Roylenna will ready her action to use her Heavenly Fire on the ghast, as stated earlier, whether she gets to act on the surprise round or has to wait until the first round of combat.
Ok, had to fix my move when I finally figured out where we all are. Now that Hella has moved to safety, Ka'kara will take a 5' step up next to Sandros (so we are side by side) and then hold a strike until it approaches.
Raging, overhand chop, power attack, sickened deathblow (1d20+4=19, 2d6+14=25)
And Proteus will help Royl hop up on top of the mausoleum.
As the ghast appears Hella is quick to withdraw, while Ka'kara steps forward. The ghast steps out into 2227 and is struck by a devastating blow from Ka'kara. Reeling, it scratches furiously at her, but seems to be blinded by the blood and gore oozing from the wound. It only manages to scratch her slightly
As you all start to get your bearings, a crossbow bolt from Hella whizzes by.
Ka'kara is up, then the ghast and Sandros.
fortitude save while raging and sick (1d20+5=13)
Ka'kara smiles as her blade bites deep and smiles wider at it's pitiful attempt at retaliation. Glancing at the small wound left across her arm, "Ha! You call that a wound it's but a scra......."
A sudden grimace crosses Ka'kara's face and she seems to be strugging through molasses but continues to move by tapping some unknown core of strength to resist the effects of the ghasts claws, ".....tch"
raging overhand chop sickened attack (1d20+6=16, 2d6+10=19)
She will also take a 5'step forward to 2228.
The ghast crumples under Ka'kara's furious blow, leaving only the stench behind.
There is only one visible exit and that's the doors to the west. Or do you want to explore the mausolea first?
The ghast crumples under Ka'kara's furious blow, leaving only the stench behind.
There is only one visible exit and that's the doors to the west. Or do you want to explore the mausolea first?
Explore, of course! Proteus is fascinated.
The mausolea are all older and show a better workmanship than the orcish graves above. The style of the decorations is, as mentioned above, ancient Viridian, but in a peculiar style that Proteus (or any of you) doesn't recognize.
Unfortunately they all seem to have been plundered long ago (small wonder in this monster-infested dungeon), and contain only an empty sarcophagus each. The exception is where the ghast appears to have stashed its loot, for in one mausoleum there is a neat pile of a masterwork studded leather armor, a masterwork shortsword and a backpack containing two weeks worth of (spoiled) rations, a vial of holy water, a set of thieves' tools, 50 feet of hemp rope, a grappling hook and a small wooden box.
Whoever once carried this loot seems to have been eaten and his bones mingled with the bones littering the floor.
Sandros collects the items from the tomb, offering a small prayer of thanks as he does so. He distributes the items for carrying, but lingers over the armor. He shakes his head, though, and offers it to Ka'kara. "'Twas your blow that felled the ghast, before the rest of us could even move. First choice should be yours."
Roylenna pokes through the treasure eagerly.
Sandros collects the items from the tomb, offering a small prayer of thanks as he does so. He distributes the items for carrying, but lingers over the armor. He shakes his head, though, and offers it to Ka'kara. "'Twas your blow that felled the ghast, before the rest of us could even move. First choice should be yours."
Ka'kara smiles broadly at Sandros, "Whatever it was it was tough. Took two of my best blows to fell it and by the spirits have you ever smelled such a stench before?!" Though she is definitely interested in the armor she is momentarily distracted by the box. You can see the curiousity burning in her. She picks it up and looks inside.
Inside the box there is 25 gp and a potion of some sort.
I suppose you will want to take a stab at identifying it and then move towards the door? There doesn't seem to be much else of interest in this hall.
She hands the box over to Lenna, "Some gold and a drinking flask." Looking over the armor, "I'll have to adjust it a bit to fit but it looks as if it was made with a woman in mind."
Sandros nods, then turns to Proteus. "I'd guess you've no need for this, my friend?" he asks, holding up the short sword. Assuming that's the case, he slips the blade into his belt, opposite his rapier .
Sandros nods, then turns to Proteus. "I'd guess you've no need for this, my friend?" he asks, holding up the short sword. Assuming that's the case, he slips the blade into his belt, opposite his rapier .
Roylenna concentrates for a moment before looking at each of the items.
Roylenna picks up the thieves' tools, looking at each one carefully. "Hella, do you have need of these? Or is anyone else interested? I've seen my cousins work with them and played with some once, but I've never had a set of my own."
Hella speaks to Roylenna, "I have a set already, but thank you for asking. I would be happy to start instructing you in their proper use, though. Perhaps you might have some hints for me as to how to make use of arcane talents to more effectively identify and appraise items, like this potion for example.
With some trouble Roylenna is able to ascertain that the potion radiates faint transmutation magic, but that is about all. You'll have to pocket it until Hella learns to identify it
After pocketing (or wearing, as the case may be) the loot, you decide to try the doors. Since they are unlikely to be trapped from the inside, Hella cautiously opens them, while you are ready for anything that might spring at you.
With a sigh of relief you notice that all that lies ahead is a 80 feet long corridor (20 feet wide), ending in another pair of double doors. Evenly spaced along both walls at 10 feet intervals are a number of panels of highly polished metal, sort of a number of large bronze mirrors (3 feet high and 2 feet wide, set 2 feet above the ground).
Do you want to try the doors?
With a sense of walking into trouble, Hella cautiously approaches the first mirror on the right side, avoiding stepping in front of it. "This looks like trouble." Hella warns. She searches the floor under and around it for any sort of trigger.
Perception: Perception: (1d20+4=12)
With a sense of walking into trouble, Hella cautiously approaches the first mirror on the right side, avoiding stepping in front of it. "This looks like trouble." Hella warns. She searches the floor under and around it for any sort of trigger.
Perception: Perception: (1d20+4=12)
It appears to be a quite normal mirror.
"Could it be some sort of magical protection?" Sandros asks, equally wary.
"Probably, but I don't detect any sort of trap. I just get a sense that this is trouble." Hella replies. Eyes squinted, she continues on up the right side of the corridor.
Hella continues (unmolested) to lead the way, knocking suspiciously on the mirrors on the right side before passing any of them. Suddenly she freezes as he hears a hollow sound when tapping the sixth mirror. There seems to be some kind of hole behind it. (Sandros' keen elven senses can confirm that.)
Hella speaks to Roylenna, "I have a set already, but thank you for asking. I would be happy to start instructing you in their proper use, though. Perhaps you might have some hints for me as to how to make use of arcane talents to more effectively identify and appraise items, like this potion for example.
Eyes sparkling, Roylenna wraps the tools up carefully and tucks them away, "It would be my pleasure!"
Referring to the rest of the items, she reports, "These do not appear to be enchanted, but this little flask's contents have a magical dweomer on them."
(Sandros' keen elven senses can confirm that.)
At first Ka'kara takes great interest in the hallway and the polished plates but as there careful search wears on she becomes fidgity and even moreso as they stop and carefully search one particular plate. "Are they dangerous? Doesn't seem so as we have walked past quite a few now." With a sigh as Sandros joins the monotonous proceedings, "What's so special about that one?"
At first Ka'kara takes great interest in the hallway and the polished plates but as there careful search wears on she becomes fidgity and even moreso as they stop and carefully search one particular plate. "Are they dangerous? Doesn't seem so as we have walked past quite a few now." With a sigh as Sandros joins the monotonous proceedings, "What's so special about that one?"
Roylenna has learned the importance of patience when exploring, but that makes it no easier to wait...
Speaking of waiting, "Ka'kara, can I take the bandage off my spirit mark yet?"
Thankful for the distraction, "No, not yet. We should be able to take it off by tomorrow." She comes over and gives a stern look to Lenna as she re-adjusts the bandage, "and stop messing with it. Your making it come loose."
(Sandros' keen elven senses can confirm that.)
Yes, you could simply lift the mirror off the wall. There seems to be some sort of passage behind it, but it is only 3 feet high and 2 feet wide, so you would have to crawl (excepting Hella and Roylenna, who would just have to stoop). It goes on for about 20 feet, then turns abruptly to the right.
Thankful for the distraction, "No, not yet. We should be able to take it off by tomorrow." She comes over and gives a stern look to Lenna as she re-adjusts the bandage, "and stop messing with it. Your making it come loose."
As Ka'kara is fussing with the bandage and giving her charge instructions, Proteus clearly sees an eyeroll that he would have associated with a human teen. "I didn't mess with it, honest! I'll leave it alone." Slight groan accompanies this last.
Groaning louder at Hella's detailed inspection, Roylenna sinks to the floor across from the suspect mirror and begins softly singing a song of adventure and excitement, but there is at least one verse that's much slower. If anyone cares to listen to the lyrics, it's about sitting on one's arse while the others inspect the dust in the crypt.
Sandros grins at Ka'kara. "That is why we are going so slow, milady," he says. "Trust me - when a rapier man starts to go slowly, there's always a good cause." He turns back to the passage, frowing down it. "I dislike putting the two of you in danger, but if we are to explore this passage, those who can move easiest should lead. Hella? Roylenna? What do you say?"
"That would be the most prudent course." Hella says in agreement. She hops up to the start of the tunnel and continues on.
"That would be the most prudent course." Hella says in agreement. She hops up to the start of the tunnel and continues on.
As Hella enters the passage, she notices a small hole in the ceiling at the point where the passage turns.
Hella looks back to Roylenna and whispers, "Please hold here. Allow me to scout out that hole up above." Hella quietly creeps up towards the hole.
Stealth: Stealth (1d20+12=28)
As Hella creeps close enough to the hole to take a look at what's there, she is shocked to see the monstrous head (most of it eyes and mandibles) and forelegs of some kind of centipede at least as big as herself. As it doesn't appear to have noticed you, you could take a stab at it in the surprise round or you could retreat.
"There is a bug up that hole. It's larger than I am." She whispers to Roylenna.
"There is a bug up that hole. It's larger than I am." She whispers to Roylenna.
With Sandros' suggestion, Roylenna leaps to her feet, but Hella's caution brings her up short again. She waits for Hella to report back.
Hearing of the bug, she wonders out loud, "If we can get it to follow us out of the hole, I think Sandros and Ka'kara would make short work of it. Let us return and tell them and I will use my magic to attract its attention. If I am the only one it sees, I suspect it will come after me -- the rest of you can attack as it comes out of the hole while I retreat."
Roylenna will lead the way back to the hallway and explain her plan to the others. "... and I think we should take the mirror from the opposite wall so it does not see the ambush in the reflection."
The plan (spoilered for space):
If this is agreeable to the others, her plan (when they are ready) is to stand in the hallway opposite the hole (where the second mirror was removed), cast a fresh Dancing Lights and position them above her so they are not directly visible, but they illuminate her and at least the first part of the tunnel. Then, she will cast Ghost Soundto attempt to create the sound of squeaking rats moving down the hole toward the creature. If the creature appears to be coming toward her, she will retreat down the hallway in whichever direction would put the creature under Ka'kara's sword.
In spite of Roylenna's best efforts, the bug won't budge. Do you want to leave it alone and explore elsewhere or do you have another plan?
"Hella, did you see the bug move? Is it possible that it's actually already dead?"
"No, I didn't see it move. Should I try to sneak back up to it and stab it be sure?" Hella whispers back to Roylenna.
"No, I didn't see it move. Should I try to sneak back up to it and stab it be sure?" Hella whispers back to Roylenna.
"Yes, but let's do it this way. Several of us have bows - we can wait at the entrance to the tunnel, ready to fire. I will send my Lights down the tunnel to illuminate - and maybe draw it out. If it doesn't come out, you sneak down and stab it. If it attacks, run back - but stay against the wall so we can shoot past you."
"It could be dangerous, so you will have to decide for yourself if you want to do it. If you don't want to, I can do it."
Ka'kara hefts the now displaced piece of bronze that used to cover the secret passage, "How about I go and block the hole with this metal? Than you can pass unmolested. Here grab another of the mirrors and we can wedge it in place so it stays."
Ka'kara hefts the now displaced piece of bronze that used to cover the secret passage, "How about I go and block the hole with this metal? Than you can pass unmolested. Here grab another of the mirrors and we can wedge it in place so it stays."
"That's fine if we don't want to know what's down the tunnel. We could return later, too, I suppose..."
Ka'kara will take the loose mirror and try and wedge it to cover the hole in the ceiling.
Ka'kara crawls into the passage, using the mirror as a shield and wedging it over the hole. She hears skittering above, so it appears to be working. The passage continues to the right for about 20 feet and then turns left abruptly. Do you want to proceed?
Seeing the metal sheet is now securely wedged in place Ka'kara will go ahead and take a look around the next corner smiling the whole way that her plan worked....