[Outpost VI] PF2e B12 - Somewhere Below (B12P6) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

dot in here

While traveling on the Flood Road near Urgir an unexpected storm—a rainstorm drives them to seek shelter in a nearby cave. Inside, you find the remains of a campfire that is 2 days old, as well as some simple traveling gear such as a bedroll and cooking pot. A small note is stuck into a crevice in the cave wall, where it stands out against the dark stone. The crevice is near a narrow tunnel that leads deeper into the caves. The note is written in Common and Orcish, and is dated 2 days before.

If you find this, I am caught somewhere below. I am Lorekeeper Unzgrin, and I’ve gone below to explore what I believe are the ruins of an ancient dwarven outpost. I trust that there is no danger, but if you find this note, and more than a day has passed, then I am likely in trouble. I offer a reward in gold for any assistance in exploring the caves — and for my immediate rescue, should I be in danger.
—Lorekeeper Unzgrin of Urgir

Please Introduce yourselves here

Just like in Absalom's sewers, Ehle is used in getting wet, either from rain or wastewater. She quickly runs into the nearest cave that shelters whatever is left in it. After she pats the water out with a dry towel from her backpack, she begins searching the area and finds the note. Idiot. Exploring the caves without even taking heed of its dangers, perhaps. she tells herself. "My name's Ehle. Do you mind helping this lorekeeper?" she tells the others, looking for a company to save the lorekeeper from her possible demise while showing them the note she found.

A forest green cloaked hooded figure gracefully enters the cave to get out of the rain. As the figure lowers their cowl, pointed ears and almond shaped green eyes can be viewed among their light-colored locks. He spots the small figure and says in

He pulls off his cloak as he hears the creature speak, "Ah, you speak common. I am Kor'velor. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ehle." He peers over the note, "Lorekeeper, you say. Hmmm, written in common and orcish. This Lorekeeper has an unusual name. Possibly Orcish in nature. I am not doing anything better at the moment than trying to keep dry. It would be interesting to see what they have discovered beyond while waiting out this rain."

When others join he greets and introduces himself as well.

A humanoid male figure whose skin appears entirely drained of color follows the conversation in his hooded cape. His dark clothes are cut to allow movements but at the same time he doesn’t seem to carry any weapon and is unarmored.

Well it’s raining. In the cave we will be protected from this. And I see in the dark. That works for Horul.

"I assumed this cave would provide refuge from the downpour," bellows a white-bearded dwarf, adorned in a cloak fashioned in shades of forest and earth. "But, I did not expect to find here a village!"

"The name is Gabbro Torshenge," he nods to the others as he moves closer in to collect himself near one of the interior, dark stone walls. From this new vantage, he spots the crevice in the cave wall and, if somewhat impossibly, connects it to the scrap of paper in the clutches of the kobold.

"I can help locate this lorekeeper," offers Gabbro. "I think such a subterranean task more preferrable than further travel amidst the current deluge on the surface."

Cinaed MacDemhain takes the rain in stride. Tall and well-muscled, he looks on one side like a fine Hallit specimen, but despite his disarming smile, the effect is minimized by his red skin, horned head, and hooved feet.

"I suppose it's best to get out of the rain," Cinaed observes. "Although you've always got to respect the sheer ferocity of a storm.

Wringing some of the water out of his kilt, he looks the note over. "Sounds good to me, let's go see if we can track this fellow down. Name's Cinaed, by the way. Cinaed MacDemhain, of Sarkoris."

Folks spoke of the iruxi and their affinity for the rain. They said that the steady pattering of droplets on their scales and the cool dampness in the air brought them solace. However, on this particular day, a certain lizard paid no heed to the comforting rain. He rushed through the storm, his cloak flapping wildly behind him as he clutched something tightly against his chest. The other travelers seeking refuge in a nearby cave were but a blur to him, as he ran past them with focused determination.

Finally, with a relieved sigh, he found a suitable spot to keep his precious cargo. The lizardman's sharp claws grazed the smooth glass surface of the test tube as he examined it, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. It was then that he noticed the other travelers who had already settled into the cave. he listened intently to their conversation, his eyes flickering towards the notes.

"An ancient dwarven outpost? Of course I have to check it out! … And helping the lorekeeper, I mean." He coughed awkwardly, straightening his coat—a strange lab coat combined with a breastplate of shining metal etched with intricate patterns—as he busied himself with cleaning up the mess of his kit. “… My name is Zess Thrakloass.”

You find torches by the traveling gear.

Advance warning - there is no light below. So unless you have a light source, those without darkvision will be unable to see.

"Lo! There be a set of tracks here." notes Gabbro. "Our wayward lorekeeper, I suppose?"

He glances down, trying to follow them into the caves.

+4 Survival, untrained

"Might anyone here possess a talent for lighting magic?" The lizard asked, as he picked up a torch from his backpack. Before he lit it, he inquired further, "While I am capable of fighting with my sharp fangs, the taste of battle is, well, pretty terrible."

Zess than retrieve a sturdy steel shield from his pack and secured it to his left arm with practiced ease. He ran his clawed fingers over the polished metal surface, testing its weight and balance, before nodding with satisfaction.

I don't have the possibility to light the cave here. But at the same time I see in the darkness... You can use a torch.

"Under the current circumstances, it is nice to meet all of you." Kor'velor picks up and lights a torch. "Onward, shall we?"

I think so. It's raining. And the more we wait the more chance has the Lorekeeper to be dead when we find her.

Zess rummages through his tools and held several tubes filled with a glowing liquid. "I have something that may prove useful if things go awry," he announced to the group. "They can make you sturdier or improve your endurance, but be warned - there are side effects. I'll keep one for myself, but the rest are up for grabs if anyone is interested."

"Torches are good," Cinaed responds to Kor'velor's light. "I've got extra candles as well, should we need them."

"I can see in the dark as well. Let's move." Ehle encourages them to start their search for the missing lorekeeper.

"Well then." Zess lights the torch and follows.

You manage to follow the footprints down into the cave. By the light of your torches, you to follow the footprints to a large man-sized mushroom. Kor'valor identifies it as a Shrieker. This human-sized purple mushroom emits a piercing shriek when disturbed.

Survival to approach stealthily approach and cut its air sac without triggering it.

The fetching looks around himself to see if someone has the knowledge to disable this thing.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Ehle shrugs and takes the initiative to approach the mushroom. She then begins cutting the air sacs carefully.

Ehle sneaks up to the mushroom and easily cuts the air sac. It attempts to scream but all that comes out is a soft whimper and the sound of a deflating balloon. You find more footprints, though this time they seem to be as if the owner is panicking. You manage to sort out the footprints and follow them to a large central chamber.

The pool in this damp chamber is only a few inches deep. The sound of dripping water echoes throughout the cave. Thick webbing covers a large boulder protruding from the floor at the center of the pool. The desiccated husks of dozens of insects and arachnids, and the bones of a few small mammals, lie in the water. One recently dead spider with an intricate pattern on its abdomen lies near the boulder, a dagger embedded deep in its thorax.

You notice that the webbing is humanoid-shaped.

"It would seem we have found our lorekeeper and he's... well... been kept." Gabbro concludes. He draws his clan dagger and approaches the webbing in order to cut out any remains.

Kor'velor cautions, I do not believe that is the Lorekeeper unless there is another spider lurking somewhere. More than likely the Lorekeeper killed this spider and proceeded onwards. But there may be something worthwhile in the cocoon." He examines the dagger in the spider and pulls it out. He starts to point his torch into the dark recesses to see if something else moves, ready to jump back.

Zess walks toward the spider and gazed closely at it's abdomen . "These patterns," he murmured to himself, "They seem familiar, it could possibly be a recognition of it's magical ability. What kind of spider could possess such power?"

Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 Recall Knowledge

Cinaed stands at the ready with his guisarme should anything leap out while the party investigates.

Gabbro cuts the webbing away and finds the unconscious lorekeeper within. She's alive, but very weak.

You can heal her with either magical or non-magical healing

Zess has a look at the markings and decides that they're just random patterns on the spider's abdomen. They're not magical. Just random patterns

Kor'velor removes the dagger from the dead spider and looks around vigilantly. Cinaed pulls out his weapon and stands watch.

Good thing, Ehle has healer's tools and is trained in treating wounds. She quickly administers healing by tending her wounds.
Medicine to Treat Wounds: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

The fetchling looks around and also on the ceiling with his Darkvision because if the lorekeeper killed the spider with her dagger and is now mummified it means there is at least another spider around. And usually a spider dislikes when people come and break her webbing or cocoon.

The more the lizard looked, the more he realized his mistake. The patterns were just random, nothing more than the chaotic scribbles of nature. The sense of familiarity he had felt earlier was just his mind playing tricks on him.

With a disappointed grunt, he straightened up and turned his attention back to the task at claw. He moved to the front of the team and held up his shield, ready to defend against any potential threats lurking in the shadows.

Kor'velor goes over to the unconscious Lorekeeper, "So this is the Lorekeeper. Best keep an eye out because whatever put her in this cocoon is still lurking about." He takes out his waterskin to wet her lips and see if she will awake and drink.

The lorekeeper moans as the water hits her lips, but not much else happens.

"Gabbro, do you have any skill in or magical healing?" He tries to recall if there are any types of herbs in this area which would work to help with healing.

Herbalism Lore (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"I can treat injuries as the kobold has done, though I do not presently care any tools." Gabbro replies. "As for magic, I could prepare a spell for healing, but not until the morning."

You keep the lorekeeper safe and unbound from the web. An hour passes and she moans softly, her eyelids fluttering open.

"What... what happened? Who are you?" she asks as she rubs the back of her head, and then moves her hand to look at the blood that is caked in her hair. "Oh... The last I remember is heading into a cavern system, looking for signs of ancient ruins. I found a cave... there was a loud shriek... and a spider..."

"Where are my manners? I am Unzgrin, lorekeeper for the Urgir Society of History. Might I trouble you for some water please? I am exploring the caves to find any sign of the dwarves who fled here thousands of years ago after the fall of Koldukar. After this long, any bodies would likely be gone, but I hope to find historic relics they left behind, or perhaps another ancient ruin of some kind to which they had fled. I believed I was on the cusp of an important breakthrough in understanding the history of the dwarves of Koldukar. In my eagerness to discover something significant, I got careless."

Unzgrin looks around, as if searching for something. Not finding it, she turns back to you. "My backpack! I dropped it somewhere in the caves, but I don’t remember exactly where. The backpack contains notes that are quite valuable to me, some healing potions, and a reminder to myself of where she stashed her extra supplies. If you can help me recover the backpack, you may have the potions inside as well as the gold I owe you. You will also have the eternal thanks of the Urgir Society of History."

Ehle produces a flask and hands it to Unzgrin. She takes a sip of water and thanks her.

"My thanks. The relics I've found are simply fascinating, to say the least..."

Unzgrin begins to tell you some obscure factoids of what she was researching. She's in the middle of her recitation when you hear a clicking sound. You look up in time to see three spiders turn the corner. They look hungry...

A spider with greenish markings shoots a web at 1-Cinaed 2-Gabbro: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Web vs Gabbro, AC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

The web hits and Gabbro is anchored to the floor. Gabbro also feels some burning sensation where the web touches him.

Green immediately moves in and attempts to bite the dwarf.

Fangs vs Gabbro, AC 15, FF, MAP: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Before your turn:
Gabbro - DC 16 Fortitude Save
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Those with ** may go

Green
**Zairord Rold - AC 19 (21 w/shield), 22/22
**Elhe Kiv - AC 18 (19 w/shield), 15/15
Blue
Gabbro Torshenge - AC 15, 21/21 (Immobilized, FF; Escape DC 16)
Cinaed MacDemhain - AC 18, 22/22
Pink
Kor'velor - AC 16, 13/13
Horul - AC 17, 15/15

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CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
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◆Stride towards Blue
◆Strike Blue
Zess Thrakloass, Strike Blue with Sharp Fangs: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage of Sharp Fangs P: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
◆Strike Blue
Zess Thrakloass, Strike Blue with Sharp Fangs: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Damage of Sharp Fangs P: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
◇Raise a Shield

The lizardfolk charged forward as he saw the the spider sunk its bite into the unfortunate dwarf, he lunged toward the beast and sank his own fangs deep into the spider's abdomen, the taste of its foul and furry flesh making him cringe in revulsion, but he had no other choice.

Zess, Raise a shield is not a free action. I'll just let you raise your shield in place of the 2nd attack (which doesn't hit)

Zess strides towards Blue and manages to bite the spider in the abdomen.

Horul's order in initiative updated. The box in the macros was blank for some reason.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Before your turn:
Gabbro - DC 16 Fortitude Save
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Those with ** may go

Green
**Zairord Rold - AC 19 (21 w/shield), 22/22 (1 action)
**Elhe Kiv - AC 18 (19 w/shield), 15/15
Blue (-9)
Gabbro Torshenge - AC 15, 21/21 (Immobilized, FF; Escape DC 16)
Horul - AC 17, 15/15
Cinaed MacDemhain - AC 18, 22/22
Pink
Kor'velor - AC 16, 13/13

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CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
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As asked in the discussion thread why did my modifier hasn’t been taken into account for the initiative? Just to understand

The cell where the logic was to calculate your modifier was blank. That's why your mod wasn't included.

oups sorry

Not your fault. We can just blame the mushrooms :)

"I expect that we will have company..." Ehle murmurs to herself when suddenly the spiders show themselves. She Strides closer to them and quickly draws her bow. She then assigns Green as her prey.

◆ Stride
◆ Interact to draw weapon (shortbow)
◆ Hunt Prey to Green

Ehle pulls out her shortbow and sets Green as prey.

Blue appears happy that a food source decided to just walk up to it. So it attempts to bite Zess.

Fang vs Zess AC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Fang vs Zess AC 20, MAP: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Fang vs Zess AC 20, MAP 2+: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (8) - 3 = 5
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Blue's first bite penetrates the Iruxi's scaly hide. Zess feels a burning sensation at the bite site.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Before your turn:
Gabbro - DC 16 Fortitude Save
Zess - DC 16 Fortitude Save
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Those with ** may go

Green
Zess Thrakloass - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 14/17 (AC 20)
Elhe Kiv - AC 18 (19 w/shield), 15/15
Blue (-9)
**Gabbro Torshenge - AC 15, 21/21 (Immobilized, FF; Escape DC 16)
**Horul - AC 17, 15/15
**Cinaed MacDemhain - AC 18, 22/22
Pink
Kor'velor - AC 16, 13/13

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CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
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Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Gabbro brushes off the spider bite, then tries to plunge his clan dagger into his attacker.

Strike, melee (clan dagger)(parry, versatile B, agile, dwarf) v. Spider (green): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage (P): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

He then tries to free himself from the web.
Acrobatics to Escape: 1d20 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 5 = 3
Hero Point, Acrobatics to Escape: 1d20 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 5 = -2

Twice.
Acrobatics to Escape: 1d20 + 2 - 10 ⇒ (4) + 2 - 10 = -4

Gabbro easily powers through the poison's effects. He tries to stab Green but barely misses. He tries to escape but doesn't succeed.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Before your turn:
Zess - DC 16 Fortitude Save
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Those with ** may go

Green
Zess Thrakloass - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 14/17 (AC 20)
Elhe Kiv - AC 18 (19 w/shield), 15/15
Blue (-9)
Gabbro Torshenge - AC 15, 21/21 (Immobilized, FF; Escape DC 16)
**Horul - AC 17, 15/15
**Cinaed MacDemhain - AC 18, 22/22
Pink
Kor'velor - AC 16, 13/13

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CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
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The fetchling moves to get a better view and casts a spell lining both the green and the pink spider.
If needed I move to the first case where the spell begins and this one finishes one square further.

Damage, negative: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

DC 17 Fort. 1 persistent bleed damage to living creatures in the line.

The tiefling lets out a guttural growl as he takes off with speed, placing himself in between green and pink spiders with enough space to swing his guisarme. Flames burst all over his body and set his blade alight.

◆ Rage
◆ Stride
◆ Attack Pink

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Damage is Fire type.

Horul moves forward and sends a dark line of nastiness through green and pink. Unintentionally parts of Gabbro's long flowing beard (the pride of all dwarves) get in the way and lose a few hairs. Likewise, bits of scales from Zess' chin get shaved off as well.

Neither spider manages to resist the black beam, but Pink is spared the lingering death as Cinaed flies into a rage and reduces Pink to shapeless bits of gore.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Before your turn:
Zess - DC 16 Fortitude Save
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Those with ** may go

Green (-3; 1 persistent bleed)
Zess Thrakloass - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 14/17 (AC 20)
Elhe Kiv - AC 18 (19 w/shield), 15/15
Blue (-9)
Gabbro Torshenge - AC 15, 21/21 (Immobilized, FF; Escape DC 16)
Horul - AC 17, 15/15
Cinaed MacDemhain - AC 18, 22/22 (Rage - temp hp: 3/3, +4 Damage, AC 17)
**Kor'velor - AC 16, 13/13

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CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
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