit the retreating spider as well as Aukan.