Avinar pats Tristain on the back "For someone just comming along for a story, you have saved our hides many times now, I thank you".
Tristan grins at the elf's compliment "Why thank you Avinard!"
"You may have noticed" Tristan chimes in as he renews his light spell, "That I also know a bit of arcane magic. Nothing so fancy as formal wizard training mind you," he rolls his eyes as he teases Eltariel, "but I have picked up a few tricks here and there. Also, I do have a pretty good knack for using magical trinkets."
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You arrived about two hours before sunset and it must be about a hour to an hour and a half since you entered the cave. You did have the two hour rest during the storm but even with that the adrenline rush since you got here is taking it out off you.
So it's really your choice whether to push on or return to the upper mine to rest.
I consider the itch to move ahead and see what is around the next corner with the state of myself and my comrades.
"There are three settings on the platform: the one above us was the living space, this one is - so far - records and storage, I would suggest the one below us is the mine proper. There may not be much more on this level, so I propose we go a little further before returning to the level above to rest the night."
Besides the possibility of more magic is making my fingers tingle ...
"I agree. We are, on the whole, h- hale and at full strength."
"Yes. We have only scratched the surface of the mysteries of this mine. Let's press on."
Tristan nods, willing to continue on for at least a while longer. He continues down the corrido , alert for the next trap.
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Tristan finds no traps on his way to wards the next area( as shown on the above map)
Three mine carts are scattered around this rather large area, two near a loading dock of sorts and a third tipped over beside a mound of
debris. The area is covered with prominent patches of a slime-like mold. It drips from the ceiling and envelops most of the room’s surfaces.
A detailed metal statue of a gnome similar to the one on the lift stands near the archway that leads further into the darkness
"Be careful, the slime might be dangerous," I warn. I cast another lightspell on another rock and toss it into the room in order to get a better look at the slime without getting too close.
Do I recognise it?
Or perhaps Tristan knows some lore regarding such slime.
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For Eltariel
There's no indication that this is anything other than natural Algae.You might have to watch your footing though if you move quickly
Right for convienience letter the Map A-K across the top and 1-7 down the side.
Tristan is in F2 on the edge of the room with Eltariel behind him at E2 then Gashelle Sahsa and Avinar for once bring up the rear.
"No, it doesn't look dangerous - just slippery," I smile reassuringly. "It never hurts to be on our guard, though." I ready my firebolt in case of any nasty surprises if/when Tristan advances into the room.
"Alright then, here we go." says Tristan.
He moves carefully but quickly across the slippery algae to the loading dock.
From there he tries to get a better look at the statue.
"Look out!"
Eltariel calls a warning and lobs a firebolt into the cart, trying to burn whatever is inside and (presumably) making it move.
I throw a second firebolt after the first one:
While looking to see if there is anything else that might be causing this to move ...
"Wait a minute, it's some kind of clockwork," I guess aloud.
Tristan jumps up on the loading dock () and draws his rapier ().
Can he get a better look at the gnome statue from here?
Sasha loads his crossbow and will fire it if he sees a more sensible target than the cart. Otherwise, he delays.
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The loading dock is about 3 feet high. Tristan can see the statue clearly and can also see into the cart which does not appear to hold anyone. He too notices a whirring and clicking coming from the cart which is still turning slowly towards the entrance.
The statue is not identical to the one on the lift as it has no bowl for a mouth.
Uh-oh. If there is still time, Sasha is going to move away from the entrance at top speed, probably back into the corridor.
Avinar senses the party is in danger as he hears the advance of the gears made by the cart. With an almost supernatural speed Avinar bolts into the room to support his friends.
Once Gashelle posts I'll resolve Avinars actions and we'll see what the cart does.
Nothing heroic, I'm afraid.
Gashelle knows in her bones that it's a trap, and that the environment in this room is about to get unpleasant. She moves back up the corridor to the corner, providing enough space for anyone to join her. As soon as the trap springs, she'll reassess.
Who makes deadly clockworks like this?! she wonders.
Incidentally, is anything coming up behind us?
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Sahsa bolts back down the corridor and round the corner and Gashelle follows him more slowly backing up. Avinar dashes over to the other carts and checks them seeing nothing. The cart finishes its turn then lurches forward heading straight for the only real target it has.....Eltariel standing in the middle of the rooms open space.
With a sickening thud it runs full into the Elven girl sending her flying aside as it speeds across the floor.
The cart slows as it reaches the entrance and its wheels reverse direction skidding on the slimy stone of the cavern
I gasp, every breath is like fire and my head spins. Heaving myself to my feet with my back to the slimy stone wall I dig deep, whispering the words of power that draw the strength of the living world up into me.
Immediately I feel the pain start to ease, and take a step toward the cover of the other ore-trucks.
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The cart is in F2. I'm ruling that Eltariel was knocked sideways because the cart just hit her AC suggesting she was trying to avoid it.So she ended up in G3(she stated she was in G2 and there was no move after that) but kept her balance on the slippery floor so she can move behind the carts bfore casting her spell(sorry Dabbler I was posting in haste there)
Moving away of couse engenders an AoO from the cart...which Misses
Tristan, turns back to face the way they came. The animated mine cart was now behind him. He quickly moves next to the enchanted menace () and strikes with his rapier.
Sasha tries to peek around the corner. Since his crossbow won't help much against a wooden cart, he tries to lob a blob of acid at it. (attack roll 22)(damage 4)
So, back when I was just developing my saddle skills, I had a choice between learning the glaive and the ranseur. My coach, Armsman Drolan, explained that the ranseur was a better weapon for tripping foes, but I'd said that it's unchivalrous to trip a foeman's horse, and I couldn't imagine an unmounted situation where I'd want to trip a foe.
And now I look at this animated little cart of terror, and I see how everyone's attacks bounce off, and it occurs to me how it might be handy to tip it on its side. With a ranseur.
Drolan, now I understand your rueful smile that day. Well, let's let the glaive serve its purpose.
Gashelle moves up to D2 and attacks, aiming for one of its axles.
She would hit (1d20 + 5 =) AC 18, for (1d10 + 4 =) 12 points of damage.
Avinar tries to flank the cart with Gashelle, he swings "mother's kiss" at its side.
Avinar swings trying to cut it in half; however, he missess poorly
Tristan swings at the cart as he dodges out of the way.
Tristan moves back to engage the cart and attacks again.
I grin as the cart disengages, scrambling between the two carts in front of me and onto the pile of rubble to give me a clear shot - this time I know it's just a mechanism, so I'm not trying anything fancy:
"Another t- trap, do we think? Or a s- servant gone m- mad?"
Gashelle drops to one knee and thrusts her glaive at whatever clockworks might be under the carriage as the cart carooms away, hitting Armor Class 17 (or AC 19 if Avinar's providing flanking) for 11 points of damage.
"Nice hit!" I grin at Gashelle. Already my bruised ribs are healing, in a few seconds I'll be as good as new. "I wonder what THAT was guarding?" I muse aloud, and start looking around.
Gashelle clasps her elven comrade-in-arms on the shoulder. She almost manages a straight face as she says "Tristan, m- make sure you r- record Avinar's heroic fl- flanking."
Gashelle clasps her elven comrade-in-arms on the shoulder. She almost manages a straight face as she says "Tristan, m- make sure you r- record Avinar's heroic fl- flanking."
From behind the trucks and carts comes a sound like somebody choking on their own tongue while trying to breath through a sandstorm and being tickled with a feather duster.
"Excuse me," I wheeze, "it's <cough> very dusty back here <wheeze> must be the mould <snork!>" I scrub my watering eyes as my ribs really hurt after that comment ... so does my face struggling not to laugh or even smile. I go back to searching ...
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The storage box of the cart you just destroyed holds 2 metal flasks of water each bearing the symbol of the gnomish god Garl Glittergold, 3 roughly cut topaz gems( valued at 20 gp each) and 1 polished gem (valued at 110 gp).
Eltariel
Straightening up I look at a part of the wall above me.
"Gashelle?" I ask in a neutral tone, "could you bring that glaive of yours over here? I think there's something we should investigate ..."
Gashelle complies. "Ma'am?"