Andrei and Jawn sneak around the mound and place themselves behind the dead trees. Meanwhile, Cerinwë and Mijanor approach the ghoul from the front.
OOC:
All PC's are represented by the first letter of their names. Jawn is difficult to spot. He's one square southeast of Andrei.
Everyone gets a surprise round against the ghoul. An initiative roll from Cerinwë would be appreciated, in case the fight goes beyond the surprise round.
As soon as the others were ready, Andrei dropped his torch and leaped out from behind the incongruous dead trees toward the stone slab, attempting to knock the book out of the thing's hands.
Stepping forward toward the ghoul, Mijanor raises his hammer, "May Torag's 'ammer strike yer black soul." A wave of energy pulses from him passing harmlessly over Cerinwe but slamming into the undead creature.
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Initiative:
Cerinwë waits to gauge the success or failure of Andrei's actions. If the ghoul has dropped the book, the elf unleashes a scorching ray. If, on the other hand, the ghoul retains the book, the elf uses magic missile.
Scorching Ray Ranged Touch Attack:
Scorching Ray Damage:
Magic Missile Damage: .
Jawn is also waiting to gauge the success of Andrei's actions.
I am going to move to attack, flanking with Andrei if that is an option. Attacking with mithril dagger:
To Hit:
If hit, damage:
If flanking, sneak attack damage:
Andrei jumps up onto the altar and swings, opening a bloodless gash in the side of the hideous creature. Spell and prayer from the elf and dwarf wracks the ghoul in blazing pain. Then Jawn swings onto the other end of the altar and stabs deeply into the thing's back.
Howling with outrage and pain, the ghoul tries to dash past Andrei and into a tunnel opening to the north ...
OOC:
Round 1 begins. Everyone may state their actions. Andrei and Jawn each get an attack of opportunity.
So, a recap of initiative for round one:
21 Andrei
16 Cerinwë
13 Jawn
8 Incredibly tough ghoul
2 Mijanor
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Frowning, the elf trots forward toward the ghoul. He doesn't want to risk missing, as he doesn't want to track the creature into a ghoul warren. He chooses the most accurate spell he has: magic missile.
"Don't let it get away! It may warn its master, if that's what the monster is!"
Magic Missile Damage
If Andrei and Cerinwë somehow fail to put an end to the abomination, Jawn will pitch in what he can.
Mithril Dagger Attack:
Damage if hits:
Sneak attack damage if still flanking:
Jawn winces at its howl, wondering how far off the slime monster or more of the ghoul's pack could be...
If there is an opportunity for a regular attack in addition to an AOO, here's the second rolls.
Mithril Dagger Attack:
Damage if hits:
Sneak attack damage if still flanking:
I was not including the +2 flank. Thanks for the catch! That would bring the attack rolls up to 20 and 22.
I appreciate you pointing that out. While I have been doing rpgs since the late 70s, I haven't been at a gaming table for about a decade due to RL stuff. I've been following the industry and picking up the odd purchase here and there to read, but this is my first rpg combat in far too long. :)
"Vatra!" Andrei shouted, and his scimitar burst into flame as it snapped out toward the fleeing ghoul.
attack:
damage: (6 fire)
attack:
damage:+ fire
Walking up to the altar and looking down at the freshly re-dead corpse, "Good job lads! 'at was a tough un but 't never stood a chance 'tween yer blades." He eyes the book and altar warily making a small prayer to Torag as he does so.
Jawn is still deeply concerned about where that slime trail went...
Before any of the others wander too far from the epicenter of the fight, Jawn will go around quickly to check for traps.
Jawn is still deeply concerned about where that slime trail went...
Seeing Jawn's eyes following the slime trail, "I'm also feelin' yer eagerness. We'll be followin 'he critter soon enough lad. If'n we're not careful we could be endin up like 'he twisted 'n 'alf Crow."
Having made swift work of the loathesome ghoul, the party turns their attention to the strange subterranean world they have uncovered. The cavern is lit by phosperescent plants that grow on the bottom of the pond to the north. Floating in the water is a human corpse, so mangled and contorted it takes a few moments to recognize what it is. On the altar is are parts of another corspe; the leftover bits from the ghoul's grisly buffet.
Propped up on the altar is a massive old tome written in a language that Jawn recognizes as Aklo, the language of the sinister serpent peoples (DC 30 Linguistics to decipher. Aid attempts by specialist NPCs will be necessary, unless Jawn rolls a natural 20.) The inside back cover bears a fresh inscription written in Common:
May we, the Keepers of the Oldest, prevail over
the scourge of simplistic thought and lesser men.
Glem Baskerwhel
Waldur Crove
Arlend Hyve
Sulm Marshan
Rupman Myre
One section of the book is marked by a red silk bookmark. The margins on these pages have been heavily annotated in Common. The notes reveal that the “Keepers of the Oldest” were planning to use a ritual to try to open a portal in the "Sunless Grove" to contact “a spawn of the Dark Tapestry”. The Keepers also decided to accept a risk that their life-essences would become linked to the spawn. They reasoned that if such a thing occurred it could establish them as peers to the spawn, or perhaps even kin. Which would be, of course, a splendid thing.
The ruins in the western part of the cave is the likely result of the Keeper's dark experiment. Toppled and crushed pillars are further testament to the spawn's incredible strength. The creature's slime trail continues into a tunnel in the western cave wall.
Another tunnel is to the northwest. A set of recently installed bars block the way. There is yet another tunnel behind one of the fossilized trees. The ghoul had tried to escape this way. There is a set of bars here, twisted open and bearing claw marks (there is no slime here.)
To the southwest adjoins a smaller cave. Within is a campsite with a fire pit, crates, tables, and five bedrolls. A search here turns up nothing of interest.
A scowl crosses Mijanor's face, "Aghh, blaspheeemers. Now we know 'he uns responsible fer 'is mess." Looking down at the ghoulish remains, "Wunder which un 'is be 'ere?" Glancing at the floating body, "Which un a ya wants ta be swimmin oot 'ere ta see which one 'at is? 'he beasty prolly didn't take kindly t' bein dragged 'ere from 'ts cozy 'ome." Looking thoughtful for a moment, "Hrmph, mayhap that un became linked and 'is soul absorbed er somethin like 'at." He shrugs, "Whatever 'he case 't jus gives us more en enough 'eads ta thump."
Let's see if I get that natural 20...
Linguistics:
No such luck.
"The book is in Alko, which is pretty obscure and would take me ages to decipher. This inscription looks like it may list the names of the co-conspirators. The only name I recognize is the most recent victim, Marshan. I wonder if the other victims are on this list? It may narrow down who is left, and therefore likely responsible for the attacks.Jawn points to the three untaken exits."One exit has the slime trail, one has bars and one where the ghoul wanted to retreat. Any opinions on which way we want to try first?"
Does it look like someone would have to go swimming to retreive the body? Does it look like it could be reaching with a branch or something and pulled in closer?
"Mijanor, does your sight let you see to the bottom of this pool, or is it obscured with more than just darkness?"
A scowl crosses Mijanor's face, "Aghh, blaspheeemers. Now we know 'he uns responsible fer 'is mess." Looking down at the ghoulish remains, "Wunder which un 'is be 'ere?" Glancing at the floating body, "Which un a ya wants ta be swimmin oot 'ere ta see which one 'at is? 'he beasty prolly didn't take kindly t' bein dragged 'ere from 'ts cozy 'ome." Looking thoughtful for a moment, "Hrmph, mayhap that un became linked and 'is soul absorbed er somethin like 'at." He shrugs, "Whatever 'he case 't jus gives us more en enough 'eads ta thump."
"Maybe we should draw straws," Andrei joked as he looked around the "Sunless Grove." Bending down, he scooped up his torch and raised it to look down the tunnel with bent bars. "Hladiti se," he murmured, and the flames running along his blade died down once more.
"I want to stop that thing as much as anyone, but maybe it would be wise not to leave whatever that ghoul was running to behind us. What say you, friends - go on the attack, or guard our backs?"
"Mijanor, does your sight let you see to the bottom of this pool, or is it obscured with more than just darkness?"
Mijanor trundles over to the edge of the pool and looks in, "C'n see jus fine but if'n yer thinkin I'm goin swimmin yer crazier 'an a goblin dog on weirdroot."
Mijanor trundles over to the edge of the pool and looks in, "C'n see jus fine but if'n yer thinkin I'm goin swimmin yer crazier 'an a goblin dog on weirdroot."
Jawn laughs a little at Mijanor's comment. "No, that wasn't my intention. I was just concerned that more creatures like that one" he says gesturing at the dispatched ghoul "might be lurking there, or perhaps something of value to our mission. If there were something to be retrieved or dealt with, we could puzzle it out as a group. Though it seems as though Cerinwë's wizardry is proving amazingly versitle."
With an emphatic wave of his hand, the body in the pool begins to move slowly toward the shore.
The body moves to the southern edge of the pool where it can be easily retrieved.
Mijanor trundles over to the edge of the pool and looks in, "C'n see jus fine but if'n yer thinkin I'm goin swimmin yer crazier 'an a goblin dog on weirdroot."
The pool is brightly illuminated by the strange aquatic plants. Mijanor can see something long and metallic submerged amidst the plants near the southern part of the pool.
"Maybe we should draw straws," Andrei joked as he looked around the "Sunless Grove." Bending down, he scooped up his torch and raised it to look down the tunnel with bent bars. "Hladiti se," he murmured, and the flames running along his blade died down once more.
At the tunnel entrance Andrei can hear the sound of rushing water.
Casts detect magic. First focusing on the altar and book and then on the corpse with a quick scan of the room from his current location after that.
"Jawn, lad! Yer right abo't somethin bein doon 'ere. Mayhap Cerinwe c'n magic 't up like 'e did 'he body."
Casts detect magic. First focusing on the altar and book and then on the corpse with a quick scan of the room from his current location after that.
"'he altar n' book 'ave no magic auras aro'nd 'em but...ho ho what is 'is? A chill stick fer Cerinwe an some bracers." Looking around the rest of the cavern, "'is whole place 'as an aura. Prolly did some big mystic rite 'ere. Mayhap wherein 'at beastie come 'rough."
OOC:
Bracers of Armor:
"These items appear to be wrist or arm guards. They surround the wearer with an invisible but tangible field of force, granting him an armor bonus of +1, just as though he were wearing armor. Both bracers must be worn for the magic to be effective. "
I'll rule that the bracers are cumulative with any other armor or defenses.
The Wand of Chill Touch casts as a first-level wizard. It has 15 charges.
Andrei approached the southern part of the pool to regard the long metallic thing with the others. "I can fetch it, since it is not so deep where it lies," he offered, shucking his cloak. Wading out to it (so long as the water doesn't rise over his boottops), he thrust an arm down to lift whatever it was.
From the chill waters Andrei retrieves a gleaming scimitar. It has a faint blue radiance, the telltale sign of enchantment.
Andrei swung the glimmering sword experimentally as he waded back to the shore. "Maybe this would be a good thing to have when we find that ball of slime, neh? Myself, I am happy with Rushenka," he smiled, patting his sheathed sword. "But maybe one of you could use something so enchanted? Those stupid men will not be needing it again, I think."
Such a sword is larger than I am, so I will let someone able to wield it more proficiently claim it. Perhaps our wizard would like the bracers to aid in his defense? The cloak? Maybe if it would fit me that would be helpful to have, but I am willing to let another go with it.
The cloak is soaked, bedraggled and stained deep with the previous owner's blood.
OOC:
Here's a tentative distribution of the magic items:
Jawn: cloak +1
Cerinwë: wand of chill touch
No one will use the bracers and sword. These will be sold later.
That sounds like a good distribution. Perhaps the cleric would like to wear the bracers until we get a chance to sell them. That would give him a +1 to AC if we encounter any incorporeal beings.