How about an animated cauldron? They're brutal!
Spoiler:
Hey, Fakey! Good to see you again.
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Faldor! Like Wicht said, Congratulations! How many kids is that for you?
Effan notices Morganst's expression as the man watches Hozs. The sorceror sidles up to Morganst and says quietly, "He's a bit simple, but that boy's heart is pure gold. He doesn't need anymore than that."
"In through the front door then bend around to the right to the last door on the left." Map INto the blacked out room at upper right.
"Gurtlekep seemed friendly with the wolf. Maybe it was guarding the kobald's front door. I'll bet if we take the staris we run into them right away. The secret door might let us sneak in behind them, might lead nowhere. I vote for the secret door."
Effan sits on the bottom stair. He pulls out a bit of food and his waterskin. He takes a few bites and some sips while he waits for Hozs to realize that he won't be able to carry the adamantine loaded pack. "So what's next? Down the stairs in the wolf room? Or through the secret door in the armoury?"
Effan looks up from the pile of goods. "No magic to be found, but what is this made of? It looks like no metal I've ever seen. And I agree with Morganst. The bars are too awkward to take now. Let's box them back up and leave it for now." He picks up the dagger. "Some of the goods on the other hand, could be useful now. Abe or Faldor, could you make use of this." He hefts the dagger.
"I'll try."
"I don't want to upset the boy, but we should destroy that last sack as well when he isn't looking. It will just be trouble otherwise.""Damn straight, droogy." Keegan's approval is no comfort to the gnome. He genuinely likes the soft-hearted druid and doesn't want to upset him. He nods at Morganst's suggestion. "Aye. A distraction."
Effan waits patiently for Hozs to leave with his prize, then sonically blasts the remaining eggsacks. He whispers to Abe and Morganst, "I don't want to upset the boy, but we should destroy that last sack as well when he isn't looking. It will just be trouble otherwise."
Effan sends a lighted rock up the stairs and follows behind, wand at the ready.
"Right, Hozs." Effan shuffles up to the open tower door and peeks inside. He steps on a few errant spiders then looks up for falling spiders or anvils before stepping in.
"When they all wake up, they'll be a mess of trouble. We need to finish them now. Anyone got more oil?"
Seeing the swarm cover Keegan, Effan changes plans. He casts sleep hoping that the swarm is affected first. Sleep description: Spoiler:
A sleep spell causes a magical slumber to come upon 4 Hit Dice of
creatures. Creatures with the fewest HD are affected first. Among creatures with equal HD, those who are closest to the spell’s point of origin are affected first. Hit Dice that are not sufficient to affect a creature are wasted. Sleeping creatures are helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action). Sleep does not target unconscious creatures, constructs, or undead creatures.
His eyes getting bigger as he watches the swarm advance on Keegan, Effan scrambles to pull out his wand.
"Keegan! It's too soon for dinner! They're still coming!" Effan draws his wand.
Effan watches in disbelief as Keegan "drinks" the oil. He's even more surprised when the scout breathes fire.
"Tossem here."Effan pauses briefly in his struggle with his backpack to reply, " a couple vials of oil. And some tindertwigs." "Catch!" Effan softly tosses first one, then the other vial to Keegan. The tindertwig doesn't toss as well, so he picks it up and trots it over to the scout.
Effan pauses briefly in his struggle with his backpack to reply, " a couple vials of oil. And some tindertwigs."
"Hozs! Get out of there!"
Fakey, as soon as you deem reasonable, Effan will dig out an oil flask and tindertwig.
"What's going on in there?"
Effan watches as Keegan swings into action. "Spideylegs r good eatin', but the claws and fangs are sharpish." Keegan charges through the door and tries to flatten one of the new arachnids with his mace, but it scuttles wide of the blow. Attack, damage, skirmish damage bonus (1d20, 1d8+2, 1d6=[3], [6, 2], [2])
Still standing outside, Effan waits for a shot with his wand.
1d20=5+6 = 11 Effan cranes his neck trying to get a view inside the door.
Effan steps back from the door. "Anyone of you big people want to have a go at this door? There's nothing I can do with it." He pulls out his battlewand and readies a rope for throwing.
Effan looks intently at the foreboding tower. He whispers a few words and waves slightly.
As the others begin their march toward the monastery Effan looks at the lizardmen appologetically. "I guess we'll just improvise." He makes sure his battle wand and ropes are handy, then trails off in the wake of the others.
"I don't trust the main part of the monastery. Remember how easily the kobald slipped from room to room. If we're going to set up camp there, maybe the tower would be the best bet, but I think I'd prefer a base out here. A base in the ruins would be too close for comfort."
Effan is nonplussed. That's unusually kind. "Uhh. Thanks, Keegan. Really, thanks a lot. That was great."
A few seconds later the dark-skinned gnome is watching Hozs incredulously. What in Desna's name is that boy doing? Eventually he sees the point of the deadfall. "Yes, Hozs. There is food in there." "Hrmmm... Littlescales savvy gnomers be tasty-like. And we's got two o' them righ'ere, see? String 'em from a tree limb 'n watch 'em dangle. Littlescalefolk be comin' right soon, eh?" Effan's back stiffens. That's more like the Keegan I know. He's probably just blowing smoke. Effan sidles to his right so that Abe is between Keegan and him.
Effan bristles at the tone of the reply, but then considers that's as pleasant as Keegan ever gets. "Thanks. I'll do that." Alas there's not much to dig with. Effan settles for dropping the pack in a depression off the trail and covering it with his tent canvas, and then with brush.
"If we're going to be fighting, I'll need to stow a lot of this here. I can't move with this pack. Keegan, can you give me a hand caching this stuff so it won't be found by patrolling kobalds?" Effan strips his pack down to fighting gear and a day or two of food.
Effan is happy to stop the march and get his pack off his back. He pitches his tent, then pitches in on the camp chores. He's content to just listen to the lizardmen's tales.
Catharine walks through the party then rubs against Hozs' leg to say, "I love you." Then she walks over to a tree and rubs against it. "I love you too."
Effan tries the cloak on. It fits fine, but he looks slightly dissatisfied anyway. I'll take it in a little, there and there and it will be good. But he gives his benefactors a big smile, after all this isn't at all about looking good. "Thank you again."
Seeing the others begin to finalize their choices, Effan feels comfortable making his selection. He draws one of the cloaks of resistance from the stack. "I will wear this with pride and try to be worthy of your trust, " he tells Ssssethisss.
Effan looks over the treasury, holding back, waiting for the others to choose first. He'll ask the lizaradman a little about each item, and how it was made, especially the enchanted items.
Effan looks to Jaden, who has had double his share of the mushroom wine and Hosz who is obviously having trouble keeping track of his digits. Then he decides to speak, "Thank you, Talon Leader Ssssethisss. I think I speak for all when I say we would be glad to march beside you in this cause."
"Fermented mushroom wine? Sounds like something my aunt Roclabsta would serve. Thanks. " After the lizardman leaves Effan tries an experimental sip. He makes a sour face and whispers, "Tastes likesomething my aunt Roclabsta would serve too. " More loudly, "Keegan, I think you might like this."
Effan stifles a snicker at Faldor and his mount, then looks down at his own feet, which despite being in the finest boots to be found anywhere, are starting to get sore. Maybe dignity isn't everything. He begins to silently envy his bardic friend. A feeling that only grows worse when Catharine begins trying to climb his backside looking for a ride of her own. Next pet I get is going to be a pack-dog. Abe is on to something there.
"We came by way of Elara's. We thought it would be more direct than the lumber camp."
Effan also drinks. "Ahh that's good after a long march." He hands it on to whoever is closest.
Effan keeps quiet and lets Faldor speak. With his sugared tongue we might and up with a troop of lizardman allies.
Effan is nonplussed by Keegan's answer. Keegan can't show it, but Abe can look. Then he realizes that Keegan is playing his games again, a comfortingly annoying state. The gnome tells Abe, "See if he'll hand it to you."
"No, it is out of the way to the east. Here, I can show you. Hey, Keegan! Can you show Abe your map?" If Keegan comes across with the map: Spoiler: The numbers on the map are as follows: |