Mortimer Smith's page

Mortimer looks around for a secret door.

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37

"Hey, Gazzilfek" he whispers " -- would you happen to know if there is a space above where all these giant goons are standing on the other side of this door? If so, maybe we can go there and pour molten lava or something all over them."

Mortimer is impressed by the size of the kitchen, but little else within.

And... what a weird place for a kitchen...

He continues up the stairs (F) near Eidi very quietly.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

... or so he thinks.

Mortimer sniffs the air trying to detect the scent of a fresh giant blood trail as it is sucked into a rudimentary teleportation spell.

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29

... nothing.

"So, where might they have gone, Eidi?"

Solrisa’s Mortie tumbles past Kargo into flank and attempts to disarm him!

Swift for Improved Disarm and Greater Weapon Focus

Acro: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (20) + 30 = 50 Single, Haste

DisarmReallyNiceGreatAxe: 1d20 + 26 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 26 + 8 + 2 = 37

Hero: 1d20 + 26 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 26 + 8 + 2 = 39

FortDC24: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 2 = 25 ...+Dragon

What color he has returns to Mortimer as he begins to feel free once more.

FortDC24: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 2 = 22 +Dragon

Mortimer grows even paler as he feels his body freeze up.

Mortimer slides next to Solrisa and pummels the Prone Blue.

Dragon+ElementalFist: 1d20 + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 45 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 12 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 + (2, 1) + 12 + 1 + (4, 3, 1, 3) = 37 +Holy, Mot4W, Cold, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 48 Feast, Glory. Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 8) + 3 + (5, 6) + 9 = 33 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 29 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (10, 10) + 3 + (5, 6) + 9 = 43 +Holy, Dragon (Cold)

Dragon: 1d20 + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 38 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (8, 1) + 3 + (4, 1) + 9 = 26 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 35 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 7) + 3 + (4, 1) + 9 = 26 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 34 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (7, 1) + 3 + (1, 1) + 9 = 22 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 27 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 8) + 3 + (4, 4) + 9 = 31 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 35 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 + (5, 3) + 9 = 26 +Holy, Dragon

Crit Conf?
Dragon: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 17 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 4d10 + 6 + 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (7, 5, 5, 5) + 6 + (4, 3) + 18 = 53 +Holy, Dragon

Haste
Dragon: 1d20 + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 45 Feast, Glory, Haste
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 12 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (2, 10) + 3 + (2, 3) + 12 + 1 + (4, 6, 6, 2) = 51

FortDC24: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 2 = 25 +Dragon

Mortimer tries to finish red off, and if he does he starts in on blue after taking a step to the south and west.

Dragon+ElementalFist+StunningFist: 1d20 + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 35 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 12 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (9, 4) + 3 + (3, 2) + 12 + 1 + (3, 5, 4, 3) = 49 +Holy, Mot4W, Cold, Dragon
Fort DC 22 or be stunned for a round

Dragon: 1d20 + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 43 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 5) + 3 + (4, 1) + 9 = 27 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 38 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (7, 9) + 3 + (1, 5) + 9 = 34 +Holy, Dragon (Cold)

Dragon: 1d20 + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 22 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 39 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 + (1, 3) + 9 = 24 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 32 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (8, 6) + 3 + (4, 1) + 9 = 31 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 17 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 23 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 + (1, 1) + 9 = 21 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 16 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 9) + 3 + (5, 3) + 9 = 30 +Holy, Dragon

Dragon: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 16 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 + (6, 6) + 9 = 31 +Holy, Dragon

Haste
Dragon: 1d20 + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 27 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 44 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 12 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (10, 2) + 3 + (4, 4) + 12 + 1 + (4, 4, 2, 6) = 52

Mmmmm... licorice root!

Mortimer smacks his lips, very pleased indeed.

”C’mon, Sol. Let’s knock some Giant heads together.

Mort makes a move on the nearest Giant Jerk/Lackey.

Dragon+ElementalFist+StunningFist: 1d20 + 27 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 27 + 1 + 1 = 44 Feast, Glory
For Damage: 2d10 + 3 + 2d6 + 12 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (2, 10) + 3 + (1, 2) + 12 + 1 + (4, 5, 2, 5) = 47 +Holy, Mot4W, Cold, Dragon
Fort DC 22 or be stunned

Mortimer folds his arms awaiting the answer.

"Uh, I guess it is this way."

Mortimer tries to trace their steps back to where they last saw Kargo. He heads up the stairs.

D -> C -> Dining Hall

KnowDungeon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"Someone... like us"

"YES!" Mortimer agrees emphatically.

"Why is he so shouty?"

”Because Sol, actually in ways other than size he is a very small giant. Also, because his vocal chords have to be the size of giant anacondas.”

~~~~

"Perhaps. Perhaps we should be heading to Kagro and taking the truth out of his throat and the key out of his neck"

Mortimer’s eyes get wide and he takes a slight step away from the Half-Elf elder in surprise.

Man, he takes the ‘r’ and ‘e’ out of ‘thurge’.

He gazes in perplexment at the gnome as he speaks. ”Uhh, after what Eidi just said? Are you kidding?”

BluffAid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"Yah, Kargo. that greedy son of hill giant..."

Mortimer briefly gazes back at the spriggan indifferently.

”So you don’t know either.” he states with confidence. ”The Wind Dukes then.”

He takes a good look around Vercinabex’s study.

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31

What to give a giant that has everything?

Mortimer looks at Eidi, then the shudderig giant, then back again at Eidi.

"Did he -- did you Vercinabex -- did he just cast a spell?!" he queries. "Wow!"

Mortimer frowns upon meeting the Frost ilk.

"Is he sane, possessed, or are they just like this?"

Without removing his eyes from the Frost Giant, he addresses Gazzilfek.

"What do you mean, he needs some fresh air? Did you do that? Do we take him outside?"

He addresses Vercinabex. "So, does this mean you don't have any answers?"

Between these undead and the druids stand a group of brave heroes, single-handedly holding off the advancing undead. The four individuals have a very familiar look about them..

”You may be the last of a long line, the only surviving heirs to the Vaati legacy. As such, I have come to advise you one more time."

Mortimer side eyes all of his companions. Is He saying we’re all related by blood?

”Second, like Eidi said, we need the ‘Ritual of Opening’. That sounds like something really specific. I don’t have a Ritual of Opening, anyone have any ideas on how we can get one of those?”

”Why is Alistor older? Do ghosts age? What is he? Also – he said ‘to reach it, you must look into your memories, your souls. Find the Ritual of Opening, and use the Vault Keys.’ . Does that mean anything to you? How do we look into our souls collectively? And why does that image resemble us? Is it fate, or is it to be believed at all?”

”Maybe it is good to go talk with this Vercinabex and find out what the giant knows. “

Mortimer nods. He looks at Solrisa.

”Though it is unlikely, there could be cookies.”

Mortimer follows Eii’s lead looking for Vercinabex’s nearby bedroom.

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (3) + 24 = 27

”Another bas-relief?” Mortimer asks in dis-belief. ”What is with these storm guys and their bas-reliefs?”

He pulls out The Lightning Sword and holds it aloft towards the Vault. "Sol, do you still have the Sword of Aaqa (link)? Draw it, let's see if it reacts."

"You ever heard the sound of a dwarf skull popping? Really calms me down."

”Wow… that’s actually really … sad.”

”Are we passing by the kitchen? We could stop by, maybe?"

Mortimer agrees with Solrisa and Eidi. ”Yea… maybe some cookies might cheer us up.” He requests a barkskin.

Or just anyone else to speak to.

"We were there? Oh! Is that when I was wearing my cool black booties, but before my pretty blue booties? Is that when that was?"

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (7) + 24 = 31 Kargo lurking? Anything?

”Er, aaah, yes I think so...” he replies. ”It was a while ago.”

Mortimer admires Eidi’s skill in trying to jog the Giant Bram’s memory. He hopes the enormous humanoid doesn’t break down and sob.

He hastily writes on a napkin: ”Endless dragons, and for what?” and hands it to Bram.

DiploAid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

SenseMotive: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (3) + 24 = 27

As they follow Bram to the Vault Mortimer whispers quietly, "Watching our backs, I think Kargo may suspect." he gestures silently at Bram since Bram is not looking.

He begins to reminisce out loud. ”Remember Icosiol’s (link) Tomb? With the Wind Duke’s blessing (link) you would think we’d be in better standing with the Order of the Storm. You can not have a storm without wind, after all.”

He then adds very quietly, ”I wonder if what we found there in the tomb would have any effect here on the vault.”

"There is something odd in here. A force that keeps the giants under control. I have momentarily touched that force, it commands them to protect Kongen Thulnir from the dragons."

Bram frowns, averting his eyes from the commander to look at you. "You were, but so were they."

Mortimer holds up the group's collection of dragon heads.

"Well, then," Mortimer proclaims, slightly louder than usual. "We'll just show ourselves inside."

He heads for the double doors leading into the Citadel.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (19) + 24 = 43

"You lie!" bellows Mortimer. "You haven't talked to Kagro at all! Is it too hard for you? I guess you're afraid of him!" Mortimer growls loudly.

"How about you lads up there? Are any of you braver than Bram Skulker?!"

”We will present one dragon head as proof of our work”

Mortimer silently holds up a white dragon head.

AidDiplo: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 +10 Circumstance bonus for symbolism?

"Will you be bringing us cookies or cheese while we wait?"

”Right, remember we’ve come to challenge Kag ,” he says quietly, rolling his eyes as he utters 'challenge'.

””Though,” he continues looking about to see if Gazzilfek is still around. ”I said ‘knock out’. I never said anything about robbing corpses.”

Not much liking this joyless gnome. Still.

Mortimer keeps his patience, bites his tongue, and waits for someone more gifted in diplomacy than him to speak.

He slowly inhales, then slowly exhales.

”Sure, Mortie! Are we going to slay giants now or find other dragons to slay”

Mortimer grunts, and after Eidi speaks he replies, ”Neither, Sol. We’re going to do something better. I have become convinced that neither the GIants nor the Dragons of the Mist – evil though they be – are not our immediate enemies. They are victims, doomed by the will of Dragotha whose soul ‘lives’ on in the phylactery. The phylactery we are going to destroy.”

He pauses briefly in his upward airwalk to the Citadel, ”That should do away with a great deal of evil – more than all the remaining dragons in this mist. And who knows – perhaps then the tendrils of evil that bind them to this place will dissipate along with the -- them. I can’t help but think that’s what Vermirox is keying in on whether he realizes it or not. I think he secretly wants it destroyed too so he can go die in peace.”

"But fine, today we will walk the path of words rather than war. I guess that means, we leave, for now"

Yea, if we destroy the phylactery then quite possibly we do not have to deal with you at all, jerk.

Mortimer relaxes and picks up the dragons' heads he dropped. "Yea. In awhile, crocodile." He nods towards where he thinks the unseen dragon is and starts air-walking back to the Citadel.

"C'mon, Sol."

Senile dragons...

”You're grave robbers, are you not?”

Grave robbers? Wait… what?!

”Uh, Mort? Mort friend? Uhm..."

”Right here, Sol,” he replies immediately, sharing her inner desire to peg this dragon between the eyes with some kind of dragon blessed arrow of smiting.

”Nah, I don’t think we like killing quite as much as you,” Mortimer replies to the blue dragon, trying to follow and predict the location for the next Whooshthud. ”Besides, there's nothing in this dump we want. If we kill Brazzemal for you – what then? You’re so bloodthirsty you’re likely to become the New Brazzemal, and then we’ll just have to kill you for someone else. Because that is how you chromatics operate. No - you can’t see me but I’m shaking my head – not today.”

”We especially don’t like the idea of you leveling anything from above…” he concludes, hoping for some protective magics.

He drops the dragon heads he's carrying and, as they say in the parlance of some time, “puts up his dukes”.

"Where is it, this phylactery?"

I wish we knew. ”Well,” Mortimer starts, ”If you could see me, you’d see me pointing toward the Citadel, then shrugging. Then you would see me pointing away from the Citadel – then shrugging.”

“We thought we’d start here, you see, but we have only just arrived.”

"Oh, O.K. then," Mortimer whispers in response to Eidi.

Mortimer waves to the giants and joins the others.

Mortimer goes with the tone.

Hrm, that sounded haughty, but, it also sounds like he answered my question.

”Thank you~” he says to the disembodied voice. ”Thank you for that answer, he states.

his words roll smoothly in Draconic.

Mortimer blinks rapidly a couple of times at the transition, then focuses on Eidi’s tone. Well, that sounded like an ultimatum and straight to the point.

He folds his arms and listens for the dragon’s response.

Mortimer positions himself mid-party and addresses – mostly the fire giants -- for he knows they can hear him.

”Ho, this dragon – did you hear it? It hides from us still. Why do you suppose that is?”

Well, this is probably a stupid thing to do...
He then directs his voice toward the space he heard the dragon’s voice.

”Do you care to speak in common, or are you too old to know common? Why do you still conceal yourself?”

Mortimer perks up and listens as Gazzilfek speaks.

Huh. He’s got talent. He then swings his head in the other direction to see the giants’ responses. As the upper giant retreats into the Citadel, he focuses on the commotion beyond its walls.

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (9) + 24 = 33

For now he tries to ignore the dragon roar.
Yea. We figured you were still there.

Mortimer shrugs and follows along albeit somewhat reluctantly, dragging the dragon heads behind him.

When Ascaria starts addressing the Giants, he stops and disinterestedly looks away and out over the mist rubbing the inside of his giant-facing nostril with his thumb.

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (20) + 24 = 44

”Is that discolored patch of stone work to the right of the main entrance – that looks like another way in.” How far from the main entrance? Can we sneak in without having to show off our dragon kill?

”Maybe if we have to, we can convince them we belong after showing them our bounty,” Mortimer states, holding up the dragon heads.

Ramps... Spring... we dug them up, roasted them and ate them with some nice pepper sauce... Too bad it's not that kind of ramp.

Mortimer's stomach growls.

Mortimer moves with the others, keeping an eye on the rear dragging along the dragon heads.

Ready to go pick a fight, Mortimer beats his right fist a couple of times into his left palm. He then picks up the dragon heads and begins to walk back toward the palace.

Dex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

He nearly trips on the thin air when his foot doesn't catch. He looks at the gnome.

"So, are we airwalking back or what?"

Mortimer ponders as banter bounces.

"Oohhhh... so Bagg looked everywhere that he had access to in the Palace, did he?" says Mortimer, as if everything has become transparent. "So, Kagro Thundersmiter only has one key, and the second keys lies beyond the door the first key unlocks."

He ponders a bit more.

"So, maybe we knock out Kag and take his key."

”It's *so* good when evil dragons die. I think Apsu smiles ever more when that happens."

”Yea – maybe if we could take out this entire squadron he’d be even more impressed, but maybe there is a faster way besides decapitating them all. Take out the biggest one, and the rest will scatter and nature will take care of itself. The biggest one counts for all.”

”So the Captain wants a key.”

”Yea, – yea! That might just be the way to the biggest guy!”

Mortimer helps himself to a couple of figs. ”Here, have some goat cheese,” he offers everyone.

...

Don’t dragons sleep on diamonds or something? He ingests some biscuits and waits to hear the spriggan’s response to Ascaria and Eid’s questions.

Mortimer will collect every dragon head Sol "produces" that can be carried.

Mortimer uses a chainsaw used blade of some sort to try to hew the head off the blue dragon. After struggling with it for a while, he asks Sol to just do it. ”How many can we carry?”

After Gazzilfek has gone off with his journal, Mortimer agrees with Ascaria. ”Which do you think would be more useful to him? I’m guessing the one that bolsters his defense. He’s probably picked on a lot because – because some people do not like oration. Or whatever it is he does.”

"Not today, Sol... no green here." Mortimer picks up the Dark Blue Rhomboid and takes a closer look at it.

He feels drawn into the rich deep shade which pulls and tugs his brain. Stretching. Oooh, body conditioning -- but for the brain. "I like this one," he states, putting it into orbit around his head. "It's classy, and... uh, reminds me of the ocean."

”It seems as though folks are resting for the day - both the dragons and the giants. Perhaps we should do the same."

Mortimer sighs considering this, albeit reluctantly. He looks at Ascaria, then to Gazzilfek scribbling away, then back to Ascaria. Maybe the little guys are tuckered out.... He shrugs, looking in the direction of the blood trail. "Fine by me. She won't be going anywhere soon, I hope."

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (20) + 24 = 44
”Maybe follow the sounds of the groaning or sobbing dragon? Or maybe the blood trail.”

He starts heading in the same direction Necrozyte was last seen heading.

Or at least thinks he does.