Kingmaker - Taming the Stolen Lands by DM DoctorEvil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Bucky gets his sword in hand and shield raised, ready to take the front as they descend the other way, but waiting for the party to indicate
they're ready to depart.

Defend exploration action plz. :)

Your group travels back out of the hatchery, past the exterior entrance of the underground compounds, and into the room you originally started in. There, another vertical tunnel leads downward, the only means of descent is to use the many roots that stick through the earth as hands and footholds (or just dropping straight down). As you gather around the chute, distinct cries of pain are heard from down below, followed by sinister giggling, which you already associate with the small blue mitflits.

Descent here is only possible one at a time. An Athletics check is needed to control the downward movement, but the DC is not incredibly high. Determine the order and make the first check. Followers may have to descend in combat rounds, so it may bottleneck.

.How far is it to just drop down? How far is the fall?

"Happy to go first. I should be able to get down quietly and maybe get the jump on whatever is down there."

Velas takes a deep breath to calm any nerves and looks down the hole one last time, hoping to see the bottom. He smiles and winks at the group. "Last one down buys drinks at Oleg's!" he whispers and starts climbing down.

Alvis notes the warriors leading, saying, "Those in the lead make sure you have a light with you, it's spoil any surprise but better than stumbling in the dark."

Alvis says to Tessa, "Best we do this like last time, Lady Quintessa, Take the have rope and I'll hold it behind you as you descend in the order you wish."

Faen steps to the edge of the hole and smiles back at Velas, "I'll take that bet!" and follows Velas into the dark hole.

Teela follows after Faen. "I speak the language, so I should be in the first batch, probably."

She looks at the roots with some concern. "No fire if you can help it, guys."

Graham guards the rear, letting Teela and Lady Tessa go before him while having absolutely no intention of footing any future tab at Oleg's.

[ooc: If it were safe to do so without incurring too much damage from the fall, Bucky would probably have just jumped down after Faen/Velas. Otherwise, he'll climb down after Teela.]

.How far is it to just drop down? How far is the fall?

Sorry about the delay. It's hard to see the bottom without a light source there but as Velas descends, he can tell you that is 30' more or less to the bottom of the shaft.

When Velas nears the bottom, he pauses to look and listen for signs of the cowardly mite who fled away from the previous battle. If nothing starts stabbing at him, he finishes climbing down and then attempts to hide among the roots while the others climb down. Once he's hidden, he uses Message to tell Teela that it's safe enough for the others to come down.

I didn't see anyone make Athletics checks, so I will make them for you. LMK if you are using light in the shaft or at the bottom.

Velas enters the shaft first climbing in the dark but able to use touch as best he can to find hand and footholds. But Velas seems to be a natural and slides down the chute quickly and easily, landing lightly. At the bottom it is pitch dark, and while Velas can hear the sounds of things moving and whispering, he cannot see anything without light.

Almost immediately after, Faen starts down the shaft as well.

As he tries to shift in the dark, Velas bangs into something hard with a loud clang. Shouts erupt not far away, though he cannot see the source.

We will move to initiative but Velas is still in the dark, Faen has started down the shaft, and everyone else is still at the top.

Torture Chamber - Round 1

26 Red Mite
25 Velas
25 Scarlet Knight
25 Quintessa
23 Yellow Mite
19 Orange Mite
18 Faen
16 Purple Mite
12 Blue Mite
9 Green Mie
8 Teela
8 Alvis

Any hope he is still hidden from sight is dashed as Velas is stabbed twice by a pointy weapon. He still can't see his assailants, or make good choices about what's in the room but the others can clearly still see him.

Velas takes 7hp dmg and is at 21/28 and blinded until light is provided. He is up now, along with Scarlet and Quintessa. Faen is currently blocking the way down.

Red Mite shortsword vs Alvis: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Red Mite vs Velas, MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 4 = 18
Piercing Dmg vs Velas, 2 hits: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7

Hmm ...

So am I already down with Velas? Or waiting for Faen to climb down?

Also, GM: If we have to climb down, how many actions does it take us to do so and reach where Velas is?

Hmm ...

So am I already down with Velas? Or waiting for Faen to climb down?

Also, GM: If we have to climb down, how many actions does it take us to do so and reach where Velas is?

Since Faen jumped in second, you are have not started down yet. The speed at which you can move under control is your Climb speed, which is usually 5 feet per successful action. So a series of Athletics checks will be required to descend the 30' to the chamber below. You can, of course, just drop (from any position in the shaft) and take the fall damage possibility.

Sorry, this room is really bottlenecked on purpose. Oh, and you are all still Clumsy 1 in these spaces.

Quintessa hears the sounds of Velas's being attacked and frowns about some poor decisions that have been made.

Mostly talking to herself, she thinks through her options.

"I am not going to be able to get down there quickly, climbing is not my forte, I'm afraid. I have some rope or I could light a torch and send it down."

Without asking for a DC, would we be able to ascertain whether or not climbing a rope down would be easier than climbing down otherwise?

I'm not sure how I was attacked, I should have been able to at least see my attacker.

Velas grunts in pain as he grabs his ribs, hoping to stem the flow of blood. "Yeowch! Not alone down here. Quick!"

After trying to encourage his friends to come to his aid, Velas works on helping himself. A ball of light appears over his head and he gasps. "Lots of mites! Quick quick!"

Then, he removes his bloody hand from his side and extends it in front of himself. A red-tinged shimmering shield appears in front of him. He breathes deeply to calm himself in the face of an unexpected mite horde.

◆◆ Cast Light
◆ Cast Amped Shield

Unfortunately I cannot take any useful actions until Faen is no longer blocking the way down, so I Delay until immediately after Faen's turn is over.

I'm not sure how I was attacked, I should have been able to at least see my attacker.

It was Velas who was attacked in the dark. My fault for typing the wrong name

Without asking for a DC, would we be able to ascertain whether or not climbing a rope down would be easier than climbing down otherwise?

Rope would not make the descent any faster or easier. The DC for climbing is very low due to the roots and branches that fill the chute, but its just a slowdown if you don't want to fall.

Torture Chamber - Round 1 - continued

26 Red Mite
25 Velas (221/28hp remain)
25 Scarlet Knight
25 Quintessa
23 Yellow Mite
19 Orange Mite
18 Faen (climbing)
16 Purple Mite
12 Blue Mite
9 Green Mie
8 Teela
8 Alvis

Bursting forth light, Velas is able to quickly see that the room is filled with evil mitflits who seem to have been torturing a single grey-scaled kobold who is chained to the wall. Realizing he is outnumbered, he spins up a multi-layered psychic shield to protect him from future attacks while calling for help from this team above.

Orange Mite slips over to stab at the interloper with its shortsword while Yellow Mite tosses a pair of darts across the small chamber. The stout warrior is hit by a sword and by a dart, the shield stopping at least one of the other attacks. He uses his magical shield to try to ward the damage as best he can. The psychic shield blocks the sword but breaks, leaving two layers. The dart hits however causing a bit more damage to Velas.

Velas takes 5 (16/28hp left) and loses one layer of the amped Shield. I infer that you can only Shield Block once per turn as a reaction still. But you can Sustain the Spell to put it back up next turn without recasting. Faen, who is 15' down the chute is up next. SK and Quintessa can act when they feel like it

Orange sword vs Velas: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 hit
Orange sword vs Velas, MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 4 = 18
Yellow dart vs Velas: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Yellow dart vs Velas, MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 4 = 23 hit
Piercing Dmg to Velas (sword): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 blocked all dmg,
Piercing Dmg to Velas (dart): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Hey GM, I was asking a question about the rope trying to decide if it made a difference. Since it does not, Tessa will just climb down on her turn.

Athletics: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Faen blinks as Velas' light fills up the bottom of the shaft. She then frown as she sees the little critters trying to carve him up.

"I'm coming , Velas!" she calls out, scrambling down using the roots as hand and foot holds.

Athletics(climb): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Athletics(climb): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

When she gets 5ft from the bottom, she leans down and flings a dagger at one of the gremlins!

thrown dagger: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Sneak damage, if applicable: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Climb, Climb, strike

Before Tessa begins to climb down, The Scarlet Knight would say,
“I’ll go next, lady, if you will allow.
We who plummet to pain salute you now.”

Assuming Tessa agrees … Bucky will go right before her.

No problems here. Please prepare my cushion if I fall.

Here goes nothing.

Bucky salutes the rest of the party still topside.
”I’ll need healing shortly,” he says grimly as he approximates, quite well, a soldier’s salute.

The Scarlet Knight takes a deep breath before he … steps into the hole.
As far away from Faen as possible so as not to hit her, but into the hole.

The armored man hits the floor 30 feet below with a grunt. ”Still unbroken,” he says as he stands and wipes a little blood from his lip.

He raises his shield. “ Do your worst, denizens of the tree.
“But focus your wrath right here, on me,
Or else next I’ll paint with blood from thee.”

(damage taken: 15)

Torture Chamber - Round 1 - continued

26 Red Mite
25 Velas (21/28hp remain)
23 Yellow Mite
19 Orange Mite
18 Faen (climbing)
25 Scarlet Knight
25 Quintessa
16 Purple Mite
12 Blue Mite
9 Green Mie
8 Teela
8 Alvis

Climbing but hanging from the bottom of the shaft opening, Faen tosses one of her daggers at a mitflit, striking Green.

Faen did not clear the shaft Scarlet, but is hanging from the last 5'. Do you still want to jump or beginning climbing?

I rolled a climb check above, do you want more? If so, here are two more.

Descend!: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Descend!: 1d20 ⇒ 17

I need to get down in order to help save Velas.

I was hoping the shaft is wide enough for me to get by and not hit Faen. I definitely don't want to do to that. However, it occurs to me that Faen could have simply let go as a free action and dropped the last 5' without taking any damage. If that would avoid problems, can we say that that's what happened?

Or can we say I do squeeze by without any difficulty and without causing any problems to Faen? Sorry, F -- trying to do this without causing you any damage at all, but I don't think it's a good idea to leave you two down there with no tank for the next 2 rounds.