GM Roll4initiative's Master of the Fallen Fortress (Inactive)

Game Master roll4initiative

You're all in no rush. Just "Take 20" to search everything. No rolls needed.

Even better! :D

Taking the time to search throughout the chamber, the group finds that the altars still contain their silver altar services, worth 100 gp altogether, as well as two silver holy symbols of Nethys. In addition, a divine scroll rests atop each altar: a scroll of shatter on the black altar, and a scroll of shield other on the white altar.

Checking the walls, Rahu finds a secret stone door in the southern portion of the room that leads to the partially destroyed east wing.

Before falling in line behind Dorgan, Rahu hands his wand of Cure Light Wounds to Walks with Giants. "Just a tap, if you would, dear sir."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"If anyone else could use additional healing, feel free to use my wand," he says before returning it to his pocket.

"Well, I don't know if it would be wise to rob the alters. I figure we should just leave it all there, don't you?" He says this to nobody in particular.

"Don't forget the wand I requisitioned. It can pack a punch when I can't weave fire to close wounds, you are welcome to hold on to it." Rokhan says reminding the others of his.

Plenty of charges on my CLW wand as well, you are free to borrow/use on all of us for the scenario. We split the used charges between ours at the end if we want, as if he switches wands each time lol.

Rokhan shows interest in the altars as well. "You may be right but something tells me the gods have forgotten of this place from the looks of it. Spoils." the orc says as he examines the scrolls closer.

Just a tap, eh? Oh...you mean with the healing twig...my mistake...[b] Dorgan says as he cracks his knuckles and laughs.

[b]I'm not exactly on for stepping on the gods' toes...but it might not hurt to snag those...on the off chance they'll be of some use down the road...not that I can cast spells...

WwG gives the others a dubious and look and steps back superstitiously as they begin to meddle in holy things.

"I'll just observe from out here," he states for the safety of the central room.

The group debates about taking the scrolls, but, WwG is concerned that it would be stealing from Nethys. The scrolls look like they've been here for quite some time. Suddenly, soothing harp music plays softly in the background and the scrolls on each altar emit a shimmering silvery light. A feminine, heavenly voice speaks from above.
"Take these scrolls, heroes, to aid you on your quest. The Master of the Fallen Fortress must be destroyed."
The lullaby-like music and shimmering light on the scrolls fades away.

"One could not ask for a clearer sign that we may safely take the scrolls," Rahu says. "More concerning to me is this mention of a 'Master of the Fallen Fortress'. Surely anything that was living when this fortress was sealed has passed on by now"

At first startled by the sounds, Walks is quickly reassured and enters the room with a broad smile on his face.

"Indeed, Raho, Indeed. Though after that I am even more reluctant to loot the holy items, even if they are silver. heck, even if they were platinum, thought that would be pretty tempting. "

Halle hears the others, silently, and ponders. Finally, though, she moves towards the pillars and other items she previously examined, and attempts to take the scrolls.

Halle takes the scrolls from each altar. She glances around nervously after taking each one. She doesn't feel any deathly chills or the taint of evil -quite the opposite, in fact. Just a very calm and pleasant feeling.

Two doors await. One leading back into the stairwell and the secret door leading to the crumbling eastern wing.

Where to next, team?

Upon discovering the hidden door to the eastern wing, Rahu notifies the others. "After you, Dorgan."

Gee...thanks...I'll take the arrow to the knee for the team I guess... he says with laugh as he opens the previously hidden door

Walks lines up with a scroll of color spray in hand.

I placed everyone on the floor section of the 3rd level East wing according to Marching Order. Feel free to change positions if you wish.

After searching the temple of Nethys thoroughly and a bit of rest (and Rahu's torch fizzling out), the group decides to move on. They decide to head out the stone secret door...

You enter the remains of what was once a large chamber that is now mostly open to the sky, although much of the northern portion still has a ceiling. You squint your eyes as the wind gusting around the tower blows sand and grit all about. A narrow five foot section of the floor hugs the wall that leads into the northern wing. From the landing you're on and peering over the edge, the floor of the second level can be seen fifteen feet below. Below that, it's another fifteen foot drop to the ground level of the tower. Walks with Giants pulls a scroll from his pack.

Does Dorgan, the front-liner, move across the narrow section of stone floor into the northern wing? Or does anyone speak up about taking other actions?

Seeing the narrow ledge, Rahu volunteers to take the lead and investigate. "I'm a nimble-footed fellow. Let me see if the rest of us will need to bother traversing this collapsed section that may not even support us all."

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"Before you go, attach a rope to yourself in case it collapses. The fall might not be too bad, but falling with a bunch of heavy stones would be."

Before he sets off, Walks ties him off with a length of rope and secures it.

Halle helps Walks with the rope, and then observes as Rahu tries to traverse the collapsed section.

Just a "ping" type of post to keep us moving and put Halle in the scene :)

Glad to see someone has some common sense in them... Dorgan says with a nod as they work on the rope. He then moves across after looking around.

percption, +2 if stone: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

on phone right now..can someone move me...pls and ty!

Rahu chooses to take the lead to pass over the precarious portion of the floor leading into the north wing. With a rope secured around him by Walks and Halle, he gets across the narrow ledge easily. It seems to be quite sturdy and wide enough to not pose much of a problem. Entering the chamber, Rahu hears squishing and crunching of strange stuff under his feet.

A living, moving fabric seems to cover the ceiling of this half-collapsed chamber, which stretches northwest into darkness. The pungent smell of ammonia rises from the droppings that litter the floor.

Disturbed by the interloper, hundreds of high-pitched squeaks of bats fill the air. While many scatter in flight to the outside, others swoop down in a great swarm to attack.

Bold may act! Room is dim light (20% miss chance):
WwG
Rahu
Rokhan/Cal
Bats
Halle
Dorgan

Walks moves up on the bats and lets loose with the color spray from his scroll, hoping it works on the over excited things before they descend on him.

WwG unleashes a spray of scintillating colors at the swarm of bats.
Will DC 11: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

A hundred bats drop to the ground, their stunned bodies twitching and wings flapping uncontrollably.
falling dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5
stunned: 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds.

Rahu & Rokhan are up.

Rahu steps away from the ledge, takes out his rope dart and swings it through the mass of bats.

Attack (rope dart): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Nice one, WwG! I had to look up the rules & some threads for color spray on a swarm of animals. I'm just going to call the combat over. That color spray knocked the bat swarm out!

Rahu hustles in and flings his rope dart. It knocks a couple of the bats lifeless, but not enough to disperse or even harm the swarm much.

A large colony of bats lie twitching on the ground after WwG uses the scroll of color spray. The group moves in and makes instant bat blood soup of the creatures as they stomp (and possibly burn with torches) the itty-bitty things to death. Afterwards, everyone takes some time to search the guano filled chamber. Dorgan finds a small glass vial covered in guano containing a very familiar clear blue liquid. Wiping it off and popping the cork, he takes a whiff of the contents. It smells like peppermint.
"Ah! A potion of cure light wounds!” he exclaims.

It appears the next place to go would be up the spiral steps to the 4th level. Or, since Rahu still has a rope tied around his waist, the group could attempt to climb the partially intact eastern section to the 4th level above as well.

Yea, I thought about it since swarms have special rules. Since it was an area affect and bats are not immune to mind affecting spells, they were screwed if they failed the ST. Didn't even have to cover the entire swarm with the spell - always thought that an odd mechanic. And had they been insects it would have not worked. Still, got lucky that they failed the save for a pathetic scroll DC.

"So how do you feel about sneaking up on the rope? The stairs are probably more stable though."

I vote for the stairs.

"Ah, an interesting way to deal with those pests. Saved me from having to incinerate them...the stairs seems preferable. But I can send Calderon up to see what is waiting for us." Rokhan says looking at his familiar.

WwG and Rokhan opt for taking the stairs up. Before leaving the outer landing, Rokhan sends his familiar up for a quick look. Calderon returns, and reports in Ignan, that there is only one door above, on the right. An angled wall blocks the southern half of the partially intact landing.

Could Calderon check the eastern section too? - says Halle, pointing towards the rope - I also prefer the stairs, but would be nice to have an idea of the other option, and since it can fly...

Calderon did check the eastern section above. See slide 5, map on left.

You do remember not seeing any other openings or windows on the other sides of the tower when first arriving.

Well, I'm not exactly part spider...so stairs are preferred for me...

"My vote is for the stealthier option, up the side." He takes a silent piton out of his pack and holds it aloft. "I even have the appropriate tool for such an occasion."

Colour me impressed...[ dorgan says as he looks at the piton.

Well, if you climb up first, send the rope back down to me...i'll climb up unarmoured...then they can send it up and I'll pull the others up...

Rahu pounds a piton into a crack in the wall at eye level and begins the climb up to the landing above, placing another piton 5 feet above the first. He uses the silent piton at the top, realizing he's somewhat close to a door.

@Rahu: I need 3 successful DC 15 climb checks. With the pitons in, a rope to climb up, and plenty of time and assistance, I'm going to hand-wave everyone else's climb checks. ;)

"Thank you Flamecaller." he says with a bow before relaying the information.

---

"Even if you do not understand his words, Calderon will steady your hand" Rokhan says nodding to his newly returned companion.

Calderon lands on the shoulder of his master before relaying the information. If a dinosaur could show an expression of displeasure, this must be it as his scales scrunch up around his eyes and beak.

At his master's behest, the creature hovers near Rahu as he climbs.

Will provide Guidance (At-Will) for his climb checks, +1.

Rahu hammers in the first piton, takes a swig of water from his canteen, and proceeds to climb.
Climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Easily hoisting himself up on the piton, he hammers in another and proceeds to lift himself up . . .
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
. . .but falls back down to the ground. He stands back up, and embarrassed smile on his face, and tries to climb back up . . .
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
And climbs up both pitons, and hammers in the silent one at the top. Thinking he finally has some leverage, he lifts himself up . . .
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
. . . only to fall to the ground again.
Falling Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
He sits on the ground for a bit, dazing up at the sky. Then he gets up, brushes himself off . . .
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
. . . and searches vainly for a grip for a few moments . . .
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Before easily finding the footholds he needs and ascending quickly to the top.

"There, that wasn't so hard," he says as he lowers the rope for the others, panting through dust and perspiration.

Edited to include bonus from Guidance.

Walks murmurs to nobody in particular. "I'm starting to think we should have taken the stairs. Or, and this is just a thought, I could have taken off my scale mail and cast that Monkey Fish spell I had prepared. Still... It is nice to see someone so whole-heartedly committed to a plan."

If, on the other hand, Raho actually takes damage from a fall he will interrupt and say something entirely different.

This was painful to watch... - Halle whispers sideways to Walks, immediately following with a fake smile towards Rahu, and giving him a thumbs up.

Well....that was fun... Dorgan says as he stubs out his cigar. He takes a swig of water before fishing out another and lighting it up. He takes up a long puff to make sure it it lit properly before moving to the doors.

on phone right now..can someone move me pleas and ty!

I placed everyone on slide 5, eastern platform of level 4.

After some difficulty and a couple minor falls, Rahu makes it up to the fourth level. He drops down the rope and attaches hus end to the top piton. The group climbs up slowly and carefully taking their time.

The landing is separated by an angled stone wall to the south. The floor of the 5th floor hangs overhead, completely intact. Only a single door is here, allowing entry to the northern wing.

Any final preparations you want to make before Dorgan kicks open the door?

Walks readies another scroll of color spray.

Before proceeding, Rahu gives his wand to Walks with Giants again and asks him to perform another healing tap.
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

He them lights another torch and readies his sai.

Does anyone want to share the shield other scroll? Halle will also ready the shatter just in case.

Walks does not mind being a battery.

"I can use the shield other scroll to help keep someone going."

Let me know if you are using the shield other scroll. Also waiting for a little post on what Rokhan is doing.

"Let us see it be done." Rokan whispers, not having any specific precautions to make.

"I am not as hardy as Dorgan or Halle, so it may be to the benefit of all of us to cast the spell on me."

Does Walks with Giants need to make a UMD check to use Shield Other?