They each have the standard Tower Girl package of goods:
Combat Gear smokestick, tanglefoot bags (2); Other Gear studded
leather, hand crossbow with 10 bolts, short sword, climber’s
kit, grappling hook with 50-foot silk rope (see page 65), hooded
lantern, oil, second-story harness, thieves’ tools, 15 gp
So, four sets then? Karisa, Lerrisien, Sadja, Ulandia?
Plus the other two from earlier? Of that group of 3, one of them ran off, downstairs.
Cassa/Derru? We got their's on the spreadsheet. I don't have them shooting any bolts, is that right?
OK, after that I think we are ready to head downstairs to one turn before we stopped following.
Having cleared this level, the party descends into the dark halls of the Thassilonian edifice, in search of the departed Tower Girl.
"Friends, if we know the tower girls below are waiting for us to ambush us, then the shard gives me illusionary powers. I could send an illusion forward to trigger any of their ambush tactics if that would be preferable?" Verilich asks.
Caius turns to Verilich, his molten orange eyes narrowing with interest. He adjusts his grip on his greatsword, rolling his shoulders slightly as if shaking off lingering tension. The ancient Thassilonian walls around them seem to hum with a forgotten power, the air thick with the weight of history.
"If the shard grants you tricks, then by all means, let’s make use of them," Caius says, his tone measured but firm. "Better they spring their traps on an illusion than on us." He glances ahead toward the shadowed halls where the Tower Girls lurk, waiting like rats in the dark.
But then, something flickers in his expression—a knowing smirk, a subtle gleam in his eyes. "Though I suspect you’ve not told us the full measure of its gifts," he adds, his voice dropping slightly. "Shards don’t grant power without price, and if it’s whispering more than illusions in your ear, you’d do well to share." His tone isn’t accusatory, but there’s a pointed edge to his words, a reminder that he’s watching, and that trust among them is something hard-earned.
He steps forward slightly, blade at the ready. "But for now, let’s see if your phantom can flush the rats from their nest. No sense walking blind into a trap when we have a ghost to spring it for us."
Ghaernan considers Verelich's suggestion with initial surprise, then recalls the illusion of fire that Natalya had manifested in their fateful encounter. The Bard nods at Caius' observations as well, recognizing with the memory that much remains they don't yet fully understand...
"Verelich, I like your idea; let's see what helpful tactics we can make of this ability. Caius, you should definitely hold onto the Thassilonian dagger for the present, given our recent experiences."
I've opened the door at the end of corridor. I believe Verilich had been that far already, so I'm not going to "waste" your cool shard-given ability until you decide where you want to use it. Look through the door first.
As you step into the chamber, your eyes are immediately drawn to the massive double doors that dominate the western end of the spearhead-shaped room. Made from a silvery metal, their surface gleams faintly in the ambient light, though it is not their luster that commands attention. The doors are adorned with burning eyes, their unblinking gazes turned inward toward a pair of rune-inscribed panels. The runes, ancient and precise, are carved deeply into the metal, their meanings obscured by time but still pulsing with an ominous presence.
The walls of the chamber tell the story of lost artistry—once magnificent mosaics, intricate and vibrant, now lie in ruin. The remains of these elaborate images litter the floor, heaps of colored tiles and broken stone forming small drifts of debris against the edges of the room. Faint outlines of figures and patterns can still be discerned in the remaining fragments clinging stubbornly to the walls, but the story they once told has been all but erased by time.
To the northeast, a single door stands alone, its position slightly recessed as though wary of the room’s greater secrets. To the east, two doors sit at angles to one another, forming a jagged path forward, their frames weathered but intact.
The air is thick with the scent of old dust and stone, a reminder that this place has remained undisturbed for ages—until now.
I assume that Verilich motions us forward to the corner at least.
Verilich will motion for the team to come to the corner and he will stealthfully move and move the figure forward.
Khalid will look for tracks to figure out where the tower girls go from here.
Ghaernan follows silently behind Verelich and Khalid, quietly easing his backpack off and settling it in the small corner of stonework behind the door, ready and alert for any threats or details that might escape the attention of his companions...
Khalid believes that while the whole place has been transited, the most recent movement has been towards the two doors to the East.
"From these tracks," Khalid says studying the ground, "it looks like our quarry went this way. I'm not sure which door she took."
Seeing the team move forward and no trap sprung, Verilich concentrated and moved the image near one of the east doors.
"Can that image open doors? If not, I'll do it."
Seeing the team move forward and no trap sprung, Verilich concentrated and moved the image near one of the east doors.
Nothing happened when the image moved, other than the image moving.
With no further action by the image or comment from Verilich, Khalid will move up and open the door.closest to the image.
Ghaernan moves forward quietly into the chamber, remaining alert and holding to the wall at his right, until he reaches the pillar behind which the real Verelich is hiding, and where he has eyes on Khalid as the Fighter/Alchemist opens the door...
Khalid opens the door, and inside he sees a large room, in pretty much the shape he sees. He spots a single Donkey Rat.
Ayala
Caius <== Up!
Gundar <== Up!
Ghaernan <== Up!
Rats
Verilich
Tower Girl
Khalid
Moving up to the newly opened door.
But it is my action. I only single moved...
Still unsure of the extent of any threat, Ghaernan moves closer, to the partial cover of a nearby pillar, and readies a spell against any humanoid threat that approaches Khalid and Caius...
Gundar will shoot an acid dart at the Tower Girl.
But it is my action. I only single moved...
You see a Donkey Rat, what will you do with your standard action? Being cautious seems reasonable, you know there are Tower Girls around somewhere.
Gundar will shoot an acid dart at the Tower Girl.
[Dice=Attack]1d20+1
[Dice=Damage]1d6
That's going to miss.
That's going to miss.
Ayala
Caius Standard Action Left
Gundar
Ghaernan Readied
Rats
Verilich
Tower Girl
Khalid
Caius will throw a javelin at the rat thing.
x2 P 30'
Caius misses.
Two rats move, Ghaernan, your readied action against the closest rat.
The rat moves up and attacks Verilich...
Verilich, please make a DC 11 Fort save vs Filth Fever.
Initiative
Ayala
Caius
Gundar
Ghaernan Readied
Rats
Verilich <== Up!
Tower Girl
Khalid
Verilich will move forward to the group but concentrate to make the illusion fly over the rat and into the room, hopefully drawing an AOO.
That will destroy that rat!
Initiative
Ayala
Caius
Gundar
Ghaernan Readied
Rats
Verilich <== Up!
Tower Girl
Khalid
Verilich will move forward to the group but concentrate to make the illusion fly over the rat and into the room, hopefully drawing an AOO.
Initiative
Ayala
Caius
Gundar
Ghaernan Readied
Rats
Verilich
Tower Girl
Khalid <== Up!
Khalid begins to move in. He sees another rat and a Tower Girl? Any more description before he finishes his move?