The ghoul is immobile, but still stinks. Those sickened will be so for minutes still.
Straw-filled cages line the north and south walls of the chamber. "P-please, h-help us." The weak voice comes from one of the six humanoids lying in some of the cells. The plea is punctuated by a sickly cough. "We-we are th-thief-takers. The d-derros left a s-single g-ghast here b-behind to watch us.."
Knowledge (local) (DC 12):
Swift Prison's famous thief-takers serve as guards and fugitive hunters. The monring after the kidnappings, the authorities unleashed them to hunt down the derros. None returned.
If you inspect the source of the voice:
The speaking humanoid is not alone. There are six in all. Each is barely alive and bears wounds.
A PC that succeeds at a DC 12 Heal or Knowledge (religion) check may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
You identify the wounds on the thief-takers as ghoul bites. All of the thief-takers suffer from ghoul fever and will change into ghouls in 48 hours if not cured. They are all also continuously under the ghast’s stench ability, are sickened, and will remain so unless for minutes after the ghast has been killed or otherwise once they are removed from the room.
BATTLE BENEATH SWIFT PRISON - Fourth Through Seventh Combat Rounds Begin!
PCs in bold may take 4 rounds of actions
Pallid flesh creature (purple) -13 HP (immobile for 5 rounds) Merida -32 HP (sickened; paralyzed for 3 rounds; ghoul fever'd) Seebonickk -8 HP (paralyzed for 1 round and ghoul fever'd) Theron -16 HP
Nightkit(sickened) Ashtoret
Nightkit goes to investigate the source of the voice.
We got six survivors back here. Hang tight you guys - we got to get rid of this ghoul. Ashtoret - can you get it to start running down the sewer and keep going? Might buy us more time
f N human Wizard 5 | HP 32/32 | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | CMD 14 | F+3 R+3 W+4 | Init +2
Magic:
Color Spray 3, Feather Fall 1, Ray of Enfeeblement 1, Shield 1 | Blindness/Deafness 0, Ghoul Touch 1, Mirror Image 0 | Fireball 0, Halt Undead 0 || A-Bond -
No. I either have full control over him or not at all. There is no control now. Trying to take control will destroy deterrence. I can try, but I'd rather you back off.
YOU. SHALL. NOT. PASS (aka Run You Fools)
My plan. I cast a mirror image, stand in the aisle and channel Control Undead few times... Then I either win or check if I have enough to rise dead.
male human fighter 5, HP 50, AC 21; T 13; FF 18; F +6, R +5, W +4, Init. +8, Perc. +7
Let's get everyone out...now...move! Theron starts to get things going. He looks to see if any of the prisoners need help getting mobile. are they locked up? Cant zoom in too far...will carry one if needed...can we assume Menudo can act as a packhorse?
My plan. I cast a mirror image, stand in the aisle and channel Control Undead few times... Then I either win or check if I have enough to rise dead.
To move things along, let's go with that.
Pallid flesh creature (purple), Will save w/channel resistance:1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13
There you go...
Each of the six prisoners is barely alive and bears wounds. None seem well enough to accompany you further. None of their cell doors are locked.
"H-help us, pl-please." One of the prisoners manages to gasp.
Heal or Knowledge (religion) (DC 12):
You identify the wounds on the self-identified "thief-takers" as ghoul bites. All of the thief-takers suffer from ghoul fever and will change into ghouls in 48 hours if not cured. They are all also continuously under the ghast’s stench ability, are sickened, and will remain so unless for minutes after the ghast has been killed or otherwise once they are removed from the room.
A large chest rests in an empty cell containing. On the floor next to the chest sits some gear, a well-made long bow, 20 arrows, and a set of bracers.
If you open the large chest:
You find a substantial haul of Cassomir trade bars.
Nightkit taps each of the prisoners with her wand of cure light.
umd:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Well that was the plan until on the first attempt the wand went on strike and refused to work. Grumbling, Nightkit opened the chest. Nope - no healing potions, just Cassomir trade bars.
f N human Wizard 5 | HP 32/32 | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | CMD 14 | F+3 R+3 W+4 | Init +2
Magic:
Color Spray 3, Feather Fall 1, Ray of Enfeeblement 1, Shield 1 | Blindness/Deafness 0, Ghoul Touch 1, Mirror Image 0 | Fireball 0, Halt Undead 0 || A-Bond -
Ashtoret laughs softly, seeing that the ghoul now obeys her. All her many reflections, created by magic, smile ominously. Then she turns her attention to the prisoners, gently stroking the undead on the head like a dog.
All of the thief-takers suffer from ghoul fever and will change into ghouls in two days if not cured.
She leaves the comrades to decide for themselves what to do with this information.
Fix?! It just means that Ashtoret has more toys. ; P
Ashtoret wrote:
All of the thief-takers suffer from ghoul fever and will change into ghouls in two days if not cured.
"Pl-please. S-save us or d-dest-stroy us." One of the thief-taker manages to beg.
PCs searching the room may attempt a Perception check.
Perception (DC 15):
You find a hidden switch beneath a floor tile at the far west end of the room.
If you pull the switch, you may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
Upon the switch being pulled, the entire room rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise, effectively sealing the door through which you entered (as it now faces a blank wall) and opening a new door in the north wall that leads into a tunnel.
f N human Wizard 5 | HP 32/32 | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | CMD 14 | F+3 R+3 W+4 | Init +2
Magic:
Color Spray 3, Feather Fall 1, Ray of Enfeeblement 1, Shield 1 | Blindness/Deafness 0, Ghoul Touch 1, Mirror Image 0 | Fireball 0, Halt Undead 0 || A-Bond -
I'm not a healer. She shrugs her shoulders. Maybe they should look for healers upstairs. Perhaps if they don't find them and will die of fever, then predatory undead will appear in the city and there will be an epidemic of ghoulfication. Maybe we should kill them now. Or take them upstairs and hand them over to the authorities, warning about the problem. Still under the influence of mirror images and now having such a minion, Ashtoret feels herself invincible... and strangely detached at the same time. Hmm... I would lock them back in the cage and pick them up on the way back, making sure they got into the right hands. If they die of fever, not only they will die.
Killing them now is NOT an option. Anyway ... you say we got two days before they turn into ghouls. I say we get them outta here now and take them to a Temple of Healing - preferably Sarenrae. And my wand has gone phut so we better get healing potions at the same time .... and .... I think I need to go to a Temple of Desna and beg for forgiveness
Yes. But the intelligent undead gets another saving throw in a day.
If someone asks a thief-taker about where the derros went:
The thief-taker responds weakly, “They rotated this chamber and left through another tunnel.”
If someone then asks how to rotate the chamber, you may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
“I am not exactly sure, but I saw the derros playing with the floor tiles in the far end of the room.” One of the thief-takers manages to mutter.
If someone then asks how far ahead of the party the derros are, you may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
“I’m not sure—I’ve lost all track of time down here.”.” One of the thief-takers humbly concedes.
If someone asks a thief-taker about the gear found near the chest, which includes a well-made long bow, 20 arrows, and a set of bracers:
"It is likely all gear taken from the last thief-taker capture. The derros took the rest of our gear with them. You should find a masterwork longbow with 20 +1 arrows, and bracers of archery (lesser)." One of the thief-takers notes with both great difficulty and detail. “Please take it alll as a reward for our salvation. If we live, we can always requisition more from the prison.”
The Venture-Captain did not give the party a timeline. If you wish to return to the surface with the thief-takers and/or make purchases, you may do so.
"Bracers of Archery? Not yet, so I surely will make good use of them! The bow and the magical arrows I will not use, my bow is already magical, so it doesn't improve my combat prowess. Theron, what about you? You can make use of them, right?"
Yes, found my first archery item in a scenario! :-D Merida will put on the bracers of archery, if nobody objects.
Nah .. I think I'm fine now ... even though my stomach is still doing acrobatics. I'm more concerned about those thief takers. They're the ones who need help now ... although I'm wondering if Ashtoret is wanting to keep them here under observation
f N human Wizard 5 | HP 32/32 | AC 16 T 12 FF 14 | CMD 14 | F+3 R+3 W+4 | Init +2
Magic:
Color Spray 3, Feather Fall 1, Ray of Enfeeblement 1, Shield 1 | Blindness/Deafness 0, Ghoul Touch 1, Mirror Image 0 | Fireball 0, Halt Undead 0 || A-Bond -
You stay here. We're moving on and we'll pick you up on the way back. Having made a decision, Ashtoret commands ghoul to be the first to pass through the secret door.
Each of the six thief-takers needs healed for at least 1 HP before being able to head to the surface. Once there, they can seek help on their own.
You may include any relevant checks, item use, etc. in your next post.
Pulling the a switch beneath the floor tile rotates the entire room 90 degrees counterclockwise, effectively opening a new door in the north wall that leads into what must be the Ismacco tunnel system.
No traps are found around the switch or entrances.
Upon entering the tunnel system, any PC(s) may attempt a Perception check.
Perception (DC 10):
You begin to find small scraps of paper scattered about the tunnels.
Any PC may now attempt a DC 15 Survival check (DC 15); if successful, you may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
Following the scraps of paper, you are eventually able to lead the part out of the Ismacco tunnel system and deeper into the caverns beneath Cassomir. Here, you quickly pick up an obvious trail that was left by the derros where they entered the Darklands.
Theron readily follows the trail, which shows where the derros entered the Darklands. Here, in the Darklands, there is no light. The cavern ceilings reach an average height of 40 feet, and stalactites and stalagmites litter the chambers.
Eventually, the party comes upon cavern, lined with salt deposits, with several side passages branching out to the east and to the west. The passages run rich with blue crystals before ending at cave-ins.
Eight smoldering torches illuminate a small tunnel ahead—beyond all is pitch black, though the sound of running water echoes out from the darkness.
Anyone searching this cavern may attempt a Survival check and/or a Perception check.
Survival (DC 15):
While searching this room, you come across splatters of dried blood, discarded rusted daggers, and several mite corpses. Each confirms signs of a battle and that an apparent mite coup against the derro has failed.
Perception (DC 12):
You find a note tucked under a rock near the torch-lit tunnel written in the same hand as th journal entry found earlier.
If you read the note, you may open the spoiler below:
Spoiler:
Hope is lost. The mites attempted a coup, but were betrayed by their own and murdered. My mind tires and I long for mercy in the bellies of the mite’s vermin rather than face the unknown terror that waits when the derros force me into the fetid pool I’ve heard bubbling in the room beyond.
Eight smoldering torches illuminate a small tunnel ahead—beyond all is pitch black, though the sound of running water echoes out from the darkness.
As the party heads through the tunnel, a large pool can be seen filling most of the chamber ahead, its green waters bathing the high ceilings in an eerie green light. The pool is open to the cavern on the south and east sides, but borders the cavern walls to the north and west. On the north side of the cavern, a small alcove sits above the water line, inside of which rests a small stone table. Dozens of corpses float serenely on the surface of the pool.
Hundreds of prisoners, both human and mite, fill the caverns to the west of the pool. A line of prisoners, herded by injured derros and mites, marches from the western caverns into the pool. Each time a body dips beneath the water, the stone table in the alcove north of the pool flashes in a near-blinding green brilliance, filling the entire cavern with near daylight brightness. This brightness does not appear to effect the derros or the mites.
There are several dozen injured derros here and a handful of their remaining mite slaves. Upon spying the party, the derros ready themselves to attack.
Just then, the eyes of the prisoners catch sight of the derros' attention--the Pathfinders! Suddnely, several brave prisoners and the captive mites who attempted the coup the night before begin to swarm the derros. Completely overwhelmed, the derros try to beat back their attackers.
A few of the derros, each bearing recently inflicted injuries, turn to confront the party!
male human fighter 5, HP 50, AC 21; T 13; FF 18; F +6, R +5, W +4, Init. +8, Perc. +7
nm...i see which one it is...i must have kept going by it...failed that perception roll...lol
theron locks on the derro directly in front of him. He turns to the others.
I'm gong after that one...if I get overwhelmed, cast whatever you have on my position...no question...got it? he says as he swings around and barrels towards the red tinged derro, blade high as he goes.
I'm gong after that one...if I get overwhelmed, cast whatever you have on my position...no question...got it? he says as he swings around and barrels towards the red tinged derro, blade high as he goes.
The blade cuts deep, but the derro still stands.
Another derro (blue) nods to an ally, then heads to block the Pathfinders in the tunnel.
Move
He smells something awful.
Derro (blue), Fort v. stench:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Still, he manages to raise his shortsword at the ready.
SHOWDOWN IN THE GROTTO OF GROETUS! - Round One Cont'd
male human fighter 5, HP 50, AC 21; T 13; FF 18; F +6, R +5, W +4, Init. +8, Perc. +7
Theron wheels on the newcomer. Wrong move, pissant! he seethes as he brings his blade down on him. attack, pa, ff:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 171d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 4 = 11 gonna 5 ft step to back towards the group so i cant get flanked as easy...on tablet...can someone move me pkease? One square diagonal up and keft...ty
Theron wheels on the newcomer. Wrong move, pissant! he seethes as he brings his blade down on him.
The derro is slashed...
Merida Bowie wrote:
Merida moves in front of Ash and fires an arrow at the derro engaged with Theron.
....and pierced. Yet, it still stands...barely.
Nightkit wrote:
Nightkit stabs at Blue again.
The rogue draws blood!
Ashtoret wrote:
It's time to eat. You're going to eat. But only those whom I will allow. Come on, kid.
Melee (bite):1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Damage (P) plus disease and paralysis:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Melee (claw):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Damage (S) plus paralysis:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Melee (claw):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Damage (S) plus paralysis:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Derro (blue), Fort v disease:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Derro (blue), Fort v paralysis:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
The derro bleeds, but stops in his tracks.
Ashtoret wrote:
Immerse yourself in it forever, ahaha!
Derro (red), Fort v blindness:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Ashtoret needs to make a caster level check to overcome SR 14.
SHOWDOWN IN THE GROTTO OF GROETUS! - Round One Cont'd/Round Two Cont'd!
PCs in bold may act
Derro (red) -11 HP (simultaneously blind and not blind, i.e., Schrödinger's cataract)
Derro (yellow) -25 HP
Derro (blue) -14 HP (paralyzed)
Ashtoret (and "friend") (caster level check required) Seebonickk
Merida
Round Two
Theron -2 HP
Nightkit -3 HP
