Dragora's Dungeon

[Rin Lyulfsson]

Rin concentrates on holding the light-cantripped rope, poised to climb down himself if his help is needed.

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

In the cave:

** spoiler omitted **

What's your light source?

[Lafiel Abriel]

Is it completely dark without a light source ?

[Drivish Ammasin]

So what's up with these biters?

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

Is it completely dark without a light source ?

There's the faintest glow from the rope behind you.

Drivish blasted a bunch of the vipers, but not enough to take them out. They return to their holes when they have no immediate target (i.e., someone next to the sinkhole wall).

[Lafiel Abriel]

Lafiel backtracks to the cave entrance, then breaks a sunrod, sticks it in one of the cracks in the wall, then advances, hoping the light will suffice.

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

Lafiel backtracks to the cave entrance, then breaks a sunrod, sticks it in one of the cracks in the wall, then advances, hoping the light will suffice.

That will open you up to a viper attack, and the light will still be quite poor -- the tunnel is narrow and even you fill much of it

[Lafiel Abriel]

Ok, Lafiel will leave a sunrod somewhere in the middle of the tunnel so the light in the snake and staff chamber would be very dim, but still enough to see what's going on

[pat512]

Lafiel:

Spoiler:

The serpent curled about the base of the altar appears to be only a skeleton, its skin hanging from the bony ribs. The staff is cut from dark, polished wood, and carved in the shape of a flaring cobra.

Are you going after them?

[Lafiel Abriel]

Pat

Spoiler:

Lafiel carefully examines the room, the snake skeleton and the altar for anything unusual before taking the staff.
Perception (1d20+6=26)

[Drivish Ammasin]

Drivish holds onto the rope at the bottom of the sinkhole, listening intently for any sound of distress from Lafiel.

[Rin Lyulfsson]

"How's it going down there - need any help?"

[Drivish Ammasin]

"Shh"

[Rin Lyulfsson]

Very quietly -

"Ah - right."

[Qadim-sul]

Qadim-sul hops impatiently from foot to foot. "I'm about to jump down there myself, just so that something will happen," he growls. He walks over to the edge of the hole and peers down, trying to resist the urge to shout down to Drivish.

Sorry for the long absence, people!

[pat512]

Lafiel: (just Lafiel):

Spoiler:

The altar is formed of a stone slab laid atop two smaller stone blocks. As you approach the altar (see map at profile link), three shadowy forms arise from the darkness -- wraith-like serpents. Their hoods flare with aggression and their shadow-tongues test the air.

Action? Note, the light is dim.

[Barshevy]

Barshevy seems disengaged to all that is going on. He is always glancing over his shoulder, as if to look at his backpack.

[Lafiel Abriel]

Pat

Spoiler:

Sorry, but I didn't understand if they've seen me as well, or only I noticed them so far.

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

Pat

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

They rose up when you approached the altar. That's all you know for sure at this point.

[Lafiel Abriel]

Pat

Spoiler:

Lafiel freezes immediately and waits to see if something happens.

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

Pat

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

The serpent wraiths stay where they are, heads and hoods raised and swaying, black tongues flicking.

[Lafiel Abriel]

Pat

Spoiler:

Lafiel retreats slowly towards the cave she came through. Led by impulse, she quietly picks up a pebble from the floor, then throws it at the other cave leading from the room, waiting to see what happens. Lafiel will stand at the corner of E5 if possible, and throw the pebble at I12

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

Pat

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

Nothing of note happens

[Lafiel Abriel]

Deciding that it's better that the whole group would join her, Lafiel retreats some more, quite close to the entrance of the side cave, far enough from the snakes. Calling her comerades quietly, she tells them about the fake dead big snake and the 3 snake-like wraiths which rose as she advanced to take the staff, but didn't react to noise made by a pebble she threw to distract them. She finishes while saying : "There isn't really a better choice of path, so we might as well check this route. At least we know it has treasures in it."

[Fargrim]

"Aye. Count me in."

[Rin Lyulfsson]

"Me too. Although it sounds more like Barshevy's department."

[Barshevy]

"Hmmm? What? Oh, yes. I'll see what I can do about those wraiths."

[Qadim-sul]

"Maybe they're just illusions, if the snake itself isn't real. But perhaps the priest should test that for us, just in case. And what of the staff Fargrim spoke of?"

[Lafiel Abriel]

"It's there. The wraiths rose when I stepped closer to it. And believe me, they're real. I've seen them real close."

[pat512]

As I understand it, Lafiel is still in the tunnel calling out, Drivish is still in the center of the sinkhole, and everyone else is above.

[Fargrim]

I'll climb down and join Lafiel

[Barshevy]

I'll climb down after Fargrim.

[Rin Lyulfsson]

Is the rope long enough for Rin to anchor it to the aqueduct?

[pat512]

Rin Lyulfsson wrote:

Is the rope long enough for Rin to anchor it to the aqueduct?

Yes. Also, in the enthusiasm to descend, Lafiel, Fargrim, and Drivish might want to caution y'all of something.

[Lafiel Abriel]

"There are lots of small snakes next to the entrance, be careful."

[pat512]

Fargrim starts to descend. Drivish is at the bottom center of the 20' shaft, holding the rope taut. Lafiel's voice and the glow of a sunrod come from the tunnel midway down leading off to the south. Fargrim knows that getting next to the walls will lure the rock vipers, a good number of which Drivish destroyed with his cold breath before they retreated.

Actions?

[Rin Lyulfsson]

Rin busys himself with tying the rope end around a spare bit of masonry.

Calling down cautiously, he asks "Will I hurt you if I fry a few more snake before we come down?"

DM - will he?

[pat512]

Rin Lyulfsson wrote:

Rin busys himself with tying the rope end around a spare bit of masonry.

Calling down cautiously, he asks "Will I hurt you if I fry a few more snake before we come down?"

DM - will he?

Depends on whom you're talking to! The sinkhole is 3 squares by 3 squares. Drivish is in the middle square. When someone moves next to the walls (at any elevation), snakes move out and attack. On their next turn, if they have no target, they retreat. They also get an AO on anyone entering the side tunnel. Lafiel is safe from both you and the snakes. But unless someone lures the snakes out, they're safe from you as well (superior cover).

[Lafiel Abriel]

"Fine for me. I'm moving deeper in the tunnel."

[Drivish Ammasin]

"I can get the snakes out for you. I think I can withstand the damage. Just don't do anything debilitating."

If Rin says yes, Drivish moves closer to the wall and takes a total defense action (+2 to all defenses).

[Fargrim]

"Oy, Drivish! Don't mean to step on yer toes or anything, but I think i'd be better suited for luring them out than you are. Why don't ya let me lure them buggers out?"

[Qadim-sul]

Qadim-sul will wait until his companions have dealt with as many snakes as possible before climbing down last.

[Rin Lyulfsson]

"I'll take care. But be ready to duck."

Was planning to use Scorching Burst - burst 1 within 10 v Ref. Hopefully I'll roll worse against any companion than the snakes.

[Rin Lyulfsson]

Drivish, snakes 1, snakes 2 (Ref) (1d20 4=9, 1d20 4=12, 1d20 4=22)

Damage as applicable (1d6 3=8)

Aiming carefully, Rin avoids hitting Drivish with the flames, but in his excessive caution, misses one of the nests of snakes as well. The scent of cooking reptile fills the air.

[pat512]

More snakes are destroyed, but there are still more than enough to attack Drivish, but his hide is proof against them.

Lafiel and Drivish acted, then Rin. Anyone else doing anything before Drivish's next turn?

Swarm 1 (the one that just attacked) is healthy, swarm 2 is bloodied (from frost and fire).

[Drivish Ammasin]

"It's ok, Fargrim. I'm already here."

If I had seen the post sooner, I'd have switched, but now it doesn't seem worth it.

Drivish maintains his defensive stance.

[Lafiel Abriel]

Can Lafiel still act ? If the snakes aren't under cover anymore, Lafiel would attack them as well

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

Can Lafiel still act ? If the snakes aren't under cover anymore, Lafiel would attack them as well

Yes, but she'd have to move back toward the sinkhole again -- I believe she was further down the tunnel.

[Lafiel Abriel]

In that case, would Lafiel's attack be ranged, or could she melee as well against one group of snakes ?

[pat512]

Lafiel Abriel wrote:

In that case, would Lafiel's attack be ranged, or could she melee as well against one group of snakes ?

She can't attack at all from the middle of the tunnel. If she advances to, say, two squares back, she could safely make a ranged attack against snakes with a cover penalty. If she advances to the edge, she's probably going to be in melee/aura range of a swarm.