The Sunless Citadel Prequel A Quest most Fowl

Game Master Azure_Zero

Orne Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

What about them?!

Alya then asks "Ah Which doors."

The doors outside aren't tied to the lever, be the inner ones are,
which means if Ghur wanted to use the Lever, Rus, would need to close the inner doors.

Orc Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Yeah those Orcs are a bit too slow on the reaction times.

"Inner doors!" Ghur yelled out, with far more confidence than he actually felt.

Whatever dice roll is needed to actually pull this off: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Well then...

Ruisxys finds herself wondering if something got into her rations. Ergotism is a terrible thing. The muffled commotion from the others continues, and since she doesn't need to duck under a flying spear right away, she takes a moment to close the doors to buy that extra moment of time before sprinting back down the hall once again.

It's like some terrible fever dream, she thinks, but now is not the time to pinch herself to double-check.

Ayla Runs into the Hall, just as Ruisxys is at the middle of the hall running back to the entrance.

Orne looks to see if his help is needed, otherwise tries to assure everyone gets out.

"Orcs! More of them, I mean!" Ruisxys explains hurriedly as she spots Ayla. "If we get clear before they follow, we might be able to turn the tables on them!"

Or the doors, really, she thinks, still hurrying for the entrance as fast as she can. "If they close the doors behind them in case we try to sneak in, then we might be able to spring that trap!"

Ayla moves out of the hall and once everyone is clear she closes the door.

Ruisxys scurries away as she had suggested. Once she manages to duck out of the line of sight down the entryway, her brow furrows as she listens for the sound of Ayla closing the doors.

If the orcs follow, but take the time to close up after themselves, to prevent tricksy elves from slipping in, which would leave the orcs vulnerable to the trap, that's the sound she'll have to keep listening for. For now, she draws her sword, in case there's a real firebrand among them, or they don't wait to secure the door, as a group.

Does Ghur through the lever and if so which position?

Whatever dice roll is needed to actually pull this off: 1d20 ⇒ 20

I’m honestly not sure. Anyone want to give some advice?

No need for dice rolls, just pick a level position (1-4), or roll a 1d4 for a random position.

The random roll of after the end of today nobody has a better idea: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Ghur pulls the lever into the reset position.

That will do if the orcs don't take the bait of nosy elves poking about, Ghur.
As I understand it, if they do come running, I would say we should go with 2 for starters, and flip to 1 if they go fast enough to outrun the trap, like we did, in an attempt to fast-track the process.
If I'm parsing the last page correctly, Ruisxys just checked the state at Position 3 - the way is clear; Position 2 primes the trap, like our first try, Position 1 raises the trap block/ceiling (and who knows what), but is either connected to something else or the mechanism automatically moves it back to Position 3 after a bit, and Position 4 is ???.

Ruisxys waits, heart thumping, to call a warning that she hopes will reach the chamber with the accursed, infernal engine if the orcs follow.

Your choice, Ghur. :) If the orcs don't come to investigate in a minute, say, why don't we just try Position 4, like you just rolled, and see what happens.

Ok, so I flipped the order in my head, position 4 is Off, and it was in position 4 when Ruisxys opened the doors.

Ah, well, the strategy should hold, I think, however the numbering works. (Ruisxys is clearly not getting top marks in Arithmancy. :p )

So Ghur does not move the lever which means nothing is happening.....

And the Orcs are soon gonna be opening the doors into the hall.

Im sorry im really confused. Perhaps it’s me not getting how all the switches worked, but I rolled two nat 20s for Ghur to understand what me as the player does not and rolled 1d4 for what position…so he would do something even if I as the player am not smart enough
Perhaps with the nat 20s could you explain what the outcome of each position would do (based on Ghur’s knowledge) so I can make an informed decision based on what Ghur knows?

Or…4 is off. We are in 3. 2 is crush? So flip to 2? As a player I think that will crush the orcs now…

Sorry about that, I have the positions flipped from a while

You can't crush the orcs, due to the inner doors needing to be closed to crunch down, but it'll lock the doors instead.

Position 2 is down, 3 is armed, 4 is Off, 1 is Reset

Right, I remember the bit about the doors opening outwards, so they interfere with the trap while they're open. Why don't we go with this: while we've been poking around, we've set the switch to Off; the orcs are going to come running any second now, but that's fine: Ruisxys will call out to Ghur to flip the switch, and take up position outside the entryway to hold attention. Hopefully at least one of the orcs will think to pull the doors closed in case Ruisxys or Ayla tries to charge through and get inside - but closing the doors will give the trap room to spring. Even if that doesn't happen, Ghur and Orne can join the line outside, and at least we've figured out how not to get squished ourselves. Yay! I'll take it. :)

The orcs aren't gonna close the doors behind them.....

Pretty much two choices; Trigger the trap and lock them in for a while, or wait not using it and letting them come to you.

Ghur triggered the trap. It meant either locking them all in, giving the group time to loot the place and get out, or it would mean separating the orcs if only some managed to get out before the doors closed. Either way was good to him. He had no personal vendetta against the orcs, and he wasn’t even being paid for this. He saw no reason to put any of them in more risk than they had to be, all for the sake of broken furniture.

If we go with that - which is fine by me - are we guessing there's a secret door we missed? Well, time for some Perception checks, and if there's no luck there, we can group up and take the orcs on shoulder-to-shoulder. :)

Now that she's straining to listen for it, Ruisxys catches what she thinks is the sound of the mechanism of the trap working through its configurations. While the opportunity presents itself, She turns back to the postern and the chamber beyond to report to the others. Taking the small room in again, she explains, "Well, there's at least a handful more of orcs here, who were surprised and idle enough at seeing me that they weren't keen to follow."

"Based on how the doors open," she adds, "either they'll all come for us, or none, I think, so we can at least choose our time. Surely, though, this place can't be locked down from the outside? Or if it can, there must be another way in, hidden here, or somewhere else."

She starts taking a more careful look at the inner walls, in case she's missed a concealed door. Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

While his friend looked for a secret door, Ghur went to the closed doors.

”Orcs.” Ghur called out. ”I speak to you as a Minotaur. Strength to strength.” He said in a clear and loud voice. ”I could leave you here to starve. Or I could set you free. I have come here seeking treasure, for ones…stronger…that I, have demanded it.” The distaste in his voice was evident. ”Your comrades have already fallen to my axe, but I did not come here for their blood. Or yours. Which is why you let live. Tell me where I can find what I seek, and once it is in my possession these doors will open.”

It was, he thought, worth a shot. Because as much as he would have liked to have crushed the orcs and have been done with it, he was willing to settle for solid information.

There is no sound or anything.....

Ayla comments at the doors

"Ayla don't think Orcs can hear through rock."

Her investigations proving a dead end, and hearing no encouraging sounds floating faintly down the postern access, Ruisxys strides over to the switch, makes sure it's in the safe position for entry, then double-checks her shield and her grip on her sword before going to rejoin Ghur and the others.

"No such luck, then?" she inquires, once she reaches the door. "Well, if they can't be tempted out, I'm afraid we'll have to intrude and politely ask them to leave, at least until we can find something that will satisfy the town. Shoulder-to-shoulder, in case that doesn't sound agreeable to the orcs?"

"Miss Frost, if you please?" the paladin concludes by asking Ayla to get the doors, so she and Ghur can storm into the room and kick up a fuss.

Looks like we're doing this the hard way.

Ghur sighed. ”All that work and we are just going to fight them anyways. Sorry, should have just killed them when we had the element of surprise.” Lifting up his axe he motioned to Rui. ”Ready when you are.”

Ayla thinks a bit then replies

"Ok, Ayla get the trap back up. Though could wait until Orcs go back to bed and then go in?"

that thought stops her as she goes over it again....

"They were ... not particularly alert when I poked my head in, and I jumped back sharpish. Some of them were almost snoring already, and may just have thought I was the Happy Fellow's sister or the like. They may just have thought I was a bad dream as it is, and rolled over."

"Let us be bold! Faint heart never won fair lady!" she says, hoping she sounds more sure of herself than she feels.

Ayla thinks on Ruisxys' words
"Ayla, not sure. Could they be checking if door open?"

"Impossible to tell. We can't talk to them. We can't see them. And the only way forward is through them." Ghur said. Axe in hand, he continued "So I see no option but to cut them down."

What are we here for, again? Maybe they will just give it up.

”We’d need to be able to talk to them first.” Ghur said. ”Orcs aren’t known for that. But if we leave one alive…?” Thinking out loud he said ”We could also camp here for a day. Leave them in there with no food or water. Maybe more. They might be willing to talk then. Or if they fight they’ll be so dehydrated that they won’t be able to do it well.”

"We could wait some as there is a warm place for everyone to warm up at."

Huh. I forgot that this incarnation of Ruisxys actually has a (small) Wis bonus. That said, in the interests of keeping things moving, if there are no objections, I'm happy for us to take our chances doing the slapstick of opening the door only to get a pile of angry orcs falling in our faces from where the orcs were pressed up against the door trying to figure out what was going on.
Worst case scenario, we can always bravely run away. :)

Bravely Run away, in the cold weather?
You'd need to deal with the Cold DC that is already +3 higher due to not taking time to really warm up.

Gah, you're right. Knew I was forgetting something.

This is not like in the stories, Ruisxys thinks, fighting against her absurd sense of disappointment. It's a very small-scale siege, with no shining hosts and banners flying around circumvallations, and...

That's probably very much for the best. Belatedly, it occurs to her that poor Orne probably could do with a bit more time to wrap himself up properly, and get warm.

She releases a small sigh, and nods. "Very well, let's let them rattle around a bit. We can make ourselves a bit more comfortable, and just keep an eye on the switch in case they get more adventurous."

She stifles an unchivalrous thought about how one might handle the unworthy powers of Falcon's Hollow, once she and her friends are done with this wild-goose chase.

To the warming station!

Ghur put a hand on Rui’s shoulder. ”There is no glory in any of us dying needlessly.” He said. ”Those in town would sing songs should it happen. Not in memory of the fallen, but out of joy. For they sent us here to die.” Bitterness dripped on every word. ”Let’s not give them the satisfaction.” Realizing that his hand, meant to be comforting; had begun to squeeze; he let it go. With a deep breath to calm himself he walked away towards the waiting warmth. ”Let the orcs sit in the cold with their thirst. Maybe then they will be willing to talk.”

“You’re right,” Ruisxys says, looking for the bright side. “We might as well get as comfortable as possible while planning to disappoint the Consortium and their creatures, and these.”

“Now that I’m here,” she adds, forcing a bit of brightness into her voice as the group makes their way back to the postern and its warmth, “and thwarted, I find myself becoming deathly curious about what might be inside, just because. I hope there is something more than just ruins and brigands, but I suppose we’ll see.”

Orne sits on the not too cold ground. We hunkering down?

"For now," Ruisxys nods, unstrapping her shield and making herself comfortable, searching in her pack for her whetstone. She looks the martial artist over again to see how he might wrap himself up more comfortably, though she keeps quiet rather than offering annoying helpful hints like a mum. "I hope you can warm up soon, and in the meantime, hopefully the vagabonds might eventually retire for the evening."

For now, she sets about sharpening her sword, in grim anticipation of what their next meeting with the fort's inhabitants might be like.

"Ayla can stand guard as cold don't bug Ayla, go get warm in room with fire."

Valiant as he is, Orne is currently more frozen than valiant and doesn't need to be told twice.

Curse me? I'm gonna mess you up...

"We might as well get as comfortable as we can," Ruisxys says, as she guides her whetstone along the edge of her blade. "I don't know the nighttime routine of the average orc, but it might be worth our while to time our next attempt for when they're likely to have taken their own rest, so that they're off-balance."

Nothing like an obnoxiously perky elf paladin to ruin an orc's beauty sleep. ;)

Tentative plan: wait for our best guess of when they'll be sleeping, and then unlock the doors again and catch them off-guard?

You all get nice and comfy for a good number of hours even dozing off some in the warm room.

While Ayla keeps guard and you all fail to notice that the level moved.

Ayla runs into the room yelling

"Orcs reseting trap. Prepare Fight."

Startling back into alertness from the reverie the cozy fug of the warm, darkling room lulled her into, Ruisxys jumps to her feet and reaches for her shield.

“On our way!” she calls to Ayla, before turning to encourage the gentlemen. “Let’s go! The fewer barbarians they can pack into the passage ahead of us, the less unpleasant it will be!”

With that, she sprints down the hallway, since she really doesn't feel like pushing her way through a sea of heavily-armed orc flesh.