Escher stands aside.
Of course we will help you. Beren nods confidently.
The warforged hands you the key. "good that you see reason," he says.
"All you had to do was ask nicely. "
Lia will shrug and say to the Warforged, "Please, lead the way."
Karsh'e picks up his pack and shoulders his way into the straps.
He looks expectantly at the others, and at the new warforged to lead the way.
The warforged leads you back to the Adamatine door way. "Just put the key in the keyhole and it should unlock," he says. "Just go in there and retrieve the schema and bring it back here."
Lia raises one eyebrow.
"You seem to know much about what lies beyond this door. What should we expect?"
Karsh'e trails the group, watching for followers behind.
The warforged leads you back to the Adamatine door way. "Just put the key in the keyhole and it should unlock," he says. "Just go in there and retrieve the schema and bring it back here."
"Why haven't you done it already yourself?"
"There are things in there that I don't want to deal with alone," says the Warforged. He takes the key and unlocks the Adamantine doors. "There you go."
And yet what is there? About what things you don't want to deal with kha-kha-kha... - Beren shuts his mouth with his hand, restraining a cough, then wipes away tears and continues - ...you say?
Lia does her best to keep a solemn, serious face but can't help but lift one side of her mouth up at Beren's antics as she heads through the door.
"You will see," says the Warforged.
Karsh'e shrugs off his pack and gently lowers it to the ground. "What I'd really like to see is whether you have the courage and skill to face whatever terrifies you beyond the door. Or maybe you're a cowardly bumbler like your master's other servants."
"I'm not cowardly," the Warforged stated.
"Then you must have more information about what defenses are beyond the door. Telling us will increase the chances of success." says Escher.
The Warforged responds, "There is two robotic hounds in that place. Very old and dangerous."
Tell me honestly, you only answered him because he's a warforged too, right? It's kind of out of date. Beren looks at him with a venomous half-smile.
"There is a certain common ground." he says noncommittally. Internally, he realizes the dramatic opportunity of being seen as a potential turncoat or double agent. The audience must not know which side he stands with.
Karsh'e chews on his upper lip, then seems to come to a decision.
"At home evil and good know themselves, and can't hide for long. We know the bad villages to avoid, and renegades can only conceal their real nature for so long. It's all so cloudy here.
"Today I choose to be good. "
He addresses the unknown warforged. "Brave bumbler, then. IF I go through that door first, will you be second behind me?"
Lia's rare smile turns into a frown.
"Shall we go, gentlemen or would you all like to present your sex organs to compare and judge?"
"Only one way for you to find out," says the Warforged.
"I'll go through first." offers Escher. "You get the key and open and I'll move in."
Lia sighs audibly and enters.
You see two mechanical dogs growling. They seem to be taking exception for you being there. Other than that, the place is dark. There seems to be old books around and on the floor.
Beren has absolutely no doubts about what to do with the growling mechanical dogs in the dungeon.
Escher will move forward to engage the dogs. Sadly he doesn't notice the rubble and his swing goes wild.
Karsh'e hangs back to keep a necessary eye on the warforged. Still he feels that this is the critical battle, and his companions need encouragement. The normally quiet half-orc's voice rings out. " 'twas dark in the sewers beneath Sharn, when Escher Warforged, defeated the Dogs of Death. Beren Sharp-eyed stood with him, and the fair elven Lady Lia ...."
He drops his pack.
Inspire Courage (Su) You can use your performance to inspire courage in your allies (including yourself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive your performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. Inspire courage can use audible or visual components. The bard must choose which component to use when starting his performance.
Lia nods at Karsh'e as he begins. She ignores that 'fair lady' thing while taking a shot at a dog. The wounded one unless it is down for good.
Beren has absolutely no doubts about what to do with the growling mechanical dogs in the dungeon.
Repeating Heavy Crossbow (PBS, Precise Shot): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Crit?: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 = 181d10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
It didn't confirm.
One of the mechanical dogs has a quarrel stuck in it.
Escher will move forward to engage the dogs. Sadly he doesn't notice the rubble and his swing goes wild.
longsword attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Escher, you drop your sword.
Karsh'e hangs back to keep a necessary eye on the warforged. Still he feels that this is the critical battle, and his companions need encouragement. The normally quiet half-orc's voice rings out. " 'twas dark in the sewers beneath Sharn, when Escher Warforged, defeated the Dogs of Death. Beren Sharp-eyed stood with him, and the fair elven Lady Lia ...."
He drops his pack.
Standard action to inspire courage. :
Inspire Courage (Su) You can use your performance to inspire courage in your allies (including yourself), bolstering them against fear and improving their combat abilities. To be affected, an ally must be able to perceive your performance. An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls. Inspire courage is a mind-affecting ability. Inspire courage can use audible or visual components. The bard must choose which component to use when starting his performance.
Move action to drop pack.
Pack dropped.
Lia nods at Karsh'e as he begins. She ignores that 'fair lady' thing while taking a shot at a dog. The wounded one unless it is down for good.
short bow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 9
P damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3Ah, Dicebot still loves me..
That's a miss.
Escer will grab his sword and attack again.
The mechanical dog dies at Escher's attack. It simply goes inert.
"Mischance Escher dropped his sword,
he stooped to gain it and the Deathly Dog pounced.
Instinct saw Escher's bright blade to the gut,
Clang and the clockwork beast fell...."
Continuing his impromptu lay, Karsh'e steps into the room and circles to the left to leave room for the archer and crossbowman. He glances back at the door to see if Bumbler has followed.
He raises his whip to strike...
...
You strike the second mechanical dog, and he winces.
Lia sternly talks at the dog.
"Bad dog! Go home!"
Repeating Heavy Crossbow (PBS, Precise Shot): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 19 1d10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4
An crossbow bolt is stuck in the dog, there are sparks that fly everywhere.
The dog.
The dog leaps to attack Lia.
The dog doesn't connect.
Now it's Escher's turn again.
He keeps pressing his attack to his mechanical cousin.
You missed.
Next is Kar'she's turn.
Karsh'e sweeps the whip low, but it skips off the floor, loses speed and brushes harmlessly on the dog's leg.
...
Okay, Lia, it's your turn.
Lia sweeps her scimitar out and attacks the mechanical beast.
Lia apparently has forgotten all her training and has trouble with basic blade handling...
Lia sweeps her scimitar out and attacks the mechanical beast.
scimitar: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
S damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Lia apparently has forgotten all her training and has trouble with basic blade handling...
The mechanical beast attacks Lia!
And it misses.
Okay, Escher, it's your turn.
"Bad dog." he quips as he continues his attack.