Since Proteus picked up the gold earring, Roylenna will take a moment to investigate the dagger.
Sandros picks up the dagger, but finding it goblin-sized , he hands it to Royl, noting her interest and that it would be more useful to her. A quick wipe later she notices that though the dagger is rusty, it is of good workmanship and quite serviceable .
Sandros picks up the dagger, but finding it goblin-sized , he hands it to Royl, noting her interest and that it would be more useful to her. A quick wipe later she notices that though the dagger is rusty, it is of good workmanship and quite serviceable .
** spoiler omitted **
Sandros (flashback to Warwik):
Sandros (flashback to Warwik):
** spoiler omitted **
He gladly takes Neras' hand as he readies himself to leave, and Sandros departs the governor's residence with a small, strange sense of kinship, and even a newfound spark of hope.
Now what?
Perception 6+4=10
Stealth 17+0=17 (untrained)Initiative 17+0=17
Proteus follows trying to be extra quiet to somehow makeup for Sandros' slip on the bones of the unfortunate goblin. "Well, if they didn't know we were here before, they do now," he whispers to Royl.
Sandros warily proceeds, cursing the clattering bones. As he reaches the top of the stairs, he notices that the room is approximately 30 feet across and 60 feet wide . There are two visible exits, a passage stretching northwards and one to the east .
Flanking each of the exits are some sort of natural platforms with walls, reaching to a height of 18 feet. The floor is set with a mosaic pattern that forms a sort of carpet of stones in the middle of the room, stretching away into the north and east passages.
Suddenly a haggard-looking woman with dead eyes, grey skin and sharp teeth, obviously a ghoul, emerges from hiding in a natural alcove to the northwest and charges at Sandros, slashing wildly but clumsily with her sharp claws. A silver bracelet glitters on her arm, a remnant of happier days.
Sandros picks up the dagger, but finding it goblin-sized , he hands it to Royl, noting her interest and that it would be more useful to her. A quick wipe later she notices that though the dagger is rusty, it is of good workmanship and quite serviceable .
As soon as Sandros is ready to relinquish the lead, Grond will step up. (Darkvision)
For now, Grond follows silently behind, but mentions to Sandros that he fears a tripwire ahead, and that Sandros should remember that no matter how foul and stupid orcs might be, they are always cunning.
He retrieves his javelin from the impaled rat, cuts off an ear as a souvenir, and watches Sandros stoop to pick up the rusty dagger.
So, Dancing Lights are up ahead with Sandros and Light is back here with Proteus, is that correct?
Oops, surprise combat round! Hmm, surprised ok. Here are any and all rolls I may use:
Init: 3+3=6
Perception: 12+5=17
Stealth: 7+7=14
Melee attack: 2+5=7
Ranged Attack: 2+3=5
If possible, Grond will charge the ghoul on his turn. If that is not possible, Grond will move to a shadowy corner of the room and hide in shadows.
Sandros warily proceeds, cursing the clattering bones. As he reaches the top of the stairs, he notices that the room is approximately 30 feet across and 60 feet wide . There are two visible exits, a passage stretching northwards and one to the east .
Flanking each of the exits are some sort of natural platforms with walls, reaching to a height of 18 feet. The floor is set with a mosaic pattern that forms a sort of carpet of stones in the middle of the room, stretching away into the north and east passages.
Suddenly a haggard-looking woman with dead eyes, grey skin and sharp teeth, obviously a ghoul, emerges from hiding in a natural alcove to the northwest and charges at Sandros, slashing wildly but clumsily with her sharp claws. A silver bracelet glitters on her arm, a remnant of happier days.
On her turn, Roylenna will try to hustle to her left
Unfortunately, her footing slips and it's all she can do to maintain her balance. Any other action she had in mind is lost.
Second round actions:
You can't quite make it out, but the platforms look like little balconies with parapets if that makes it any clearer.
I will cast guidance on either Rana or Sandros. Rana if he goes after me (since he's standing right beside me), Sandros if Rana goes before me (moving up to G15).
You can't quite make it out, but the platforms look like little balconies with parapets if that makes it any clearer.
As Rana follows Sandros into the ruins he tries to keep his ears and eyes open and ready for anything. When the rats attack he manuevers around to try to get into position to attack the things but has trouble getting around Sandros. "Highborn you need to be quicker and get out of the way sooner so that we may attack these things together. Side-by-side we defend each other."
When the ghoul lurches out of the dark and attacks Sandros, Rana steps to the side a bit and lashes out with his whip. The ghouls eratic movements cause Rana's whip to scitter along the floor of the cavern and under the things feet. "Foul thing!" Rana curses and moves forward to engage the ghoul with his short sword.
As Rana follows Sandros into the ruins he tries to keep his ears and eyes open and ready for anything. When the rats attack he manuevers around to try to get into position to attack the things but has trouble getting around Sandros. "Highborn you need to be quicker and get out of the way sooner so that we may attack these things together. Side-by-side we defend each other."
Sandros laughs. “Now now, no need to blame me just because you’re slower than a half-orc! I think I can handle myself against a couple of rodents with delusions of grandeur. But you’re welcome to step up and get a piece of the action next time!”
Suddenly a haggard-looking woman with dead eyes, grey skin and sharp teeth, obviously a ghoul, emerges from hiding in a natural alcove to the northwest and charges at Sandros, slashing wildly but clumsily with her sharp claws. A silver bracelet glitters on her arm, a remnant of happier days.
“I specifically said I did not want to go back to the crypt!” Sandros shouts plaintively, his rapier dancing in front of him. Sparks fly from the thing’s claws as he parries her away. Seeing an opening, he thrusts with an almost textbook precision, then sidesteps , clearing the way for the others to attack. He tosses Rana a sideways glance, gesturing with his off-hand in a “right this way” movement.
Rapier attack (1d20+5=24, damage 1d6+2=8)
The ghouls eratic movements cause Rana's whip to scitter along the floor of the cavern and under the things feet. "Foul thing!" Rana curses and moves forward to engage the ghoul with his short sword.
As the whip attack goes wide, Sandros smirks visibly, for just a moment.
Sandros stabs the creature right through the lung, enough to give any living creature pause, but apart from a wheezing sound, the creature in undeterred. She throws herself at him and sinks her teeth in his neck, barely missing the jugular
Roylenna tries to move into a better position but trips and goes tumbling down the stairs Seeing the danger of rushing up the stairs, Proteus casts Guidance on Rana and carefully makes his way up to G14 . Rana climbs to H14 but fails to engage the ghoul with his whip. Dropping it he gets ready to draw his shortsword instead. Throwing caution to the wind Grond takes the stairs in powerful strides and charges the ghoul, but his sword goes wide.
Round 2 is up, first Sandros, then the ghoul and the rest of you. Roylenna is at the base of the stairs, with an action left to either stand up or heal herself.
Dropping it he gets ready to draw his shortsword instead. Sorry, but you can't take a 5' step, attack and move in the same round, especially not in difficult terrain.
He tosses Rana a sideways glance, gesturing with his off-hand in a “right this way” movement.
Looking at Sandros with concern as the ghoul take a chunk out of his neck Rana advances on the ghoul with a hungry grin. "Are you gonna be ok?" he asks as he steps in closer to face the foul undead.
Sandros staggers back in pain, clutching at the bleeding wound in his neck. "Aaaugh!" he shouts.
Still reeling, Sandros steps around the ghoul again, trying to expose her back to the assailants on the stairs. He attacks once more, trying to ignore the weakening sense of blood pouring down his jacket.
Rapier attack (1d20+5=19, damage 1d6+2=6)[/url]
With a final gurgle, the ghoul falls to the ground, having found its peace at long last. Everything is still once more.
That leaves you respite enough to treat your wounds and explore the room,
.That leaves you respite enough to treat your wounds and explore the room,
Once the creature dies, Proteus carefully makes his way down the stairs to make sure that Royl is okay. He helps her back up to the room where the group waits. Proteus moves over to Sandros bringing Royl with him. Holding out his glowing fetish, he says, "Vitae" .
He then takes a look at the gaping wound on Sandros neck. He winks at Sandros, "Nice hickey. You should stay away from girls who bite." He pulls out his healing kit and attempts to treat for ghoul fever .
Once the creature dies, Proteus carefully makes his way down the stairs to make sure that Royl is okay. He helps her back up to the room where the group waits. Proteus moves over to Sandros bringing Royl with him. Holding out his glowing fetish, he says, "Vitae" .
He then takes a look at the gaping wound on Sandros neck. He winks at Sandros, "Nice hickey. You should stay away from girls who bite." He pulls out his healing kit and attempts to treat for ghoul fever .
Sandros submits to Proteus' ministrations gratefully, feeling the skin knit back together on his neck, leaving only a garish bruise, much like the hickey Proteus joked of. "My thanks once again, my friend," he says, gripping Proteus' shoulder. "You have given me many reasons to prove that I was right to welcome you to our group - and I have given you too many chances to offer that proof."
He bends over the ghoul's body, pulling the bracelet from its wrist. "It's the least you can do for me," he tells the body, a little defensively. He then starts poking around the rest of the area.
Sight-based Perception, as Aid Another to help Grond search (1d20+2=14)
Perception (1d20=17, +2 if sight or sound)
Stealth (untrained) (1d20+4=18)
Initiative (1d20+4=5)
Grond snaps his fingers as yet another treasure is snatched from under his very nose. "All right!" he loudly whispers, "We need me up front, ahead of the light. My natural benefits will aid us all." he says, controlling himself.
Grond will search the room and then stealth as he moves to whichever exit the group chooses, always staying 10' in front of the 30' light from Proteus. He will wave the fireflies away if Roylenna buzzes them about his ears.
Otherwise:
Perception: 5+7=12
Stealth: 16+7=23
Initiative: 11+3+14
Roylenna tries to move into a better position but trips and goes tumbling down the stairs. Roylenna is at the base of the stairs, with an action left to either stand up or heal herself.
Roylenna stands with a disgusted look on her face at her clumsiness and dusts herself off before attempting the too-tall stairs again. To her friends, she yells, "I'm fine, kill the creature! I'll be with you in a moment!"
That leaves you respite enough to treat your wounds and explore the room,
Once the creature dies, Proteus carefully makes his way down the stairs to make sure that Royl is okay. He helps her back up to the room where the group waits. Holding out his glowing fetish, he says, "Vitae"
Roylenna gratefully accepts Proteus' assistance climbing the stairs. His divine gift erases the scratches and abrasions she got from her tumble through the bones and detritus, but somehow her cheeks retain a flaming red glow as she won't look any of the men in the eye.
"My thanks once again, my friend," he says, gripping Proteus' shoulder.
Roylenna quietly agrees. "Yes, thank you, Proteus." She moves to the center of the room, moving the Dancing Lights around the room where they might aid those searching the room, especially Proteus and Rana considering their need for light.
Roylenna tries to put the Dancing Lights where they are the most helpful for the other searchers.
Aid Another (Search) (1d20+0=20)
Grond will wave the fireflies away if Roylenna buzzes them about his ears.
The balconies seem rather crude, possibly made by magic. There is no visible means of access from the floor nor any openings behind them.
There is nothing of interest on the floor, except for the mosaic, that forms a sort of red carpet to the north and east. It seems to be purely decorative, with a flowery pattern.
Grond snaps his fingers as yet another treasure is snatched from under his very nose. "All right!" he loudly whispers, "We need me up front, ahead of the light. My natural benefits will aid us all." he says, controlling himself.
Sandros nods, gesturing forward. "Thus far, all I have managed to find is rats and a dead woman who didn't know that meant she should stop walking. Perhaps you will do better." He points to the exits. "Which way shall we proceed, then? Into the unknown?" He points his rapier to the north. "Or toward whatever squished that rat like a grape?" He points instead through the east exit.
What can we tell looking down each hallway? Any differneces? Otherwise I suggest following the rats trail, whay not! Searching carefuilly, I think there is a trap ahead and am on the lookout for it, or for signs of the rats passage - either his passage thru this passage or his passage thru this world to the next :)
What can we tell looking down each hallway? Any differneces? Otherwise I suggest following the rats trail, whay not! Searching carefuilly, I think there is a trap ahead and am on the lookout for it, or for signs of the rats passage - either his passage thru this passage or his passage thru this world to the next :)
Except that the north passage is somewhat shorter (40 feet) before giving way to a room of some kind, the greatest difference is the pile of squashed rat that Grond thinks he can make out at the edge of his vision, at 60' of distance. Moving in that direction to find out what caused the rat's demise, Grond suddenly finds himself locked in a staring contest with an ogre, club raised. Though the bits of rat brain clinging to the club brings back singularly unpleasant memories, the ogre doesn't seem particularly aggressive (for an ogre).
Since Grond sees it before it sees you, he has a surprise round to act before anything else happens. I am assuming that Grond has his falchion drawn and searching the passage as he advances as stealthily as he can.
Roylenna will continue to sulk at her clumsiness at the back of the group, not really noticing anything unless someone gives the alarm.
No, actually I always have my javelin equipped, falchion slung over shoulder when not in combat. I use the javelin to test the ground in front, etc.
If I am seen, I will hurl javelin: (I am uncertain if I need flat-footed AND/OR flanking to get a sneak attack.)
To hit:11+3=14
Dam:5+3=8
Sneak Dam: 1
If I seem un-noticed, I will immediately signal group to halt, while fading up against the nearest sidewall.
Sneak:20+7=27
Acrobatics:5+7=12
Initiative:14+3=17
Sneak:20+7=27
Acrobatics:5+7=12
Initiative:14+3=17
My bad.
My bad.
No worries. I'm just hoping the attack roll hits and you get a second attack before the beast loses his flat-footed condition. I'm assuming you've got sneak attack going on, of course.
As Grond sees the ogre he instinctively raises his javelin and hurls it at the hulking brute, but the distance is too great to aim with accuracy . The javelin bounces harmlessly off the ogre's armor. The ogre roars in fury.
Round 1 is up.
Round 1 is up.
Proteus hears the ogre scream with rage from the javelin attack. He quickly lifts up his holy symbol and reaches an open palm up towards the heavens. "Benedictus Asclepius," and holy courage fills his allies.
Oops, didnt realize Grond was not within short range. (Sigh) I also noticed the 'not too aggresive" stance of the ogre, but I mean, he's an ogre after all. Chaotic evil? But ya, mebbe I shouldn't have thrown down ((shrug))
Grond readies another javelin, but will wait to hurl until the ogre is within 30.'
To hit:14+4=18
Dam:3+3=6
Proteus calls upon the power of Ascelpius to help you stand firm and strike true, while Grond readied a javelin to throw as the ogre comes within 30 feet
Royl and Sandros to go.
In the shadows cast by Royl's lights and Proteus' holy symbol, Sandros can just make out the hulking form of the ogre. He grits his teeth as he watches Grond's javelin fly, then winces as the shaft skitters sideways. Oh, this is going to hurt...
At the sound of the roar, Roylenna moves the Dancing Lights forward to a point forward of Grond . She moves forward to see what's going on better.
Sandros moves forward to W18 with his rapier weaving a complicated pattern in front of him. Roylenna moves her flying torches forward to illuminate the scene and follows Sandros at a distance, moving to T19.
Seeing Sandros advance, Rana snaps out of his stupor and follows him, drawing both his swords and taking a fighting stance at V18.
As the ogre charges, Grond's second javelin hits it in the stomach, but it keeps going anyway. In a bout of rage it brings his club down on Grond´s head with a fearsome blow. Stunned, Grond falls backwards and blacks out before he hits the floor.
Round 2 is up. Proteus, Sandros, Royl, then Rana.
Proteus carefully moves up within 20 feet of Proteus. Ensuring he is out of the ogre's reach he chants, "Aequo animo."
Realizing he can't get past the ogre to strike at it from behind, Sandros maintains his defensive stance, ducking and weaving. "Royl!" he shouts, pointing at Rana. "We need an ogre of our own!" He then starts a measured withdrawal, trying to lure the ogre out into the room.