With Ascaede's administrations, Edgrin is feeling well enough to join you in search of the other prisoners, although he seems to turn green at her bedside manner. Regardless, with Ustemir's encouragement, he picks up a dead kobold's spear and takes up Verkrik's leash.
The group marches north and comes to an intersection.
There's a set of double doors to the north, and a long hallway that stretches east and ends at another set of double doors. Those doors hang open.
The Observant Halfling begins to creep down the hallway with his ears working overtime! He seems to be heading towards the open double doors....
Ustemir follows Sebastien. As he moves, he turns to Edgrin, mouthing "Right way?"
Edgrin whispers, "Uh, I think I came down this way, but I don't know which way Barlus went..."
As you move down the hall to the east, you again pass a second intersection. Another set of double doors leads north. These doors are chained shut.
Waedin takes an Elixir from STep
Waedin points at the north doors that aren't chained. Let's keep going deeper in.
Sebastien nudges the doors open further and shines a light inside. He reveals a large chamber with six stone platforms with well-worn kneeling benches spread throughout the room. The room is otherwise empty.
Edgrin follows you in and looks around, "Yeah, I think I came through here, but..." he looks around further, "Where did Barlus go?"
Yet another set of double doors leads north from here.
Waedin grumbles at being overruled before brightening up.
Hey... there's a secret door here!
Sebastian seems all a dither with so many options to choose from! The Bard faints...
Sebastian's curosity ensures that he check the secret door first.
Perception to look for traps (+5)
Checking the exits, the secret passage appears safe. Waedin can hear the sound of shuffling feet and whispered voices beyond the door to the north (Option 3).
Ascaede nods toward the secret door.
”Does the hidden portal look recently used?” she asks those with good eyes or skill.
”If not, perhaps the current inhabitants are unaware of its existence - at either end. We might have a way to pass relatively unmolested”
Although there are signs that this room has been recently occupied, there are no indications that the secret passage has been recently used. Most foot traffic through this area leads out the two sets of double doors to the north and west.
Most of the tracks passing through here are kobold. However you spot a set of other small and medium sized humanoid footprints leading back out into the hallway.
Gah, I don't think this Balrus person went through the secret door, and I hear people through those north doors. Let's figure out that passage later and go find this person.
Sebastian points to his nose and Waedin at the same time. The Halfling then stands back up, brushes off his pants and prepares to press on forthwith...
Ascaede shrugs…
”Let’s go with Waedin’s plan - at least if things turn against us we might use the secret passage as a respite…”
"Works for me. Don't want anybody to sneak up on us".
So, from the room with the benches a well worn pews you open the door on the north wall.
Upon opening the door you are met with shouts of alarm. Five kobolds stand guard around a large pit in the ground. An oversized cauldron hangs from a winch suspended over the pit.
A blue scaled kobold points a shortsword at the party and barks in Draconic, "Stop the intruders!"
Waedin stomps up ◆
Shoves the blue one into the pit ◆
And Shields ◆
WHAT'S IN THE CAULDRON!? she yells in the face of the blue kobold if she didn't manage to shove it, not really caring that she's probably not being understood.
GONG!!!
Waedin shoves the blue-scaled kobold back and she smacks into the oversized cauldron.
The blue-scaled kobold catches herself on the ledge, but not after suffering some bruises.
Ascaede follows Waedin forward, and slashes at her own counterpart enemy…then brings her shield to bear…
◆ Stride ◆ Strike ◆ Raise Shield
Asceade quickly cuts down the foremost kobold warrior.
The kobold scout struggles but pulls herself up from the edge of the pit, then stabs up at Waedin.
Sebastian Strides, Raises his Shield and gives Courageous Anthem!
With an elated roar, Ustemir charges forward from the back rank. He weasels past Ascaede to face the kobold in the southeast corner, slicing once with each hand.
◆ Stride, ◆ Hunt Prey, ◆ Twin Takedown
|
|
Stepnik steps up, lobs a Versatile Vial between the two Kobolds on the left, then steps back behind the wall.
◆ STRIDE
◆ ATTACK: (Quick Bomber, Far lobber)
Throw
Acid
+1 Splash
◆Stride
"Incoming"!
Sebastien manages to momentarily inspire his allies.
Ustemir moves forth and slices and dices, cutting down the next kobold in line.
Stepnik lobs a bomb that lands within the large metal cauldron suspended over the pit.
The remaining kobolds ◆rush forth and stab away!
The first hopes for an impossible shot against Waedin.
The second aims his spear at Ustemir.
And the last one slips by his companions to stab at Ascaede.
Four brave kobolds stand off against the invaders, protecting this large cauldron!
Waedin lashes out at the blue one.
◆
Then at the one to her left (west)
◆
◆
Before raising her shield again.
Both invigorated by her initial success and somewhat angered, and in pain from being stabbed, Ascaede responds in kind…slashing twice in quick succession before once again raising her shield…
◆ Strike ◆ Strike ◆ Raise Shield
The kobolds duck and dive out if the way of Waedin's hammer.
Ascaede gets her due and cuts down the kobold before her AND the blue-scaled leader.
The kobolds quickly fall, and then there were only two left.
"Oh, you're coming to me?" Ustemir smirks at the kobold, then slices again. He whistles at Kolek and points to the other kobold in the room.
◆ Hunt Prey, ◆ Twin Takedown, ◆ Command Animal
◆ Stride, ◆ Strike (Jaws)
|
|
|
Sebastian shakes and shimmies to better perform, Raises his Shield and gives Courageous Anthem!
Apparently the Bard has stage fright....
◆ STRIDE
◆◆ CAST (Electric Arc on both)
DC 18 Basic Reflex Save
Lightning Damage
"Zap-it-d-do-da".
Ustemir makes quick work of the next kobold, who falls like the rest.
Stepnik takes care of the last kobold.
After the dust has settled, you stand before a large cauldron suspended over a 10ft diameter pit with a set of chains, pulleys, and a makeshift winch.
A set of double doors, chained shut, leads west.
A smoke filled tunnel leads east.
Let's see what's in the cauldron! Waedin says. I don't trust anything in this place after this talk of sacrifices!
The cauldron is open and empty. Just a big hole in the floor beneath it. You think back to what the traitorous Kerrdremak told you:
With this taken care of... let's follow those footprints. Everyone ok? I got some nicks but I'll be fine for now.
"Well I might have accidently thrown a vial of acid in there... Why don't we take 10-minutes or so, catch our breath, and let me brew up a couple more healing eixers".
After waiting for Stepnik to brew some concoctions, Waedin returns to the prayer room and picks up the non-kobold tracks you assume belong to Edgrin and Barlus. Edgrin suggests he thinks Barlus was still behind him at this point in their escape. The tracks lead west down the hall, but the floor here is dusty worked flagstone, and the tracks become obscured. However, you can rule out the chained and locked doors to the north, and Edgrin states by the time he reached the dining hall, Barlus was missing.
So, process of elimination points to the set of doors north of the dining hall.
Waedin drinks one of Stepnik's Elixirs
and then is ready to open the door if everyone else is!
Sebastian bravely Raises his Shield, recast Light on it and steps behind Waedin....
Ascaede gives a thankful nod to Stepnik then likewise downs a flask of liquid heals…
”These doors look…important. Well, in that there are two. Possibly to a larger room. If I were designing a redoubt, I might make a secret way to such a room. Waedin - is it possible the dwarven builders of this place did such a thing? Should we examine where the secret passage leads?”
That secret door could lead here but it's kinda far away, I think getting to the guy fast is probably better than exploring!
Ustemir cracks his knucles. "Let's find Balrus and the rest of these... explorers, I guess? Before they come to further harm. Ready when you are."
Ustemir opens the door and peeks in to see a cold and damp ossuary. A dark corridor runs north down the center, and on either side, two large bays open into small niches cramped with the rotted bones of ancient dwarves.
At the far end of the corridor you see the haggard form of a man kneeling before an anvil shaped altar, praying feverishly.
However, more immediately, five dwarven skeletons wander about mindlessly the southern portion of the room, animated with an eery yellow glow. They seem to pay no mind to the figure at the altar, but they turn their glowing yellow eye sockets upon you as the door opens.
Ustemir immediately runs into the western corner and attempts to grab the skeletal undead. He whistles to Kolek to join in on the attack.
Ustemir ◆ Stride, ◆ Grapple, ◆ Command Animal
Kolek ◆ Stride, ◆ Strike Jaws
Waedin drops her shield, raises her hand and lets a burst of vitality flow through her and into the room.