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Im sorry for my part in not pushing things along. I’m afraid this coincided with me moving cities. I’m in one other game and have been a bit lax there too, but the slower pace of this one made it easy to think “I’ll post tomorrow”...then find a week had gone by.
I’d go for south too. In terms of the bigger question, I’m also struggling with the slower pace (but would like to persevere since it was part of the attraction of this game). I will admit I find roll20 difficult to use well I think. I keep losing the map in a big haze of black...
Kertak rests against the wall breathing heavily and nods towards Ulgat in acknowledgement. "Thankyou, Friend," he smiles weakly. "I'm clearly getting slow in my old age."
Seeing more shadowy figures emerging from the gloom, Kertak utters a prayer of blessing before stepping forward to meet the oncoming threat.
Cursing himself for leaving the rear of the party exposed, Kertak turns to the goblins pouring out to ambush the party. Lifting his shield and mace in preparation for battle, Kertak begins a prayer to Ilmater and blesses his companions.
I'm on holiday for the next week but it shouldn't greatly affect my ability to post - we're expecting rather a lot of lounging around in the sun with lots of free time. Figured I'd give a heads up, just in case.
Seeing the bugbear's savage blow, Kertak steps up behind Fornitado. Being sure to leave room to withdraw to safety he places a hand on the half-elf and speaks a prayer. "Best get behind me friend," he says as a surge of healing spreads through Fornitado's body.
Kertak also readies his weapon, looking to Elise for word as he waits to see what Varis has planned.
Kertak enters the room behind Varis, focussing on the remains.
"This is quite disconcerting...," murmurs Kertak. "Every way we turn. No enemies confronting us, but plenty of signs they're about." He waits for the others to enter the room before joining them in the doorway, continuing his practise of keeping look out back the way the party has come.
Before getting ready to proceed through the doorway, Kertak inspects the skeleton hanging on the wall in case he sees something of note.
Kertak remains at the rear for now, but will move up if people need light. "Be careful, Varis," he murmurs quietly. "These rooms can't all be empty." Casting a spell, he offers a prayer of minor protection on whoever enters the room first.
Still nervous about what may lie behind them, Ketak keeps watch back the way the party came as the others investigate the statue. Something killed that goblin. We mustn't lose track of the way out.
“This body isn’t like the others,” Kertak announces. “Nothing mysterious. Our friend here met one of the many dangers we’ve all heard about. I say we press on. I’ll keep an eye out behind if you’ll lead on through the tunnel, Varis?”
Kertak steps forward to lend his expertise in examining the goblin's corpse. This poor soul looks like he suffered a more natural wound. You never know though.
Smiling at Ulgat’s fatalism and Varis’s seeming impulsiveness, Kertak waits for the rest of the group to proceed down the passageway, once more bringing up the rear. “Looks like we’re heading south,” he says to Elise and Fornitado, a twinkle in his eye. “I think there’s a lesson here. Never tell our new friends they shouldn’t do something.”
Taking up his position at the rear, Kertak follows along. When the party reaches the room of pillars he remains at the stairs keeping an eye out for ambush and leaving the investigation of the room to his companions.
Will do. I misread the DM and thought 'the alcove' was the SW corner, rather than the bit with the statue. More mucky bathwater for me! :o
Just as he emerges from the water, Kertak hears Varis's suggestion. Sighing heavily, he wades back into the filth and around the corner, scouting out the southwestern alcove as much as possible, screwing up his face as the water rises up to his waist.
Clambering down from his perch, Kertak wades back through the mucky water to the entranceway, shaking out his pants and wringing out the worst of the polluted water. "Lucky I'm going to be at the back," he smiles. "The entire dungeon would smell us coming otherwise."
Carefully laying the statue's head to one side, Kertak inserts the candle and lights it up, waiting for the flame to catch before setting the sculpted stone head back in place and turning it repeatedly until it it back the way we found it.
"Hmmm...looks like it's built to take something inside. Maybe a candle or lamp or something? muses Kertak, remaining beside the statue of the fish creature with the head in his hands. "I think we should move on and leave it be. Unless one of you is feeling particularly curious? I don't recognise the God this shrine was dedicated to."
"How about I take a look, while the rest of you stand ready in case there's another of those things lurking within?" suggests Kertak. "If one of us is going to have their hands full of stonework, I think we'd rather have your axe free than my mace. Plus...my armor has already taken a beating."
Startled by the sudden assault, Kertak raises his shield defensively and carefully moves back into the shallower water, trying to draw the ooze with him. "Careful not to get too close! Looks like it's just as happy to eat my armor as me," warns Kertak as he cautiously retreats towards the group. "I'll try to lure it out."
Wrinkling his nose, Kertak makes his way to the front of the group before giving them a rueful smile. "Well, if smelling bad is the worst thing I take away from Undermountain, I'll consider myself lucky. I'll see if I can see anything odd about the statue. Keep an eye out for anything moving under the water!" Keeping close to the north wall, Kertak pushes forward into the mucky water to get a close look at the statue and around the corner.
One treatment that I’ve seen (though it’s not what we actually use at the table) is to regard all “clues” as being from two discrete groups: 1. Things you notice and recognise the relevance through deduction (Sherlock Holmes style - “the chalk on the floor is likely from a schoolroom, the murderer is a teacher”) 2. Things you pick up via direct inspection “aha! Tracks!” Then you use passive without asking (kind of an auto-rolled, always on ability of taking ten). You roll whenever you declare you’re searching - with the implicit assumption that if there’s anything there it’s harder to find than your passive score. The idea of “passive investigation” is kind of an odd beast, otherwise. On this take your subconscious is kind of processing the scene all the time.
Kertak follows at the rear of the group, continually checking behind them to be sure they're not being followed. "It seems too me if you've found a concealed passage, we should go that way. One can only surmise that this entrance is well known and well travelled. I'll feel safer once we get free of the major thoroughfares." Smiling almost apologetically, he immediately corrects himself. "Well, safe isn't the right word. A little better defended, maybe."
I haven't played with Roll20 before. Am I right in assuming the DM will kind of handle inter-encounter movement? And we'll just take over when things get "tactical"?
Kertak falls into place at the rear of the group. Trusting his companions to alert him to any danger before them, he devotes a lot of effort to watching back the way they've come. We couldn't open that passage from this side. Who's to say what might be lurking behind it, waiting to stalk us until an opportune time.
"Well, I can often spot traps well enough," he says to Ulgat as Fornitado completes his search. "But there isn't a whole lot I can actually do about them once I see them. I think it's best I remain back here. Especially if there's secret passages about, who knows when we may be jumped from behind." "Varis? Do your scouting skills include the ability to deal with any traps we might run across?"
My realms lore is a little rusty and I don’t remember all those languages. Kertak would speak only common and maybe whatever the Zhentarim speak (common too?)
Barely paying any attention to the holy symbols, Kertak frowns slightly as he struggles to read those fragments of graffiti written in common. Having learned to read only recently, his fingers trace the letters, his lips silently moving as he recalls the words. After a few minutes, he forms up ready to follow the party into the dungeon. “Ominous and cryptic. Yes. Still...we knew there was ruin and horror before we came down. With luck we’ll have more helpful warnings to leave on the way back out.”
Moving to the rear of the group, Kertak murmurs a soft prayer to Ilmater and his shield begins to glow. The sandy chamber filling with a cool, slightly bluish light. ”No fear, Ulgat. I’ll be sure to choose my targets carefully when things get crowded.” “Looks like there’s not much choice,” he continues to the rest of the group, indicating the passage to the Southwest. “Unless anyone wants to dig around here for a bit? I can’t imagine there’s anything of interest in such a busy thoroughfare.” Although not expecting much, Kertak looks around idly at the graffiti on the walls, in case anything leaps out at him.
Brilliant. All good for me now. (Thanks for your patience!)
Cool - getting closer. I can see him and move him around, but the background is all black.
Steve G. (With the dot) I can join the game okay, I just can’t see the map.
Kertak, don't worry about asking questions. it took me a while to learn the ins and outs of Roll20 and I'm happy to fill you in wherever I can. Okay - first question! I'll sit down with the tutorial later tonight, but at the moment if I follow the link I say a title page with some white squares at the bottom and our five pictures. I can't see any map though and it doesn't appear to matter what link I follow - I can open chat windows and things but I must be missing something...(?)
Kertak presents himself at the entrance to the dungeon. It's been a while since he last ventured forth into true danger and although he feels the rush of adrenaline and excitement of joining a new group he can't ignore the tales he's heard of similar parties disappearing without a trace. "We need to work together," he says to Varis, intinctively thinking of the half-elf as the leader of the group. "Might I suggest Ulgat and Elise take the lead? With you and Fornitado next? I'm happy to bring up the rear and keep an eye behind us. Make sure nothing surprises us from there."
"Well, I prefer patching up wounds to dealing them out," confesses Kertak. "But I hold no illusions as to the violence we will face. We live in a dangerous world and when it comes time to fight back, you can rely on me to stand my ground." "Don't hesitate to ask me if you need any healing," he continues, turning to address the group as a whole. "Ilmater has blessed me by his touch and I have pledged myself to him in tending to the world's suffering."
Kertak makes his way back to Lady Rosznar as the group prepares to descend and inclines his head slightly. "Well my Lady, it appears that the Gods have conspired to at least give us reason to hope. I am joining a band to explore the depths. I will keep my eyes and ears open for any sign of your brother. If I find any news, I will do what I can to bring word back to you." He then joins the others at the mouth of the pit, his hands folded together in supplication as he offers a silent prayer to Ilmater. Lord on the Rack, give me the strength to shoulder my companions' burdens and the courage to endure as you teach us we can.
"Honored to meet you, Elise....Ulgat," smiles Kertak. "It sounds like our gamblers over there will soon be able to place another wager. I'll do everything I can to make sure everyone who goes down, comes back up." "When do you think we should leave, Varis?"
I like it. One of the things a good name has is the ability to be shortened (to just "the Lions"....). Kertak is too passive to suggest a name (and also used to joining groups for a limited period rather than genuinely being a member or being there at the beginning). He'll agree to pretty much anything though
"I'm with you, Varis. My name's Kertak, servant of Ilmater," replies Kertak as he inclines his head to Varis, turning to Ulgat as he continues. "From what I hear, there's no surer way to treasure than down that pit....provided we survive, of course." looking across the tavern to the woman he had been speaking with, Kertak points her out to the rest of the group. "Lady Rosznar there believes her brother is lost somewhere in the dungeon. I'm sure returning a lost nobleman to his family would pay a handsome reward also."
Excusing himself, Kertak leaves his companion and makes his way to the group listening to the storyteller. "Good evening, friends. Is there room for another?" asks the older man, as he pulls up a chair to join the circle.
Ugly - screwed up my Aliasing. :( Didn't it used to be possible to mark a "default alias" just for a specific PBP? It doesn't seem to work like that now..
Kertak spends some time surveying the room, nursing his ale. He looks in particular for any old adventuring acquaintances or any newly forming bands who might catch his eye. Barring catching sight of any old friends, he introduces himself to any group that appears to be discussing braving the infamous dungeon, approaching any potential companions with his usual, open smile.
; Kertak watches the drama unfold half rising as the wounded human appears but then sadly retaking his seat as it becomes clear the man is dead. He remains quietly watching as the rest of the party make their return and leave with the priests, seeking to distract his companion from the inevitable train of thought. “It’s true Undermountain holds great dangers,” says the old man seriously. “But there are many stories of those who have endured its perils. Even our landlord himself made his fortune by braving the depths, so I’m told. Don’t give up hope on your brother yet, My Lady. He may well be the next great hero to emerge triumphant! May I ask his name? Was he alone?” Knowing the folly of marching into the great dungeon in search of a single individual, Kertak knows he has very little true aid he can provide. Rather he seeks to offer the worried woman a friendly ear. We mustn’t let the great suffering we can’t reduce distract us from the smaller hurt we can.
Kertak takes a seat opposite the noblewoman, smiling understandingly as he indicates his holy symbol. “Ilmater teaches us that another’s loss is our opportunity to share the burden. Do you have friends you can turn to? Family? Is there anything a travelling priest can do to help?”
Finished up. With cleric, bard and paladin we're pretty decked out healing wise. Add in the sorceror and our persuasion skills are pretty nifty too. We'll be talking our way through Undermountain. :)
Oh yeah. I've got a bit of spending/tweaking to finish up also. Won't take more than a day or two - nothing significant.
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