The Lost Vault of Tsathzar Rho #2
Setting: Homeworld, July 8, Year 1
Characters:
Anya’drea: You love to talk, to anyone, about
anything. But you prefer to talk about magic, and just how great a wizard you
plan on becoming someday. If nobody will listen to you, you'll even talk to
yourself, just to break the silence. However, you refuse to answer yourself.
That's where you draw the line.
You have been a wizard's
apprentice for nearly two years now. Nerenethos hasn't taught you much, yet.
But any day now you'll be wielding mighty incantations. You hope. Actually, you
spend most of your time cooking meals, sweeping the tower, and washing
laboratory glassware. Perhaps he doesn't recognize your limitless potential for
the arcane arts. Or worse, he just wants a servant he doesn't need to pay. When
he left town, he didn't even trust you to stay at his tower. He locked all the
doors, and protected them with magical wards. Sheesh!
Becarus Delaurentis Corbin:
Your full
name is Becarus Delaurentis Corbin, but everybody calls you Bec. You are a
simple farm boy in a six-foot-six-inch, 250-pound frame! You are not the
sharpest tool in the shed, and you lack basic social skills and etiquette. But
what you lack you make up for in brute strength and endurance. If there is
heavy labor or a menial task to be done, you are the man. Tasks that require
finesse and dexterity, on the other hand, aren't your forte; you often break
tools with your gnarled powerful hands. Such duties are best left to others.
Your papa once asked you to shear a sheep, and the poor creature needed to be
put down shortly thereafter! Ever since, you shy away from such delicate
creatures.
Shortly after your 18th
birthday, you joined the local militia. You enjoy taking orders, and have no
desire to climb the ranks of leadership. Although not very skilled at wielding
many weapons besides your spear, you make up for formal training with the
strength of a bull. The militia taught you the basics of wearing and caring for
armor, but you disdain most forms of armor. They are always tight in the chest
and arms, and downright uncomfortable.
You are boisterous, but prefer
to use short sentences and simple words. Other folks often confuse you with
fancy words and such. Often you feign understanding, and do your own thing
anyway. One flex of a powerful arm, and they tend to leave you be. You are
naive and trusting, and quite shy around pretty women.
Bowen: The son of a herder, you actually reside outside the town
of
You are a quiet individual, and
speak in a low monotone voice. You are awkward in town and around other people;
you prefer sleeping under the stars in the company of animals. This gruff
attitude tends to rub people the wrong way, but you mean them no harm or
disrespect.
Camthalion
Lord Casimir La Frond: As a respected member of the La Frond family, you bear the
finest equipment, and keep it impeccably clean. One must not only bring evil to
justice, but look dashing in the process. You hope to get by on your combat
prowess, town knowledge, and good looks alone, and hope to not have to pull any
family favors. Still, Mother insisted you bring a potion capable of healing
your wounds. You'll try your best no to let anyone see you consume it (if it's
even needed), so they don't sense any weakness in their fearless leader.
Mischa: You are an elven adept called the Witch of the Wood by
many ignorant townsfolk. They clearly fear your divine connection with nature,
which suits you fine. You are introverted, and prefer to be left alone to
obtain an inner peace with nature. That inner peace has been interrupted by the
arrival of the ogre years ago.
You are mysterious and aloof, if
not downright haughty at times. Years of self-imposed exile have given you a
dour, pessimistic view on most situations. You hide in voluminous robes and
speak in Elven, unless you must converse with others. In addition to wielding
divine spells to aid nature's children, you are quite adept at wilderness lore.
You can track a fox through a rainstorm, and can mix herbs to create healing
salves.
Newt: Your father was a locksmith, and he demanded you follow
in his footsteps. But frankly, locksmithing is quite boring. So you left home
to travel and discover what you wanted to do with your life. During that time,
you've had many jobs, including court jester, manure shoveler, and short order
cook (pun intended), to name but a few. Finally, you discovered a skill you
enjoy: alchemy. It's dangerous (you've singed many an eyebrow), profitable, and
yields fascinating items that make everyday life easier. Besides, you have
other useful skills, such as sneaking (long story), and you still know the
innards of most locks. You prefer to hang back and avoid the close combat. A
gnome like you could get stepped on. Instead, you focus on tossing alchemical goodies
into the fray, or using your crossbow.
You speak very fast, and have a
habit of rubbing your hands together. You are fascinated by magic and those who
wield it, but believe alchemy can achieve similar results. You have many
alchemical ideas you wish to explore, and carry a small notebook in case
inspiration hits you on the road.
Date: Friday,
July 8, 1
Location:
"Yahtzee!", says Casimir with
a triumphant shout, for apparently no good reason!
Bowen offers a tight-lipped smile at the young nobleman's
exclaimation. Some things carry over from childhood to manhood, it would seem.
And the young trapper is sure that he his compainions have left their
childhood, for good or ill.
"I wonder if we are
to leave our homes behind as well?" Bowen says,
quietly.
You are told the trip will take about 7 days, and haste must be
made. The traveler has already been away
from his village for over a week.
Casimir will purchase
provisions for the trip unless there will be towns along the way. he is ready to leave at a moment's notice.
There are no towns, but there should be game along the way and Mischa
will be casting Goodberry. Casimir
already has 9 rations.
As Mischa has already
purchased her supplies, she will await the group departure on the outskirts of
town with Scar.
Bec, leaving all but 15 gold pieces with his family, will
pick up 7 days of rations from the general store. Then he will meet the group
near the edge of town.
Bowen is also packed and ready to go and will wait with
Micha and her companion.
You
have seven days of uneventful travel through the countryside. Through Mischa’s castings of Goodberry and
some foraging, you are able to save all your rations and come upon your
destination with full waterskins.
You
arrive among the farms of Hadler’s Gap, a small frontier hamlet (more a
collection of buildings) set between two steep hills, with a trade road running
right through town, very late in the evening of the 6th day of
travel. The “town” consists of one inn,
a mill set along a fast-running creek, a farrier’s and carter’s shop, an
herbalist’s apothecary shop, a blacksmithy, and a barn that acts as a community
gathering place, social center, or local market every ten days or so. You are told on the trip up that, in total,
the surrounding farmers, families, and locals who live alone in the woods total
about 90 spread over a 3 mile radius.
You
are met by several folk from the village who share many tales of strange
behaviors and stranger physical changes to the local wildlife, including once
peaceful kobolds and an ogre in the nearby hills. The locals know of the cave where the ogre,
kobolds, dire rats and other creatures live.
One farmer mentions that the Ogre, named Logbrag, killed Parkad the
Furrier, and that, “that man always walked around with more money on him than
sense in him.” The locals ask that you
kill any creatures that now threaten the hamlet. You are made welcome for the
night.
The
next morning, the blue grasses on the Urkallan Hills glowed brightly in the
east as the sun rose behind them. Unfortunately that was the brightest part of
your day as the sun quickly hid behind a heavy cloud cover that began spitting
rain by mid-morning. The mountain among
the hills looms before youand darkens your path. While the rest of the sky is the neutral
slate grey of rain, the clouds over the hills and especially around the
mountain hold a dark purplish tint. They
seem to swirl and eddy against the direction of the wind.
Along
the way, farmers, villagers, and other locals thank you for braving the dangers
of the hills and ridding them of the ogre and kobolds raiding their farms and
trade ways. Their thanks and promises of
reward urge you eastward into the hills, as do their fearful glances at the
skies above. You’re excited and ready
for the adventure, but a few of you sense that something is definitely not
normal in the hills around you…
Lord
Casimir and Mischa both notice that “something feels wrong” about this area,
and that feeling grows the closer they draw to the hills.
You
arrive at the cave entrance….
Casimir will draw his sword with a steely eye and a look into
the dark opening ahead. "No sense in standing out in the rain risking a
lightning strike!", he proclaims with far more
confidence than he truly has. "Shall we go in?"
Bec drops two of his extra cloaks at the cave opening to get rid of
some extra weight. Going through his equipment, he decides to hold onto the
rest. Checking how secure his spear is strapped to his back and getting
comfortable with the weight of his mail, Bec draws his greatsword.
"Let's go see what's
inside."
Bowen, carrying his axe and shield at the ready, will
also light a torch to carry in his shield hand. He begins to search the inner
cave entrance for any tracks.
Bowen has no problem (15 rolled) detecting the tracks of a large
creature. Since he actually met one,
Bowen recognizes the tracks as ogrish in nature.
Area 1-1: The Ogre’s Cave
The 20-foot-wide entrance opens further into a rough
40-foot-by-50-foot cavern with a 10-foot-wide tunnel leading out of it.
Something has dwelled in this rough oval cave for
many years, as evidenced by the piles of garbage, old bones, and scattered
items found here. The floor is thick
with debris, six inches deep of bones, dirt and loose rocks along the edges of
the room. The chamber’s center holds a
crudely-dug fire pit, while a thick pile of blankets and furs lies against the
eastern wall. An iron spike driven into
a crack in the western wall by the cave’s entrance serves as a hook for a
lantern.
From the shadows on the left side of the cavern, a
grumble of a voice announces, “Logbrag strong, not weak! He not listen to
voices. NOT go with you!”
Stepping into the light you see a 9 feet tall ogre,
wearing hide armor and wielding a greatclub.
It has a wart-encrusted face and clumpy, unkempt hair. Its hide is well-muscled, but jet black in
color, while its eyes glow green.
Rancid, oozing pustules cover its back, and in a few places along the
wall you can see dried puss and blood marks.
In halting common he says, “Stand back! My body…changes…kobolds
from cave changing too….Logbrag have the strangest dreams lately….”
Mischa looking more
curious then anything else speaks to Logbrag "Logbrag, when did this
start? The changing? Is something in the cave causing
it?"
Looking at the others
"There is something wrong far deeper then just an
ogre and kobolds. Even if we eliminate this problem, we will not save this
town. We must find the root of the evil that corrupts this place. He seems
scared of what is happening to him. Maybe we can find out some of what is
happening by speaking with him. Caution is needed here,
this is not simply an ogre menacing a village."
Casimir stands confused for a second. Part of him thinks,
"this ogre is evil. All ogres are evil. I don't
care for evil. I should be doing something about this." Another voice (not
totally unlike mother) chimes in..."this creature
is sick, not in totally control of its own actions. Be patient before passing
judgement..."
Casimir backs up from the
ogre. Not out of cowardice, but rather from uncertainty of those pustules.
"Logbrag, we can help
with this changing, I think. Will you let us help?"
The ogre looks thoughtful for a moment.
He shudders, hefts his club with a resigned sigh and attacks, shrieking,
“The gods will not have my soul without a fight!”
Logbrag steps forward and swings his huge greatclub at Casimir while 10
feet way from the paladin. The blow
lands heavily but is deflected by Casimir’s breastplate.
Newt, Bowen, Anya’drea, Mischa, Bec and Casimir may
go.
Bowen will rush headlong
into the reach of the lesser giant and strike with an arching left-to-right
slice aimed at the beast's midsection.
Bowen is close enough that he can take a 5’ step and attack. Bowen’s axe misses completely (2 rolled.)
Seeing as how the Ogre
made the first attack Newt will sweep to the side and try to make a
flanking/sneak attack from the side (further than 15 feet away for safety) with
his crossbow. He will be prepared to dodge any flying puss that may squirt from
the wound he causes.
Newt has to use all of his movement this round to get into
position. As he moves the ogre swings
his club at him, but misses thanks to Newt’s special training he received as a
young gnome concerning tactics when fighting against giants.
Anya’drea makes a gesture and speaks a word and a
bolt of energy streaks from her outstretched hand into the ogre, doing 5 points
of damage, giving Logbrag a minor wound.
The sorceress regains her grip on her staff.
Bec charges at the ogre,
trying to make up for his last performance fighting one if their kind. He
attempts an overhead power attack with his sword when he closes in.
Bec is too close to charge, but can take a 5-foot-step and make the
power attack. Bec lands the blow (15 rolled)
and does 18 points of damage! The ogre
is severely wounded.
If Casimir can find room,
he will strike with his trusty sword.
Casimir steps forward and swings; a critical hit to the head (just as
the giant was leaning down). Casimir’s
blade splits the ogre’s scalp opening.
The ogre takes 19 points of damage, and while bleeding profusely, falls
to the ground with a heavy thud. Logbrag
is dead.
You each earn 150 XP.
"You all seemed to
have learned alot in our last dealings with ogres."
Giving the cavern a search you find a large masterwork heavy wooden
shield beneath the furs. It looks like
Logbrag used it to firm up his bed. It
would function as a tower shield for a human.
Two sacks tossed into a corner hold 249 gold pieces, 500 silver pieces,
100 copper pieces and a week’s worth of rancid meat and hard, moldy cheese.
Let me know who wants to grab what. There is also an exit leading from the
cavern, heading further into the hill.
"Yahtzee!", yells Casimir as he finishes the ogre with the final
blow.
The shield is far too cumbersome for Bowen to consider
using.
Bec looks with horror at the wound he delivered. He starts
wiping off the blood.
"With the spear it
was different. And practice, too. It was just practice, you know? Now, using the sword on a living thing. So much
blood..."
Once the blade is clean,
Bec looks away from the body. He shuts his eyes for a moment and when he
reopens them, he wears an expression of determination.
"Okay. Sorry about
that. Let's see what we have here."
"Let's divvy up the ill-gotten gains of this
creature, and move forward...", offers Casimir.
You each get 41gp, 83sp and 16cp, with Casimir holding the remaining
3gp, 2sp and 4cp for group treasure. I
assume nobody takes the shield, the rancid meat or moldy cheese.
Area 1-2 – The Great Cavern
You go through the 10-foot-wide, 20-foot-long exit
that opens into a wide, vaulted chamber, its ceiling almost 60 feet above
you. Stalactites and stalagmites dot the
chamber, almost turning it into a series of smaller rooms. A small pool of water in the center of the
room looks shallow but broad. The walls
and rock formations here are particularly wet.
They glisten by the light of Bowen’s torch. You could go to the pond or follow the cavern
wall to the left or right, or anything else you might think of.
Bec waits a moment to see
what his companions are thinking, but eventually just shrugs and proceeds
forward.
"I won't be
comfortable going around this pond until I get a closer look."
Holding his blade before
him, Bec walks slowly to the pond, hoping to see what lays
beneath its waters.
Casimir walks 8 ft. behind Bec, also with sword drawn. He
will try to detect evil in the pool. He whispers to Bec, "Be careful,
friend, we know not what evil this pool keeps..."
Bowen will follow the two young men and move up beside
Bec (whichever 5' space is free).
As soon as you begin entering the chamber, four tiny, thin, emaciated
creatures swoop down from the ceiling, catching you by surprise. The nasty things look like a cross between a
bat and a giant mosquito. They have
membranous bat wings, short furry bodies, eight jointed legs that end in sharp
pincers, and needle-like proboscis.
One creature attaches itself to Bowen, one to Casimir
and one to Mischa. One of the creatures
attacks Bec, but fails to attach itself.
Anya’drea, Newt, Bowen, Bec and Casimir may go.
Anya’drea casts a Magic Missile at the creature
attached to Mischa. The beast looks
clobbered by the bolt, but hangs onto Mischa.
Newt, composing himself after
getting surprised will try to move as much as he can (to get into a safer
position) before taking a shot at the creature failing to attach to Bec.
Newt’s bolt misses the creature and breaks against a stalactite (3
rolled). Newt may re-load.
Ignoring the creature before
him, Bec moves to the monster attacking Mischa and tries to knock it away from
his friend with a carefully aimed attack with his sword.
Bec’s blow completely misses (4 rolled.)
Bowen will drop his axe
and try to grab the terrifying creature and yank it off....
Bowen tries to remove the creature but it holds tight (1 rolled.)
Casimir will heroically
waive off any pain he suffers to rid Mischa of the beast she is carrying. After
all, that would the gallant thing to do, right?
"Harumph....", grunts Casimir managing the pain of his own burden
and striking out at Mischa's.
Casimir’s strike connects (13 rolled) for 9 points of damage. The creature on Mischa releases its grip and
falls to the floor with a dry-sounding *thup*.
It’s not moving.
The creature attached to Bowen jams its needle-like
nose in and starts sucking blood. Bowen
takes 1 pt. of CON damage. The creature
begins to expand, stretch and swell.
Blood oozes from its skin.
The creature still airborne attacks Bec, but in so
doing it has to fly away and then back at him.
Bec takes his attack of opportunity, and takes the thing out of the sky
(16 rolled for attack, for 12 points of damage). Bec notices that fighting among these
stalactites is difficult. All attacks
with 2-handed melee weapons are at -2.
The creature attached to Casimir jams its needle-like
nose in and starts sucking blood.
Casimir takes 2 pts. of CON damage. The creature begins to expand, stretch and
swell. Blood oozes from its skin.
Mischa, then Anya’drea, Newt, Bec, Bowen and Casimir
may go. Bowen and Casimir have creatures
attached to them.
Mischa swings her staff
at the creature on Casimir. "Scar attack"
Mischa hits (17 rolled) for 5 ponts of damage, and deals a
life-threatening blow to the creature, clobbering it.
Newt will search for a
target that he can fire at safely. (if none exist)
then it is "go time" and his mace will become a popper of bleeding
beasts.
Newt knows that firing at the creature sucking Bowen may hit his
companion, so he opts for the mace. He
draws the weapon and moves in but will have to wait until next round to attack.
Bowen will continue to
attempt to pull the creature free of himself.
Bowen succeeds in wrenching the creature free.
Casimir will step over to
Bowen and help him out with his sucker.
"Be still, man, you
seem to have a bug on your neck! I'll get it for you!",
he says with mirth that belies his fear in this situation.
Seeing the beast free from Bowen, Casimir attacks it (10 rolled), but
the creature dodges the blow.
Seeing Casimir going for
Bowen's creature, Bec turns his attention, in turn, to the one attacking
Casimir. With a careful swing of his sword, he attempts to kill the bloated
monster.
As Casimir’s attacker is all over Scar, Bec attacks the creature
previously attached to Bowen (the last creature moving). Bec misses completely (2 rolled).
Anya’drea grips her staff tightly, moves in and
swings at the beastie. (15 rolled).
Anya’drea almost hits the creature but her staff bounces off one of the
impeding stalacmites.
The creature dives at Anya’drea. She swings at it and misses (9 rolled) and
the creature attaches itself to the sorceress.
Mischa swings her staff and hits the monster (16
rolled) for 5 points of damge, clobbering it.
Scar again chomps down on the flying thing and the
last one bursts in the wolf’s jaws, adding more gore to his reddened muzzle.
Everyone earns 100 XP.
"See what nature's
creatures can do when they are treated with kindness and respect. His former
life is but a fleeting shadow now."
Mischa moves over to Scar
and scratches him affectionately behind the ear.
Bec cleans the blood off his blade.
"Yeah, they can be
trained by people to fight other of nature's creatures. Not complaining about
the results, though."
Continuing on to the pool, you find it to be some 90
feet wide by 50 feet across. The water
appears normal, if not warm. Mischa
identifies it as potable.
"Let's clean
ourselves up. Scar, in particular might want to be rid of that foul ichor of
those horrible beasts". says Casimir without his
usual verve.
"I feel weak. I think
we should rest for a bit", Casimir goes on to say as he slumps to the
ground.
Bec rushes over the tired young paladin.
"That thing must have
gotten a decent amount of blood. He's exhausted. I think he could use some
sleep and a hearty meal. You think we could do that here?"
Bec looks around, looking
nervously at the stalagmites and the ominous pond.
" we may be safe to rest back in the ogre's
den. His stench should keep away any animals, and hopefully a monster or
two."
"I doubt it is safe to rest anywhere in the
vicinity. Something is causing a corruption into the very being of the world
here. Delaying here may allow it to infect us as it did the ogre and the
kobolds here. Also,although it is not life
threatening, judging from the wound it would take him days to recover. We may
be best advised to press on and be wary of our condition, then to let this
plight continue on any longer then need be."
Mischa washes the blood
from Scars muzzle as she speaks, looking into the waters depths.
Casimir stuggles his way to his feet, "I see value
in your wise opinion, student-of-nature. Let us continue!"
Bec looks skeptically at Mischa, but eventually shrugs. He
walks over to Casimir and speaks quietly with him.
"If you say you're
okay, then fine. But if you feel ill, we should stop. At least eat something
and have a drink of water. You'll feel better."
Casimir smiles at Bec and winks,
"I'll be okay, friend, but I thank you for your concern. It is good to
know that we have others to rely on in our times of need. "
Then louder to the group, "We have dallied long enough on my
account. Let us find the true path to ridding the land of this menace..."
Newt will wash his hands in the water and try to listen
intently a few feet away from the sounds of the others. He will also examine
the stalac(t)mites to see if they are safe to venture
under/between. Relying on his gnomish instincts he will try to see if he can
tell what kind of rock these are and if anything seems out of place for this
depth/region. I am ready to go when everyone else feels it is safe. Maybe I
should scout quietly ahead in the shadows as we go to check for any unwanted
company and traps?
Newt notices nothing unusual about the rocks. You could go around the pond and continue
straight or follow the cavern wall to the left or right, or anything else you
might think of.
Bowen lifts his torch
higher in a vain attempt to see further but ends up just as undecided as
before. He looks to Casimir and Bec.
"We should stick to one side. Caverns have claimed more
then a few souls in their maze-like depths. Perhaps we should trek to the left,
if we stay always to leftmost path, we will always know our way back out. Stay
close together and keep a wary eye in all directions." Mischa moves over
to the left side of the cavern and awaits the others.
Casimir hefts his sword over his shoulder and follows
Mischa to the left edge of the cavern.
It takes you almost 3 minutes before you encounter anything to
note. In a puddle of water lays a
severed length of rope. Water drips down
from above and splashes into the puddle.
Looking up, both Mischa and Newt can make out a hole in the ceiling in
the shadows of Bowen’s torchlight. It’s
over 60 feet up.
"That could be an
eventual escape route, should we ever get up there. I don't see how we are
going to get up there now...", Casimir's voice
trails off as he looks further into the cave.
"A lit'le early to worry about
that; need to find a way up first. Might want to salvage what we can of that rope, though."
The rope is little more than 3 feet long.
"No sense in keeping
that scrap. Let's be on our way to see what can be seen", Casimir puts the
big charming smile on to persuade the others to travel along with him...
Area 1-5: Dark Corridor
Some 40 feet further on, on the left hand side is a narrow passage
chocked with stalactites and other rock formations. To enter here you would have to proceed at
half speed and single file.
"This seems like a
natural place for an ambush. Let us prepare ourselves duly!" Casimir hefts
his shield and sword and makes for the first in line...
Bowen follows next behind Casimir, ensuring he has ample
light to (hopefully) spot any hidden enemies.
Bec lets everyone pass before taking up the rear. As he
walks, he casually checks the room he has to swing.
I’ll assume the rest of the order as follows: Casimir, Bowen, Mischa,
Anya’drea, Newt, Bec.
Bec discovers that the confines cause him to suffer a -2 to his attack
rolls, much like everywhere else down here due to the stalagmites.
You proceed slowly for about 2 minutes, in almost
claustrophobic conditions. The passage
opens up somewhat, but due to the rock formations, you are still forced to
travel single file for the most part, although the occasional spot opens wide
enough for 2 abreast.
Mischa calls for a stop. She has spotted something. 30 feet ahead, on the ceiling, one of the
stalactites seems to break apart, revealing itself to be a creature that
resembles a small squid or octopus, with a stonelike shell covering its body
and a tough membrane stretched between its unfolding tentacles.
We are in initiative.
Mischa, Bec and Newt may go.
Newt will fire up at the
creature then try to maneuver to safety using the rocks for cover and getting
ready to dodge any tentacles.
Newt’s crossbow bolt strikes its target but fails to penetrate its
natural armor (11 rolled). The bolt breaks when it falls.
Mischa will draw her bow
and fire on the creature after dropping her quarterstaff too the ground.
"Scar, Attack!"
Mischa’s arrow misses completely (5 rolled), but she sees where it
lands. Scar moves forward, picking his
way between holes, stalagmites and puddles and snarls and leaps at the
creature, some 20 feet above him on the ceiling.
Anya’drea drops her staff as well, pulls her sling
and loads it.
Just waiting for Bec before the creature goes.
Bec will attempt to squeeze
through to the front to take a power attack at this creature with his sword. If
he cannot, he hold his action and wait until he can
get an opening.
The creature is 20 feet up on the ceiling so I have Bec holding.
Casimir will hold his
action until the tentacles are in range of a sword attack. He designates the
creature as the one he is dodging (per the feat).
The creature leaves its location and resumes a position just above
Anya’drea. An inky darkness spills out
from it, shrouding everyone in shadows.
Casimir, Bowen, Bec, Newt, Scar, Mischa and Anya’drea
may go. The creature is still 20 feet up
on the ceiling, right above several of you, and the darkness will cause a 20%
miss chance to hit the monster.
Mischa will attempt to
shoot at the creature again, and will leave Scar with his current command.
Mischa’s arrow strikes its target but fails to penetrate its natural
armor (10 rolled to hit, 53 miss chance). The arrow breaks
when it falls.
Scar stands snarling below the creature.
Anya’drea points her finger at the thing and a magic
missile strikes it for 4 points of damage.
It seems clobbered.
Casimir will attempt to hit any tentacles that seem to be
getting close...
(posting for Newt) Newt reloads from his
position in cover and fires at the monster.
Newt would have sworn the bolt was on target (14 rolled) but missed in
the shadows (9 miss chance). The bolt
clatters back to the stones.
(Posting for Bowen) Bowen readies his axe for the creature should it come down from above.
The creature suddenly plummets down straight on top
of Anya’drea. Bec slashes at it with his
greatsword, but misses completely (4 rolled, 56 miss chance).
Casimir swings as well, but his sword slides off the creatures rubbery skin (11 rolled, 90 miss chance).
Bowen’s axe whistles through the air (1 rolled, 68
miss chance), Bowen fails to recover and trips. He loses his footing and falls prone. He is able to regain his feet.
The monster lands on Anya’drea,
doing 7 points of damage, clobbering the sorceress. The creature tries to wrap its tentacles
about Anya’drea’s head, but fails and falls to the ground.
Scar moves to attack the monster, but falls in the
darkness. The wolf gets back up but
cannot advance this round.
Mischa, Anya’drea, Newt, Bec, Casimir and Bowen may go. The creature is now on the ground.
Mischa moves over to
Anya'drea and casts (defensively if needed) Cure Light Wounds. Scar will keep
his current command.
Anya’drea is healed completely by Mischa’s spell.
Bec is pulled off balance by
his wild swing. Finding his footing, he steps forward with another powerful
power attack, hoping to cleave through the creature's hard shell.
Bec’s attack (13 rolled) misses due to the shadows (9 miss chance).
Bowen will try to close
in order to swing at the creature. If he isn't able he will continue to hold,
or even better, ready an attack should the creature come into range.
The creature is at Bowen’s feet so his attack (20 rolled, 19 to
confirm, 25 miss chance) scores a critical hit.
Bowen’s axe slices deeply into one of the creatures
tentacles, very near the body, for 21 points of damage, instantly killing it. The darkness subsides.
Everybody earns 50 XP.
Area 1-6: Treasure Cache
Proceeding on you spend a little over a minute picking your way carefully
through the cavern. Once again the
cavern narrows to a 10-foot-wide choke point, and then opens up into a wide,
low cavern. As the cavern turns to the
left you see that it becomes increasingly cramped and low, with barely enough
space for a human to crawl into; and crawling will be the only way you can
explore this area. What do you do?
"It seems that the only way to advance is to crawl. I’m not
excited about that one bit. If something were to happen in there, how would we
defend ourselves? Perhaps we should visit more of the cavern?",
Casimir looks at the group for help.
Bec looks at the small passage, then
examines his own wide shoulders.
"Uh...yeah, let's go
look around. No reason to make things more unpleasant than they have to be,
right? If there's nothing anywhere else, we can always come back."
Bec point backs at the
pond.
"Maybe we should go
around the other side of the water."
There
is still unexplored area following the wall.
While you have certainly not walked through the central area of this
very large cavern, at various points Mischa and Newt can catch sight of the
water in the distant shadows of the torchlight,
farther than any human eye can see. You
find another passageway out of the cavern.
Following it (this one is 10 feet wide, if irregular) you see that it
drops 10 feet before continuing on. Do
you proceed?
"Only a small drop, let's see where this one goes."
"Indeed, let’s leave no area unchecked, and as we are here
it would be foolish to leave, only to return later."
Bec looks at the small drop.
"Yeah, let's check
out over here. Newt, you wanna check it out?"
"Newt, use your stature to your advantage and inform us as
what to expect!", Casimir states with a grin.
Area
1-3: The Beetle Cavern
(posted for Newt) Newt
cautiously climbs down and asks you to hand down his crossbow. He moves as
carefully and quietly as possible to the edge of the light. He disappears behind a stalagmite for a
moment and then comes back, not running, but moving his arms excitedly. Climbing back up he
reports that the cavern is chocked with stalagmites and puddles, making
movement difficult. Ahead are three fire beetle, similar to those you encountered in
Skulltop Hillock, except that he glowing gems on their bodies resemble tiny
human skulls. They did not seem to
notice the gnome.
"Skulls are often a mark of evil,
I don't think these beetles are natural."
I would rather hold off forcing confrontation till a last
resort. We will all probably not be able to sneak around them down there. But i
will leave the decision to the group though my vote is to keep exploring making
mental notes of problematic areas.
Bec nods.
"I think that's a
good idea. Why go looking for fights, especially when I doubt those beetles
you're talking about are behind all this. Let's go check the rest of the cavern
first."
You continue your circuit until you
come back to the main entrance.
The only areas to explore are the pond itself, the hole in the ceiling,
the very low cavern or the fire beetle passage.
"'Tis too bad that we can't work that arcanist's ring to
get the hole..."
"Perhaps now is a good time to further investigate the
beetles. If they are indeed unnatural then that may very well be the direction
we should head, as the monsters in this area are indeed being corrupted by
something unnatural."
Bec looks back at the drop where the beetles are located.
"Should we charge in
and take 'em out by surprise, then? Or should we let Newt sneak ahead, like
before."
Newt looks at the big man... sure send the gnome in as bait.
Newt smiles jokingly. I may be able to sneak past and get position for some
sneak attacks on the beets if you guys want to come down and get ready for an
assault. I know some of you are not very quiet when you walk or move. Newt
looks pointedly at the fearless leader and Bec.
Casimir lifts his eyebrow. He smiles. he
draws his sword.
"What did you have in
mind?", he questions.
Bec smiles at the gnome.
"Bait?
No, not at all. I just want to allow you to be where
you want to be before I go in and muck it up. If you want me to handle it, I'll
be more than happy."
Bec lifts his blade
enthusiastically.
Hi
all. I’m not sure what plan Newt had in
mind, but if somebody else would like to post a plan of action we can
continue.
"Why don't we move in together, should any of us be spotted
alone, it would be far worse then if we are all spotted together.
Unnatural or not, animals have instincts, and if these are already predisposed
to be agressive, instincts will tend to be violent."
Mischa scratches Scar behind the ear absent mindedly as she speaks.
"I like Mischa's plan. Let's go!",
Casimir states as he strides toward the entrance with his sword drawn.
Casimir looks around as he moves toward the 10 foot drop.
"I could use some light here!" He sheathes his sword and begins to
climb down the 10 foot descent...
Mischa moves forward so the light from her pendant illuminates
the path.
When Casimir reaches the bottom of the drop and readies himself, Bec
will sheath his sword, climb down, then redraw his
blade.
You
all make it down the ledge without a problem.
Advancing forward you see the beetles…and they
see you. Mischa’s assumption proves to
be correct as the creatures move to attack you.
We
are in initiative. Anya’drea, Casimir
and Mischa may go.
Casimir draws his sword (if he has room, otherwise the mace) and
attempts to crush the approaching beetle. If possible, he will get out in front
to form a sort of loggerhead.
He grins with grim
intention, knowing that the battle must be fought, wishing that it didn't have
to be.
Casimir’s
blade slices the beetle open (18 rolled) doing 8 points of damage. As it falls it emits a horrible stench.
Anya’drea
drops her staff and loads her sling.
Mischa moves forward staff at the ready. "Scar
attack." She say with a final gentle pat of the
head.
Mischa’s
staff gets fouled on one of the stalagmites, causing her to miss the beetle (16
rolled, -2 to 2-hand weapon attacks).
One
of the beetles bites at Mischa, but she moves away
from the attack.
The
other attacks Casimir but hits the paladin’s breastplate.
Bowen,
Scar, Bec, Newt, Anya’drea, Casimir and Mischa may go.
Scar attacks at whatever beetle he can get at, preferably the
one that attacked Mischa. Mischa will drop her staff to the ground and draw her
sickle and attempt to swing at the beetle with a more maneuverable weapon.
Bowen will attempt to move in closer, so that he can bring his
battleaxe down upon a beetle's scaly hide.
Bowen’s
axe comes down on the beetle attacking Mischa (18 rolled) for 11 points of
damage. Again the foul smell is released
as Bowen’s axe cleaves into the bug’s carapace.
If he can, Bec will close with the beetle attacking Mischa and slice
through its hide with with a carefully aimed hack. If not, Bec will close with
any of the beetles he can reach and attack.
Scar
bites down on the beetle attacking Casimir but fails to penetrate its natural
armor (9 rolled.)
Bec’s
blow (13 rolled) comes down heavily on the last beetle for 15 points of damage,
cutting the insect in half. Again the
stench wafts over you. You each earn 150
XP.
Area
1-4: Parts Unknown
You
press ahead and after a minute or so the cavern opens quite a bit. The floor of this large cavern is thick with
dust and the air is stale and musty. The
floor slopes downwards at the far end.
Another beetle takes notice and moves quickly toward you. The beetle is about 40 feet away.
We
are in initiative once more: Newt, Anya’drea, Mischa, Casimir, Bowen, Bec and
Scar may go
Bec will charge forward and unleash an attack, if possible. He hopes
to take this thing out before it can hurt anyone.
Anya’drea
loses a sling stone at the beetle. (1
rolled) Her sling flies out of her hand
and lands 10 feet to the right and behind her.
With an embarrassed cough, she regains her grip
on her staff.
Bowen will also charge the beetle, else double move to get
within range and attack next round if needed.
Mischa will attack with her staff if possible and command Scar
too attack.
Casimir draws his blade and closes for the attack. Once in
range, he will strike down his foe.
Newt fires his crossbow and will move out to the side after his
shot to allow the hand to hand and animals to attack.
Newt’s
crossbow bolt connects with its target, but breaks on its shell (7 rolled,
failed to beat penetrate natural armor).
Mischa
moves forward and hits the beetle (17 rolled) for 2 points of damage,
moderately wounding and clobbering the bug.
Casimir
advances and cuts into the beetle (17 rolled) for 4 points of damage. There is
the now familiar awful smell, and it stops moving.
Two
more beetles move in from a previously unseen location to your left.
One moves to Mischa and bites at her, doing 7 points of damage,
moderately wounding and clobbering the elf.
The
other attacks Casimir but misses completely.
As
Bowen, Bec and Scar didn’t get their attacks, I had them holding.
Bowen
cuts into the beetle attacking Mischa (19 rolled) for 7 points of damage. He pulls his axe free, and with it comes the
stench.
Bec’s
attack is fouled by a stalagmite, causing him to just miss the beetle (7
rolled).
Scar’s
attack also completely misses (5 rolled).
Newt,
Anya’drea, Mischa and Casimir may go.
There is only 1 beetle left.
Mischa is clobbered.
Casimir will step into the path of the beetle and Mischa. he will attack if possible.
Those
listed were actually holding this round (there was a 1 round delay between
attacks) so Casimir unholds and slices deeply into the beetle (15 rolled) for 6
points of damage, dropping the insect.
No others appear in the area.
Mischa
rests for about 7 minutes and heals from her reserves.
Everyone
earns 150 XP.
"Yahtzee!"
"Shall we continue on? I daresay we seem to be on the right
path, the villagers said the kobolds and ogre were more violent then usual,
much like these beetles. Seems to be a running theme."
Mischa
rises from where she was sitting and picks up her staff.
"Let us press on
before the very ground becomes violent from this taint."
Bec walks over to Mischa.
"Sounds
good to me, as long as you feel okay."
Bec steps towards the
front of the group.
"I always seem so
slow to react. I might as well be near the front so we can prevent Mischa
catching so much abuse. At least I can shield some of the less armored from
harm, right?" he says to the party.
"I will walk with you, valiant friend", Casimir pats
Bec on the back as he steps toward the lead.
Bowen follows close behind, if quietly.
It
takes seven minutes just to walk around this large cavern, let alone search
it. You find nothing else of interest and
no other passages out. Other than the
daunting task of thoroughly searching very large caverns, the only unexplored
areas are the pond itself, the hole in the ceiling and the cavern that gets
very small indeed.
Bec looks at his companions.
"Let's go check the
pond. See if there's something in the water making everything kinda screwy. One
time I drank from this stagnant pond while I was playing with my brother and...welll...it wouldn't be polite to describe what happened to
me. It was gross, though. Maybe these creatures and ogres and stuff, well,
maybe they've been drinking bad water."
"That could be it. Stagnant water never does any good,
though this must be really nasty water to cause the ogre's illness.
"I concur, but let's be wary. Draw
your weapons before approaching the water, lest we be surprised from
within." Casimir looks at Mischa, "Nature's friend, can you tell if
the water be potable?"
"Indeed it is. While not the freshest water, it is
fine."
Casimir approaches the water with weapon drawn. He looks into
the pool to see what is to be seen.
The
pool is broad but shallow. Nothing can
be seen from the edge.
Well maybe we could tie off to something or someone in case the
way gets slippery or the pond gets deeper just out of view. If you guys want I
can search the pond to see if it holds any secrets. Newt rubs his hands
together vigorously, smiling as he does so.
Bec grabs a rock from the ground and looks to the group.
"Maybe I could throw
this in there? See if it disturbs something?"
Bowen brandishes his axe and takes a few steps away from the
others, staring intently into the pool. " I'm not
sure if we are going to find anythin' in the muck, but please, let's give it a
look. And Bec has the idea; let's throw a stone in before the gnome."
The
rock splashes into the water. Other than
the expected ripples, nothing else happens.
"I really do think it is but a pool of water."
Which leaves the hole in the ceiling and the cavern
that gets very small indeed.
Bec eyes the water, then turns away shrugging.
"I guess we should
check out the spot where the passageway gets small. Kinda tight conditions for
me, but what else can we do?"
"Aye, that would be best as I know little of flying so,
that hole seems a mite out of reach."
Area 1-6: Treasure Cache
You
make your way back to the small caevrn
Once again the cavern narrows to a 10-foot-wide choke point, and then
opens up into a wide, low cavern. As the
cavern turns to the left you see that it becomes increasingly cramped and low,
with barely enough space for a human to crawl into; and crawling will be the
only way you can explore this area. What
do you do?
"Before one can learn to walk, one must learn to crawl. Who
shall proceed first?"
" It might be smarter to let Newt lead us,
for he can sense trouble ahead, and move around a bit easier."
Bec nods, agreeing with that logic.
"I'll follow
him."
The large man sheathes his
greatsword and pulls a dagger, which looks tiny in his hand.
You
begin crawling into the area. Newt
suddenly stops. He sees, in the middle
of the far wall and tucked into a small hollow carved into the floor, a wooden
chest. Only the top of the chest is
visible above the floor. The ceiling
here is just tall enough to allow the chest to open. The chest shows signs of recent disturbance. There are scratches on the lock and tiny
handprints in the dust covering the chest.
"Newt, please check that very carefully. This is ripe for a
trap, we would all be helpless to protect
ourselves."
Newt
determines the chest is not trapped, and also confirms that it is locked.
Pulling out his trusty picks newt smiles just a bit at the task
ahead of him. I am going to try to open this chest it doesn't appear to be
trapped but if you wish to scoot back just a bit I can make sure that IF
anything should happen it will only happen to me.
Bec backs up slightly but keeps his dagger at the ready.
It
takes Newt two rounds to unlock the chest.
As soon as he opens it, four tiny, crude, humanoid dolls fashioned from
wood climb out of the chest to attack.
Anya’drea,
Mischa, Bowen, Casimir and Newt may go first in initiative order. As Anya’drea is a fair ways back and has no
line of sight, she will hold.
Is there room for Bowen to get around Bec and Newt in order to
attack one of the animated dolls? If so, he will. If not, he too will have to
hold.
Assuming Casimir can get to the front, he will do so. If not, he
will hold until such time as he can help.
"We need to back up to get out of here, so we have room to
fight."
Mischa begins trying to back up so that they can get into a better area to
fight.
Mischa
slowly begins backing out of the tight space.
Bowen
and Casimir need to spend an entire round crawling into position to attack the
dolls. They may attack next turn.
(posted for Newt).
Newt pulls his heavy mace and swings at a doll (1 rolled). He critically misses but is able to recover
(15 rolled)
Each
of the dolls attack Newt. 3 of the tiny dolls miss completely, but one
tiny little fist is deflected at the last minute by an invisible force around
Newt.
Bec,
Mischa, Bowen, Casimir and Newt may go in order.
Mischa continues backing out of the crawl space hoping the
others will follow suit, as the space is far too tiny to fight in effectively.
Bec backs out as well, feeling the small crawl space is too tight
for an encounter so creepy.
Bowen attempts to distract the dolls by attacking one of them as
best he can.
Even
prone Bowen hits the doll (16 rolled), but his axe blade skims off the wood of
the doll, doing no damage.
Casimir
and Newt are up.
Casimir will attack with his mace. This may involve pulling it
out, as he didn't have it out. If this is deemed to be impossible, he will back
out of the space as well...
Casimir
rolls a critical miss (1 rolled) and fails to recover(7
rolled). He ends up awkwardly catching
the mace between himself and the floor and does 6 points of damage to himself,
a mild wound.
Newt
attacks again, but misses due to the difficulty of the fighting conditions (14
rolled).
The
dolls again concentrate their attacks on Newt.
Newt dodges one blow, 2 tiny fists hit his chain shirt, and the fourth
misses completely.
Bec,
Mischa, Bowen, Casimir and Newt may go in order.
Mischa continues backing out of the hole and encouraging the
others to do likewise.
Bowen begins to back up, seeing that the group does not seem to
be making any headway against the animations in such a cramped position.
Casimir winces from the blow. "Hrrrhhaaa.
What is this good for?", he wonders aloud as he
strikes at the nearest creature to himself. He then take
a 5 foot step back.
Casimir
connects with the doll (17 rolled) but, due to the awkwardness of the situation
and the doll’s wooden body, deals no damage.
There is no way to take a 5’ step but Casimir crawls backward 5’.
Hearing the scream behind him. Newt gets startled. Newt will take the
time to try to back up withdrawing carefully as to not provoke the animations
to attack. (if possible)
As
everyone has backed away, the dolls climb back into the chest and close the
lid.
Still tense, even with the withdraw of the dolls, Bowen continues to hold his battle axe tightly before
him.
"My axe didn't even
scratch one, and I'm sure I hit it well. A number of the family stories I heard
around the hearth growing up claim this axe is magical. But if it cannot damage
them.... maybe we could burn them...?" Bowen trails off, apparently lost
in thought.
"Of course, I guess
we don't have to fight them at all."
Casimir eyes Newt, waiting for the inevitable response....
"Perhaps that chest
contains a valuable clue as to how we can stop the taint from spreading?", Casimir questions, showing the inquisitiveness of
his 16 years. "Maybe, we just need a better plan..."
"Perhaps for now it would be best to bypass the little
toys, and come back to them when we have a more suitable way to deal with them."
Mischa looks around for a
rock that might be large enough to hold the lid down so the dolls might not
free themselves.
Of
course, you have no other areas to explore, save for that hole in the ceiling.
Newt just smiles as his name is mentioned. We can pull the box
out here and try again. I think there is something magical about those dolls.
They weren't hurting me but I felt like maybe something invisible was
protecting me. Do you guys have any suggestions? Perhaps we can look in the
chest while the dolls are out attacking? I say we continue with this before
breaking our necks climbing something too high.
"Perhaps they can'ot hurt us at all, and are there merely
to distract and force us back. Whoever placed them there, then, might not have
been evil at all. Though with this taint they might be
violent now."
Bec puts his dagger away and nods.
"I'll go grab the
box."
The large young man starts
crawling into the narrowing passage, intent on getting to the unusual chest.
It
takes Bec a minute to crawl to the chest.
Bec leans his weight on the top of the chest to keep it from
opening. Then, slowly increasing his pressure, he tries to push the chest back
down the narrow passage.
Apparently
Bec didn’t get close enough last time to notice “tucked into a small hollow
carved into the floor, a wooden chest.
Only the top of the chest is visible above the floor. The ceiling here is just tall enough to allow
the chest to open.”
Bec attempts to find a way to extract the chest despite the
impossibility of it. Frustrated, he pops open the top of the chest.
"Bec, just look to see what's
inside the chest, if you can. Ignore the homunculi, *ahem* dolls, when they strike you!", Casimir says down the hallway. He stands ready with
his mace, rolling it around in his hand, wondering how he caused so much damage
on himself with it. 'This is a wonderful little tool', he thinks to himself...
Once
again the tiny dolls climb out of the chest.
We are back in initiative. Bec
may go first.
Bec will try to look what else is in the chest if he can. He will
also attempt a grapple of one of the little men; basically picking it up and
securing it.
Bec
notices a pile of gold, some gems, some scrolls, 2 coils of rope and a
grappling hook.
The
doll slaps Bec’s hand away, dealing 1 point of damage and ending the grapple
attempt.
The
dolls swarm over Bec and attack. I
almost falls over, 1 misses completely, one hits Bec’s chainmail and Bec dodges
the last blow.
Newt.
Casimir, Anya’drea, Mischa, Bowen and Bec may now go in order.
Deciding that fighting the little dolls is an
futile action, he will grab the contents of the chest, ignoring the attacks to
do so. He will start with the rope, grappling hooks, and gems. After he gets
his hands on these items, he will crawl away.
All
others are holding until they post differently.
As Bec grabs the ropes, revealing a second grappling
hook in the chest. All the dolls attack him. All but one miss and Bec takes 2 points of
damage.
The
dolls attack again, 2 missing, one hitting Bec’s chainmail and 1 hitting Bec
for 1 point of damage.
Bec
grabs the grappling hooks. As he does
so, the dolls attack, 2 missing and 2 hitting his chainmail.
The
dolls attack again; 1 hits Bec for 1 point of damage, 1 trips and falls, 1
misses and Bec evades the last blow.
Bec reaches
for two gems and the dolls attack. The
first dolls hits Bec for 1 point of damage, the second gets up and misses and
the last 2 miss. Bec is mildly wounded.
The
dolls attack; The first 3 hit Bec’s chainmail while
the last one trips and falls and gets back up.
Bec
grabs two more gems; the first two dolls each hit Bec for 2 points of damage
each. Bec is moderately wounded. The second 2 attacks miss.
The
dolls attack again, 2 hitting chainmail, 1 hitting Bec for 2 points and the
last hitting him for 1 point of damage.
Bec is severely wounded at this point.
Bec
grabs the last two gems. 1 doll attacks doing 2 points of damage. The second and third each do 1 point and the
fourth misses. Bec’s injuries are
life-threatening at this point.
The
dolls attack, 3 hitting chainmail and 1 missing.
Bec
assumes a position of total defense and begins crawling back away from the
chest, leaving the gold. The dolls
attack; 3 miss and Bec evades one of the blows. The dolls climb back into the chest and close
the lid.
Bec
makes it back to the rest of the party.
Casimir crawls to Bec as soon as he can see him coming back.
"This man is hurt!", he screams back to the
rest of the party. "We need to get him some help!" With that, he
takes up a defensive position between the chest and Bec.
Bec laughs, his body covered with many small but deep bruises and
cuts.
"Well, that was one of my more stupid moves, no doubt about it. Those
little things hurt more than I thought they would. The good news is I got
these..."
Bec reveals the rope and
grappling hooks, then the gems he grabbed.
"...and
these, as well. Maybe not worth the pain, but I got 'em now, so no use
regretting it."
By
resting for 17 minutes, Bec will recover his hit points from his reserves, as
will Casimir. During this time, about 7
minutes in, so Bec still has 10 points of damage, Bowen’s torch burns out (but you still
have light from Mischa’s Everburning bauble.)
Suddenly,
there is a squeaking noise as 4 dire rats approach from the area of the main
cavern. The creatures rush forward and
attack. One of the rats bites at Mischa
but hits her leather armor. One bites
Bec for 3 points of damage. Bec had
healed up to moderately wounded but is now severely
wounded again. The third rat attacks
Mischa but completely misses, while the fourth bites Scar for 3 points of
damage, mildly wounding the wolf.
Anya’drea
grabs her staff and attacks one of the rats attacking Mischa, but misses
completely (4 rolled).
Bowen,
Casimir, Newt, Scar, Mischa and Bec may go, their
actions will occur in that order unless someone readies or holds.
Mischa will take a 5' step away from the rats and towards Bec if
possible and cast Cure Light Wounds on him.
"Scar attack"
Newt will get into position to get a flank attack with his xbow
and limit the possibility of hurting his friends
With a cry, Bowen leaps forward and attacks the nearest
ambushing rodent, attempting to cleave the beast in half!
Bowen’s
attack misses (3 rolled.)
Casimir, perturbed at the break in rest, as well as this
cowardly attack in the dark, hefts his sword and strikes at the nearest rodent.
The
rat evades Casimir’s attack (8 rolled).
While
Newt can’t flank with is crossbow, he does position himself so his companions
don’t offer the rats cover, but still must subtract 4 from his to-hit roll, and
fires at the rodent attacking Scar. The bolt hits (19 to hit, 10 fails to confirm a critical) doing 3
points of damage, moderately wounding and clobbering the rat. Newt’s crossbow is now unloaded.
Scar
attacks the rat but bites high (7 rolled).
Mischa
heals Bec for 7 points. Bec is now only
moderately wounded.
(auto-posted
for Bec) Bec draws his greatsword and swings down at the rat that bit him, (8
rolled) but the rat gets out of the way.
A
rat bites Mischa for 3 points of damage, mildly wounding the elf.
Another bites Bec for 4 points.
The
third misses Mischa, but the fourth bites Scar for 3 points of damage,
moderately wounding the wolf.
Anya’drea
attacks and misses again (5 rolled)
Bowen,
Casimir, Newt, Scar, Mischa and Bec may go, their
actions will occur in that order unless someone readies or holds.
Casimir attacks the nearest rat with all fervor! "Back to
your hole, rodent!"
Mischa will attack the nearest rat with her staff.
Seeing the multiple wounds his companions are taking, Bowen's
face goes hard and his eyes glaze over. When he moves again, he is in a rage,
and viciously chops down on the closest rat.
Bowen
hacks into the rat attacking Bec (19 rolled) doing 12 points of damage,
dropping the rodent.
Once
again, Casimir’s target moves too fast to be hit (7 rolled).
(auto-posted
for Newt) Newt re-loads and fires his
crossbow at another rat, the bolt connecting (14 rolled) but not penetrating
the rodents hide. The bolt skitters off
into the darkness.
Scar’s
target evades the wolf’s clamping jaws.
Mischa
hits her rat (19 rolled) for 1 point of damage, inflicting a minor wound on the
beastie.
(auto-posted
for Bec) Bec attacks the next nearest rat, but due to the confining conditions,
the rat squeaks out from under his blade at the last second.
One
of the rats attacking Mischa bites her for 4 points of damage, moderately
wounding the druid.
The
other rat attacking Mischa bites the druid, doing 3 points of damage, severely
wounding and clobbering her.
Scar’s
attacker misses.
Anya’drea
brings her staff down at a rat, and it looks like it might have connected if
her hand hadn’t caught a stalagmite.
Bowen,
Casimir, Newt, Scar, Mischa and Bec may go, their
actions will occur in that order unless someone readies or holds.
Mischa will take a step back from the offending rats and will
pull a potion from her bag.
Bowen wildly moves on to one of the rats assaulting Mischa and
brings his axe speeding down on it as well.
Bowen’s
axe bites into stone (3 rolled).
Casimir grimaces and slashes down with his prized family
heirloom: "Go find some garbage to climb on!"
Casimir
cuts into the rat (13 rolled) for 6 points of damage, taking it down.
(auto-posted
for Newt) Newt re-loads and fires but misses (9 rolled). He can see where his bolt landed.
Scar
bites into his rat (18 rolled) and deals 3 points of damage, taking it down.
Mischa
is back 5 feet and holding a potion.
(auto-posted
for Bec) Bec lays into the last rat, and loses his weapon as it flies 5 feet
directly behind him (1 rolled, 10 to recover).
The
last rat moves 5 feet and bites at Mischa, but misses.
Anya’drea
swings at the rat and misses (2 rolled)
(as this is the last rat I’m making some assumptions). Bowen attacks in a rage, and hist (11 rolled)
for 13 points of damage, almost cutting the rat in half.
We
are now out of initiative.
Everyone
earns 64 XP.
Bec, breathing heavily from all the recent activity, slumps down to
the ground.
"Give me a second to catch my breath. I...think we should use these
grappling hooks to get through the hole in the ceiling. Unless
anyone else wants to try with the chest."
Mischa will wait on using the potion and see how much she heals
with a brief rest.
"Who would have
thought that rats and dolls would give us the most problem, when we came to
fight an ogre."
After
about 10 minutes Bec is completely healed by his reserves. Mischa is left with
4 points of damage and no reserves remaining, and scar with 6 points of damage.
Newt checks and listens for any other unwanted guests that may
be coming / lurking in the shadows. Once satisfied that everything is ok...
Newt gets a glint in his eye. Hey Bec, did you get everything out of the chest?
We need to make sure we don't leave anything behind. But i say we wait till
everyone is healthy before trying to make that climb to the ceiling. And since
you will probably be going first (due to the success you had with the wizard)
you may want me to check the knots around the grappling hook for you so it
doesn't fray under your weight.
"Wise thinking, Newt. Check the rope for possible wear
damage, and I will throw it up into the hole. After I get it up there, climb up
and provide a light for the rest of us!"
Bec shakes his head.
"No, there was more.
Some scrolls and some gold coins. They were too hard to grab under the circumstances.
I made sure to grab the hooks, if only to allow us access through the
ceiling."
You
make it back to the hole, but only Mischa and Newt can see it, and it’s in the
shadows for them.
"can we cast a light spell on the
hook itself? That way when I throw it up there I can see where I am throwing
it. I may not get it the first time, but I could the subsequent times...", Casimir looks questioningly at the spell casters in
the group.
"I'm afraid light was not a spell I asked nature to grant
me this day. Perhaps Anya'drea?"
Anya’drea,
eager to be of service (and show off a little) answers, “Absolutely!” She pulls a piece of phosphorescent moss from
her pouch, utters a word, makes a wave and touches the grappling hook, which
immediately sheds light as bright as a torch.
She beams, very pleased with herself (and a little surprised that it
worked)
It
takes Casimir a few throws to find the range and get the spot locked into his
head. I’m assuming two lengths of rope are tied together as Mischa and Newt
estimated the distance at 60 feet. It
only takes him another 6 tries after that to get the hook lodged into place.
Casimir tugs the hook into place. "That should hold for
Newt, anyways. When you get to the top, see if you can help set this anchor a
little better, and I will follow you!"
After
3 unsuccessful starts at climbing up, Newt finally makes it up 5 feet, and then
promptly falls into Casimir’s arms. (with his armor
and equipment Newt has a -3 to his climb check).
Bec strips off his armor and takes his equipment off, with the
exception of the sword across his back and a dagger at his belt. He opens up
his climbing kit and starts equipping himself.
"I can climb this
thing, no problem. Let me do it. Then I can pull up people who can't make the
climb. Plus, if there is anything up there dangerous, I'm in a better than
average position to survive. Don't worry. I'll take it slowly."
OOC: Bec will take 10 on
the climb.
"Good effort, Bec. We will cover you as best as we are able
with our ranged weapons....". Casimir draws his
bow...
Anya’drea
helps Bec remove his armor. Bec easily
climbs the rope in just under a minute.
Area
1-7: Ceiling Passage
Bec
sees a 10-foot-wide passageway that angles up at roughly a 30° angle. The floor is rough and grooved. As wide as the passage is, it is also low,
rising only a little over 4 feet in height.
The footing is treacherous, and any movement at more than half-speed
could be a problem.
Suddenly,
from the shadows about 20 feet ahead stand 2 small creatures, one holding a javelin,
one holding a masterwork throwing axe and both wearing scale mail and holding wooden
shields. 10 feet behind them are 2 more
of the creatures wearing leather armor and holding small heavy crossbows. The creatures are about the size of a
Halfling or gnome. They have scaly hides
and naked tails like those of rats.
Their doglike heads sport small horns.
The
creatures catch Bec by surprise. One of
them yips something and throws his axe, hitting Bec for 1 point of damage. The other throws its javelin and hits Bec for
another point. Due to the angle of the
passage, the crossbow-wielding beasties are able to shoot over their
companions’ heads and both fire at Bec.
One bolt misses Bec and flies out into the cavern beyond. The other hits Bec for 8 points of
damage. Bec is moderately wounded.
Newt
and Casimir may each take a full-round action.
The sounds of combat from up above are obvious.
If Casimir can see any of the beasties he will fire. Otherwise
he will try to climb to the rope to get to bec.
I
have Newt holding until he posts.
Casimir slings his bow back over his shoulder and tries to start
climbing, but makes no progress (2 rolled).
Anya’drea
holds.
Mischa
and Bowen may go next.
Mischa holds waiting for the rope to be free so she can begin
climbing.
I
have Bowen holding until he posts.
The
crossbow-wielding creatures reload their weapons.
Bec
may now go, followed by Newt and Casimir.
Bowen will hold until Mischa begins climbing, going between the
Druid and the Anya'drea.
Bec, panic flashing in his eyes, winces as the crossbow bolt digs
into his flesh. His panic quickly turns to anger. Bec walks eagerly, drawing
his greatsword.
"I may fall. This may
be the last place I ever see. But I will not fall alone, I promise you that. If
I die, I die with your blood on my blade."
Bec will slash when he
closes with the first of his opponents.
In
order to meet the enemy, Bec must walk forward 20 feet. This would take a regular move. As he does so, Bec makes it to about 12 feet
when he slips (Balance check, 11 rolled) and slides back down the slope 11
feet, stopping just 1 foot before the drop-off.
Bec may use his second action to stand.
Newt continues to hold... Bec are you ok? What is going on up there ? How can we help? Newt feels helpless as he knows he
would only injure himself if he tried to climb the rope (especially if more
than one person will be trying to get up) Newt will however ready an attack
with crossbow if something presents itself.
If the rope is free to climb Mischa will begin climbing.
"Scar guard." She says as she points to Newt, and begins giving the
rope her best shot.
The
creature that threw the axe retrieves a javelin and throws it at Bec, but
misses. The other creature in front
draws a shortsword.
I
have Newt holding.
I
have Casimir holding until he posts.
Anya’drea
is holding.
Mischa
begins trying to climb up. She makes no
progress both times (8 rolled, and 15 rolled).
I
have Bowen holding.
One
of the creatures fires his crossbow at Bec, and hits him for 1 point of damage.
The
other looses his footing, slips and falls.
Bec hears the discharge of the crossbow, muffled by a body on top of
it. The second crossbowman does not get
up.
Bec
may go (and anyone who is holding and wishes, may
unhold and act.
Casimir will attempt the rope if no one is on it. Otherwise, he
will boost up anyone that is on the rope.
Casimir
tries to climb up but fails his first attempt (2 rolled). His second attempt gets him 5 feet up the
rope (19 rolled).
Bec, feeling like sitting duck at the bottom of the slope, will
attempt to step forward again and attack with his sword once again.
Once
more Bec moves forward at full speed, slipping about 9 feet up and sliding back
9 feet! Bec stands back up, precariously
balanced right at the edge of the opening.
The
two creatures in front advance, one drawing its sword. As they step into the light from the
grappling hook, Bec recognizes them from stories as kobolds, but they look
different than the stories he’s heard.
These have patches of rough red scales growing on their bodies. Their canine teeth are elongated and their
finger nails are long, thick and sharp.
Each one wears a small gold pendant crudely shaped in the form of a
three-fingered hand.
The
one that threw the axe slashes into Bec, doing 2 points of damage, severely
wounding the fighter.
The
other strikes Bec for 1 point of damage.
If
Newt or Bowen wish to unhold they may do so, however only Bec can be seen from
down below.
Bec
sees the last crossbowman re-load his weapon.
Mischa
may go, followed by Casimir (who is 5 feet up the 60 foot climb) and Bec.
Bowen is still waiting for a chance at the rope,
otherwise there is little he can do.
((Bec may have to use an
action point or two to pull through this engagement...))
(auto-posted for Bec) With enemies right in front
of him, Bec attacks, but misses completely (8 rolled), the cramped conditions
and large weapon not helping.
Both
creatures attack Bec, and both miss, the second almost loosing his footing as
he does so.
I
have Newt, Anya’drea, Mischa and Bowen holding.
The
crossbowman fires at Bec. The bolt hits,
doing 1 point of damage.
Casimir
and Bec may go, as may anyone who is holding.
Casimir will continue his climb.
With
a burst of speed Casimir climbs 10’ up the rope (20 rolled, plus 6 for action
point). And then he falls 15 feet (7
rolled, 19 to catch himself). Mischa (18
rolled) and Bowen (20 rolled) both get out of the way, and Casimir lands on the
stone floor, taking 1 point of damage.
Bec, feeling the open air at his heels and the burning of his
multiple wounds, attacks with desperation. He slashes with his blade at one of
the kobolds who closed to melee.
Bec’s
blade strikes stone (3 rolled).
The
first creature slashes Bec with its sword for 1 point of damage. Bec has life-threatening wounds and is
clobbered.
Newt,
Mischa and Bowen may unhold if they like.
The crossbowman reloads his weapon.
Casimir may go (currently prone) and then Bec (clobbered – single action
only this round).
"Bec, defend yourself, we can nary get up there. Do you
have a potion?" ((OOC go total defense))
Mischa tries to help
Casimir to his feet.
"If we do not get up
there or get him down here he's going to die."
Casimir climbs to his feet with Mischa's help; he gives her a
quick look of thanks. "Bec, if things go ill, climb down quickly. We can
cover you!" Casimir calls up to Bec...
Bowen tires of waiting for things to get worse. He shrugs off
his pack and slides it away from the rope and begins to climb. He begins
climbing at the normal rate.
Bowen
makes it 20’ up the rope on his first go (20 rolled).
Both
creatures attack Bec again, one hitting him for 4 points of damage. Bec falls on the edge of the slope and is
dying.
Newt,
Mischa, Casimir and Bowen may go.
Seeing the man fall, Bowen begins rushing up the rope as fast as
he can, screaming out curses and promising painful, gruesome death should the
creatures still be there when he reaches the top. He does not look down, but
keeps his eyes locked on the form of his fallen companion.
Bowen will attempt to climb
at full movement and expend an action point in the process. Hopefully he can
clear the area of Kobolds so that one of the others can heal Bec before it is
too late. Bowen seems to have forgotten his healing potion back on the ground
with his pack....
Rules
note: I apologize, I erred. At the start of his turn Bowen is 15 feet up
the rope. ( Because
of his critical success in climbing I meant to award him an accelerated climb,
which is ½ speed, not full speed). Two
move actions used for accelerated climb at this point will get Bowen 45’ up the
rope. Bowen’s climb check will be at -1
(+6 for climb-2 for chain shirt-5 for accelerated climb) vs a DC of 15. The action point will apply only for the
first climb check.
Once Bowen makes it up, Casimir wil use every action point he
can to accelerate up the rope as fast as he can, leaving behind all
encumbrance, save sword and armor.
Casimir
looses his shield from his back and drops it.
His climb check is now at -3. (this is due to
armor).
((Sorry, I had it in my head that climbing was at one half
speed. Bowen has a movement of 40, being a barb. So at the start of the turn,
with his critical success, he should be 20' up. So two more
accelerated climbs would put him the full 60 feet. Bowen will continue
with accelerated climbs, consuming action points as necessary.))
Quite right. I forgot Bowen’s increased speed. Bowen’s finds himself on the ledge (16 rolled
with 4 for action point, 17 rolled for second attempt) ,
with Bec at his feet and the two creatures directly in front of him.
(OOC: Bec will spend an action point to stabilize. Damn my cold
dice.)
One
creature attacks and hits Bowen’s chain shirt (Bowen felt he should have been
able to get out of the way of the blow, but the ceiling up here makes it
difficult.) The other creature hits
Bowen for 2 points of damage, a minor wound.
Newt
and Anya’drea are still holding.
The
creature with the crossbow backs up several feet and fires, hitting Bowen for 8
points of damage. Bowen is now
moderately wounded and clobbered.
Mischa
is still holding.
Casimir
fails to climb the rope (3 rolled plus 1 for action point, 17 rolled for second
attempt).
Bowen
is up and may take a single action.
Bowen will draw his axe.
One
creature misses Bowen, but the other hits the barbarian for 4 points of damage,
severely wounding him.
Newt
and Anya’drea are still holding.
The
third creature reloads its heavy crossbow.
Mischa
is still holding.
Casimir
and Bowen may go.
Casimir climbs with all his might, burning action points like
they were kindling!
Given
the fact that a 17 didn’t get you up I assume you are trying standard climb, not accelerated. Casimir cannot get started up the rope (12+5
for action point, 9 for second attempt.)
Weilding his battle axe in both hands, Bowen will strike out at
one of the nearby creatures.
Under
normal conditions, Bowen is sure his blow would have landed true, but because
of the low ceiling his axe glances off the creature’s scale mail (14 rolled).
Both
creatures again attack, 1 cutting into Bowen for 1 point of damage.
A
small heavy crossbow bolt strikes Bowen for 5 points, taking him down. Bowen is bleeding out on top of Bec.
Newt
and Anya’drea are still holding.
Mischa
is still holding.
Casimir
is up.
"I see no other choice but to attempt the climb yet again,"
Casimir mumbles to himself. He will use action points to help him in his
climb...
Casimir
fails to make any progress (14 rolled plus 3 for action point, 1 rolled for
second attempt). Casimir has 1 action
point remaining.
"There is little I can do I fear my climbing abilities are
very poor. And while I have a few remaining salves, I have no healing spells
remaining this day. I fear for us all if we continue to go up one by one, we
need to get them down here safely, and tackle the upper levels another day."
"The Devil! I cannot make this climb!", an angry Casimir exclaims as he ponders his swollen
hands. "I can't think of another way up there, is there a way to get them
to come to us?!
(PM
to Bowen – Bowen fails to stabilize – I assume the use of an action point
here?)
One
of the creatures appears at the edge and picks up the grappling hook and drops
it to the cavern floor below. He yaps
something.
Newt
is holding.
Anya’drea
mutters something and points at he grappling
hook. The hook rises 15 feet into the
air. “As soon as you can see them, shoot
them!” she says through clenched teeth.
From
out of the darkness above a crossbow bolt whistles down and thuds into
Anya’drea for 4 points of damage, mildly wounding her. Even though she is wounded she manages to
continue concentrating on her spell.
Mischa
and Casimir may go. Mischa and Newt can
see two of the creatures just in the shadows above, Casimir cannot.
(auto-posted
for Newt) Newt unholds and fires at the kobold with the crossbow, hitting the
creature that Casimir can’t even see and dropping it.
Casimir will pull out his bow and look up.
Awww (you beat me to my
thunder)... I got stuck on phone call at work as I was posting Newt Also shouts
Get down if you can. We don't want them carrying you away and eating you!
Casimir whispers to the group (or what is left of the
group), "Is there another way up? I should think there must be,
right?" He looks up into the gloom, waiting for something to shoot at...
Mischa draws her shortbow and fires.
She and Newt see her arrow hit her target’s shield.
Mischa and Newt also see one of the kobolds loose and
drop his shield, drop his short sword and pick up a crossbow.
The grappling hook rises another 10 feet in the
air. Mischa and Newt can now clearly see
the kobold, while Casimir can see him in the shadows of the light spell. Anya’drea strains and says, “That’s as high
as I can get it.”
Newt, Mischa and Casimir may go.
"Ahhh, vermin, meet
your doom...", Casimir whispers to himself as he
fires at the creature he can barely make out in the shadows.
Mischa fires first, but her arrow snaps off the creature’s scale mail.
Casimir’s arrow flies true, (18 rolled) and he drops
one of the creatures (5 points of damage).
The last one drops his sword, looses and drops his
shield and takes up the crossbow.
At
the risk of stealing Newt’s thunder again, I’ll give him some time to narrate
his action.
(auto-posted
for Newt) Newt re-loads and fires,
hitting the last creature (16 rolled) for 8 points of damage, dropping it.
While
no longer in combat, time is still important as your friends may still be
alive, for the moment.
Newt reloads his crossbow in case any uglies show themselves.
"Bowen is Bec alright ? Any
more creatures up there? you guys may want to
come down here till we can figure out a better way to get everyone up there.
There
is no reply from above, nor can you see anyone moving.
"Blast! Something is wrong up there! We need to get up
there! Shall we look for another way, or should climb here?", Casimir is
beginning to look frantic, eyes darting this way and that, as the thought of
losing friends and comrades in arms, begins to weigh more heavily than it ever
has...
Anya’drea
lets the grappling hook fall. “We saw no
other way up.”
Mischa
picks up the hook and tosses it up, or tries to (1 rolled).
Oh
and everyone earns 48 XP.
"Allow me!" Casimir takes the grappling hook and
throws it up with all his might.
Casimir
misses as he cannot see his target.
Newt is scrambling for ideas as Casmir shouts and wakes him from
his internal dialoge. Before you throw Cas you may
want to knot the rope. It should make climbing a little easier.
Anya’drea do you think you could lift me like the grappling hook? If need be I
can leave a lot of heavy stuff here to make it easier for you. I can hold the
rope and help everyone else up or down depending on what I find up there.
Anya’drea
replies, “Sadly, that hook and the bit of rope with it were almost too heavy
for me to hold up in that fashion.”
Mischa
asks for another chance and the hook flies up and sticks, but a tug brings it
crashing back down.
Casimir
and Newt may go again.
Newt hides a little smirk that creeps up. Misch I am used to
throwing things a lot. Let me try to snag it up there. I just hope the others
are ok. This was a bad idea it seems. Newt throws with all his might and
accuracy he can summon. I will be last up so I can cover you guys, plus I am
not that good of climber.
Knotting
the rope would take long enough to ensure that your friends had died. Newt tosses the hook up expertly (20 rolled),
and it latches on. Who’s up first?
"I have the healing salves let me try to get up there. I
will be able to see if they are beyond saving."
Mischa drops to the ground
any gear she can spare and begins trying to climb up.
Casimir begins to take off his armor, though it pains him to do
so. He will attempt the climb with naught but his sword and healing potion.
While
Anya’drea helps Casimir off with his breastplate, Mischa fails to make any
progress up. Casimir gives a try and
after a minute, makes it 7 ½ feet up, only to fall back down again.
Enough
time has passed that you are sure that your companions have either dies or
stabilized, so Newt’s plan of knotting the rope starts to seem appealing. (This
lowers the DC from 15 to 5, and since time is no longer weighing heavily on
you, you can take 10.) Both Casimir and
Mischa make it up in a little less than 2 minutes. There are your fallen comrades, among the odd
kobold bodies.
Mischa, I tried everything I could think of to get up here. Is
there anything we can do to help them? We have to be careful. Can we touch
them? Should we move them? How are we going to get them down? Newt stops for a
minute. I am going to listen and search/scan up here (close-by) while you look
at them. We don't want any surprises.
The
only thing Newt sees, other than the bodies on the ground and their equipment,
is the 10-foot-wide, 4-foot-high passage that angles up for 40 feet and then
turns sharply to the left.
Casimir will use his Heal skill to stop the bleeding as it were
on either or both of his fallen comrades. If either is alive, he assists them
in drinking the potion that mom sent him venturing with in the first place.
Both
men are still alive and stable. Casimir
gives one potion to Bec, and another to Bowen, but neither man comes ‘round.
By
the way, don’t forget Anya’drea, Scar, Bowen’s shield and pack and Bec’s armor are still down below.
After
a few minutes the light spell on the grappling hook wears off, but Mischa has
her everburning bauble with her. You can
see Anya’drea has cast another light spell below.
A
minute later and both men begin to waken.
Bec is at 4 hit points out of 20 and has no more reserves. Bowen is at 0 out of 18 and has 15 reserve
points remaining (he will heal 1 point per minute of rest.)
What
would you like to do?
Bec opens his eyes with surprise. He looks around at his companions
wildly.
"Still
alive, huh? I didn't think I had a chance. Perfect spot to put holes in
me, they had."
He looks over at Bowen
suddenly, noticing his injuries.
"Is he okay?"
Bowen is sitting up against the wall near the lip of the hole.
For the first time he notices just how far up he is.
"I think so, but I
could use a bit to clear the cobwebs from my skull."
Well, lets rest here a couple of minutes then climb down the
ropes to the others. I didn't see or hear anything while searching over there
but while you’re resting I am going to search the bodies and see what I can
find.
On a side noter if you guys want
to come up here we can gather your things for you. I have knotted the rope
since we were having so much trouble climbing. I am sure we can tie the wolf
off and hoist him up last if you guys want to explore up here. But either way
we should wait till everyone is ready to move on safely.
15 minutes later, Bowen is as healed as he’s going to get on his own,
with 3 points of damage remaining. For
the third time you hear Anya’drea curse below as her light spell ends and she
casts another. She hollers up “I’m not
made of light, ya know. I’m really tapping
into these new-found resources of mine, but I’m running out of energy.”
Everyone makes it back down below.
Newt has found 2 small heavy crossbows, 34 small
bolts, 2 small longswords, 2 small suits of leather armor, 4 small gold
pendants crudely shaped in the form of a three-fingered hand, 2 small short
swords, 2 small wooden shields, 2 small suits of scale mail, and a small
masterwork throwing axe.
Who wants to carry what, if anything?
Casimir pipes up "I
think if anything we keep the pendants, as they may mean something. Otherwise
let's leave the rest of their gear as we can't really use it. Newt, did you
notice a passageway up there? Or was it simply a hidey-hole that these cowards
use to attack from behind?"
The 10-foot-wide, 4-foot-high passage
that angles up for 40 feet and then turns sharply to the left.
"Those kobolds seem oddly well equipped to me. I
think it may be wise to rest a day before exploring the upper level again, as
this isn't going to be an easy task."
(Small heavy crossbows are
equivalent to medium light crossbows, aren't they? If so, Bec and Casimir might
be interested. Also, that masterwork throwing axe, even if small, should be
worth something in trade.)
No, small heavy crossbows would be at -4 to hit when wielded by a medium-sized
creature, would still take a full round to load and do 1d8 damage.
"Aye, we should rest
a day and let these two recover. Also I'm sure Anya'drea much like myself could use so rest to recover our spells before we go
further."
Does the rest of the party agree to a tactical withdrawal and return
the following day?
Casimir looks about with
a look of doubt on his face, "I am reluctant to withdraw and let these
villains spend the night readying for us tomorrow. Aside from that, aren't
these feral creatures nocturnal?" Then he looks at Bec and Bowen, and goes
on, "though I guess we shouldn't waste our friends' valiant effort to
simply march on to our own doom... Let's go out and come back another
time..."
"If we hide the corpses of the fiends, perhaps they
might overlook things... maybe..."
Bec groans as he stands up.
"Well, if you all
want to continue on, I'm with you. I have to tell you, I'm less capable of
withstanding punishment than usual. I'm lucky to have survived the last fight
and I'd rather not tempt fate twice in one day. So, I'd vote for retreat.
Bec starts donning his
amor again, grimacing as he pulls the metal links over his multiple wounds.
"Besides, maybe the
day of waiting for us will unnerve them. They'll be waiting for an attack...and
then it won't come. It'll agonize them and then, just
when they think the danger has passed...BOOM! We hit them by surprise.
"Is it decided then? We shall pull back, heal up and
come back to deal with the evil of the cave?",
Casimir looks to the rest of the group inquisitively. He gently pats Bec on the
shoulder, looks him in the eye and whispers, "I am glad you made it."
I am all for throwing off the enemy but lets make sure that we take all valuables from up here
before we leave. Newt will carry the throwing axe (never know when you need
that little extra mmmph) and grab the medallions for further examination while
the others heal. But let the record show we have surprise and I am all for
exploring while we can.
"I doubt those things are the source of what
troubles this place, should we press on we are likely to discover it. But at
what cost, we have many wounds to nurse and no magic remaining with which to
heal them, and little magic of other sorts remains as well. It would do little
good to find the source of the trouble only to fall too it because we
foolhardily believed we could best it with our meager resources."
Mischa pulls a potion from
her pack and hands it the worse off of the two men.
"Drink up, we need
not start the morrow with me fresh out of healing, this will speed your
recovery some."
Neither man is terribly injured at the moment and both will heal and recover reserves with a night’s
rest, but if someone wishes to take the potion please let me know.
You are welcomed back to Hadler’s Gap as heroes,
and given free room and board. Questions
abound, ranging from the battle with the ogre, to goings on in Hadler’s Gap’s
larger neighbor, Dundraville (odd for you to imagine a place that considers
Dundraville a larger community, but Hadler’s Gap is only half the size of your
hometown!), some 75 leagues away across the southern end of the Sylvan Downs,
to questions about His Divine Eminence, The Rampaging Lion, Immortal Emperor of
Crieste. It would seem you are looked
upon as being cosmopolitan, but you have no further knowledge of the court or
its happenings than these farm folk.
You
do find out that Hadler’s Gap is the northernmost reach of the Crieste Empire,
though no officials have ever visited the small collection of farms nestled amongst
the Urkallan Hills in anyone’s living memory.
You
are told that, according to local legend, the forbidding, craggy mountain to
the west, the very mountain you entered, was the fantastic result of an ancient
duel between warring arcanists.
Sunday, July 24, Year 1 of the
New Crieste Empire
You
wake up the next morning to a full farm breakfast and are free to do as you
wish.
Anya’drea
has no wounds but is down 2 reserves.
Mischa has no wounds and no reserves.
Newt has no wounds and full reserves.
Scar has 4 points of damage (mildly wounded). Bowen has no wounds but only has 1 reserve
point and his CON damage has healed. Casimir
has no wounds and 13 reserve points and still has 1 point of CON damage. Bec has 12 points of damage and no reserves (moderately
wounded.)
Meeting the others
outside after the meal, Bowen hopes to discuss the group's planned actions.
While feeling much better after a night's rest, it is plain to see that he is
no longer the hale and hearty young man who set out the morning previous; he
moves as if there is a soreness to his joints and many
dark bruises are visible.
"I think," he
begins in a voice untouched by his apparent state of discomfort, " that we should retry gaining entry to the upper
caves. I don't recall any other way up, though we could check the mountainside
more carefully as there may be more entrances."
Groaning, Bec rises to his feet after breakfast to proceed outsides with his companions.
"Ever notice how you
feel worse the next day after getting hurt. Like the wound has a chance to set
in?"
Despite the complaints,
the young fighter looks much healthier than he did yesterday.
"Well thought and said, Bowen. I couldn't agree
more," Casmir affirms and nods his head at Bowen's assertion. "Let's
ask around and see if anyone knows of another entrance. Failing that, let's
look around. It seems sensible that there would be more than one entrance
there."
Extensive questioning of the locals (in a friendly way, of course) and
several hours of exploring leave you with one conclusion – there is only the
one way in.
During this time, only a couple of hours after
breakfast, both Mischa and Scar come down with a fever; Mischa suffering 3
points of damage to both DEX and CON, and Scar suffering 3 points of DEX damage
and 1 point of CON damage.
Mischa easily identifies the illness as Filth Fever.
"It must have been
the rats, in a few days of rest we may recover, or we may sucumb to it
entirely. There is little way to know and unfortunately for me to tend to my
fever would only strain me and undo any good I would accomplish. I do have a
few spells, none of which I asked nature to bless me with this day
unfortunately that could aid in our chances of recovery."
Mischa stifles a cough and
pets Scar behind the ear in as comforting a manner as
possible, and asks the party for their opinion on proceeding or
resting.
"Perhaps we rest another day, and perhaps Nature may
grant you the power to heal the wolf and yourself?" Casimir says with some
degree of uncertainty, as spell casting is somewhat of a mystery.
Mischa elects to stay in bed for the day and to keep Scar close by,
under the care of some of the villagers.
Monday, July 24, Year 1 of the New Empire of
Crieste, in the hamlet of Hadler’s Gap in The Empire
of Crieste
Tuesday,
July 25, Year 1 of the New Empire of Crieste, in the hamlet of Hadler’s Gap in The Empire of Crieste
After 1 day of rest, Scar seems to be getting better,
but Mischa is not. She decides to spend
another day resting trying to kick the fever.
Since there seems to be nothing pressing, everyone can benefit from the
care of the village. Bowen has regained
7 points of reserves in total. Mischa
has 8 and only has 1 point of CON damage.
Casimir has regained all but 1 point of reserves. Bec is down to only 2 wounds remaining.
Casimir holds out hope
that Mischa can pull through the Fever. In the meantime, he will ask around the
hamlet looking for ways that he can help the townsfolk, as he dislikes being
idle. Hopefully, this will turn into a rumour or two.
Unfortunately, the locals have told you all the lore and superstitions
they know. The ogre pretty much left
them alone so they did the same with him.
Mischa says she’s well enough to continue on so,
barring anybody wanting to try and purchase any gear, you find yourself back at
he cave.
Bec, still wincing from his injuries, looks to Casimir.
"They might know
we're coming, yes. But last time, they did not and they still managed to ambush
me pretty well. It can't get much worse than being at the bottom of a slippery
slope with no armor with opponents with crossbows in front of you and a deep
hole behind you. Since I survived that, I'm confident it can't get any worse,
tactically speaking."
Bec looks up at the hole
with dread, his expression the opposite of his optimistic words.
"Come now, up we go, this time we know the trick
though, knot the rope. Makes for a much easier time of it.
"
Mischa sounds fairly
upbeat considering she still looks a bit pale.
Casimir volunteers to go first, sunrod in mouth if need
be.
Bowen will follow Casimir, fully armoured but without his
gear.
The sunrod is a foot long and a bit too bulky for Casimir to grip with
his teeth, but Anya’drea casts a light spell on his armor.
It takes Casimir a little over a minute to make the
climb, and as soon as he gets to the top he is greeted by two crossbow shots, 1
bolt doing 5 points of damage and 1 completely missing. Next fly the javelins, doing 1 and then 3
points of damage. Casimir is moderately
wounded.
The two creatures in the back re-load their weapons,
while the two in front draw their short swords and advance down the slope
carefully.
I have Anya’drea and Newt holding down below. Casimir, Mischa, Bowen and Bec may go.
Bec will start climbing,
looking up to make sure his companions are not trying to come back down. At the
first sign of retreat from above, Bec will shimmy down. If not, he will climb
as fast as possible to support his companions.
Newt has crossbow in hand and is waiting for a target
while covering his companion's climb. There has to be a better way to go about
this without getting attacked as soon as they get up there. Just look at the
crossbow bolt already coming out of the hole. You guys alright up there?
Casimir awaits his attackers with sword in hand. He
shouts down to his compatriots, "They're here. They say we weren't
invited."
As the kobolds in scale mail have advanced to melee range, Casimir may
attack. His blow should have landed (15
rolled), but the cramped conditions (-2 to attacks rolls) cause his blade to
glance off the creature’s scale mail.
I have Mischa holding.
Bowen begins climbing up (11 rolled, 3 rolled) and
makes it 20 feet up the rope (1/3 of the way).
Does Bec wait for Bowen to clear the top or start
right up after him?
Anya’drea waits below, holding the sunrod.
The crossbowmen fire at Casimir again, but one almost
shoots himself in the foot and the other bolt glances harmlessly off Casimir’s
breastplate. They begin re-loading.
I have Newt still holding.
The melee fighters attack, the first hitting Casimir
for 1 point of damage and the second landing a blow only because of the cramped
quarters (-2 to Casimir’s AC) for another point.
Casimir, Bowen, Mischa and Bec may go.
Bec will start climbing
immediately.
Bec catches up to Bowen on the rope, 20 feet up (2 accelerated climb
checks: 13 & 7 rolled). The rope
creaks and the grappling hook shifts slightly, dislodging some small stones
that fall to the ground 60 feet below.
Casimir attacks with as
much fury as he can muster. He will try to place the creatures between he and he crossbowmen.
"Today's special is steel in a sauce of ichor and kobold blood, with a
side of your own entrails," Casimir smiles at them as he mutters his
gallows humor.
Casimir’s attack misses completely (4 rolled).
I have Mischa holding.
Bowen continues climbing, making it up another 20
feet. (19 and 14 rolled for standard climb checks).
Bec is right behind Bowen (10 and 14 rolled for
accelerated climb checks).
Anya’drea is still holding.
The crossbowmen finish loading their weapons.
Newt is still holding.
Both creatures attack with their
small longswords, one missing completely, and one hitting Casimir’s
breastplate.
Casimir, Mischa, Bowen and Bec may go again.
Casimir responds in kind
to the beasts he faces.
Casimir’s blade
strikes true (17 rolled) and he takes the creature down with 6 points of
damage.
"Yahtzee!",Casimir steps over to the next combatant, attempting to
place him between Casimir and the shooters.
Mischa is holding until the rope clears, at which point
she will command Scar to guard those bellow and begin climbing.
Bowen continues climbing, and hopes to clear the ledge...
Bowen makes it to the top! (climb checks
rolled 18 and 8) As he pulls himself up, the remaining enemy in scale mail
attacks him, hitting Bowen for 2 points of damage. Bowen is now standing side by side with
Casimir.
Bec continues his climb, but has nowhere to climb up
as Bowen and Casimir are at the edge, so Bec must hang on the rope until next
round.
Anya’drea holds
Both crossbowmen concentrate their fire on the new
combatant. 1 bolt misses but the other
hits for 1 point of damage. Bowen still
only has minor wounds.
Newt is holding.
The foot soldier shifts his attack back to Casimir,
but as he swings he loses his grip on his small longsword and it flies out of
his hand, past Casimir’s right shoulder and over the edge into the cavern
below. With a worried “yip!” the
creature backs up five feet.
Casimir, Mischa, Bowen and Bec are up.
Bowen will draw his
battle axe and attack the kobold remaining in melee. Should Casimir have
already killed said kobold, Bowen will instead move to attack the now-unarmed
creature.
Casimir does not generally attack unarmed creatures. He
attempts to knock the kobold silly with the pommel of sword or his shield, if
possible.
Casimir’s noble attempt fails as he completely misses the creature (10
rolled).
Mischa is going to
continue her held action.
Bowen’s axe glances off the small creature’s shield (14 rolled).
Bec, hanging above the
cavern, does his best not to look down.
"Um...Bowen
or Casimir? Can one of you move so I can get up on the ledge,
please?"
Both Bowen and Casimir had to advance 5 feet to stay in melee with the
kobold, so Bec now has a place onto which he can climb. Bec can enter into melee only if he moves
past the kobold, provoking an attack of opportunity.
Anya’drea is holding.
Both crossbowmen finish loading their weapons.
Newt is holding.
The unarmed kobold lifts his shield and backs away to
just in front of where the crossbowmen are.
This action provokes attacks from Bowen and Casimir. I assume Casimir is still attempting
non-lethal damage. Casimir misses (2
rolled), as does Bowen (5 rolled.)
Casimir, Mischa, Bowen and Bec may act.
Casimir will still
attempt to knock the kobold silly with either the flat of his blade or the
pommel. It may be helpful to communicate with him later!
"Bec, Bowen! Get to
those crossbows. We can't stay here as sitting ducks! If you can't get there,
fire missiles!", Casimir shouts as he dances with
the smaller kobold.
Casimir misses again (1 rolled) almost losing his balance, but he
recovers (14 rolled).
Bowen advances as far as
he can, and attacks the closest kobold.
Bec climbs up onto the ledge, happy to be on solid ground.
That feeling disappears when the memory of being shot at this very location
come flooding back. Seeing the kobolds raising their crossbows to shoot, Bec
draws his dagger and prepares to throw it one of them.
Mischa takes the rope in both hands and witha quick look
at solid ground and her faithful Scar takes a deep breath. "Scar
stay." Mischa begins climbing up the rope.
Mischa makes it 5’ up the rope (18 rolled), but then makes no further
progress (6 rolled).
Bowen’s axe again glances off the creatures scale
mail (15 rolled).
Bec can close the range until he’s 25 feet from the
crossbowmen (unless he wants to try and move faster than ½ speed). Of course there’s a -4 penalty for range and
a -2 for the part of Bowen that’s in the way so Bec would be at -4 to his
attack, and there would be a 20% miss chance as they are in shadows.
Anya’drea holds.
Both
crossbowmen fire at Bowen, rotating their positions by taking 5-foot
steps. Bowen reflexively ducks both
bolts. The crossbowmen begin re-loading.
I have Newt holding.
The kobold footman tries fighting defensively as he
attempts a shield bash on Casimir, but misses.
Casimir, Mischa, Bowen and Bec may go.
Casimir takes matters to
the next level. He jumps on the kobold, looking for a turnbuckle....
Casimir will attempt a
grapple...
"Bec, Bowen! Take
care of those blasted crossbowmen. I got this covered!",
Casimir shouts with a gleam in his eye and a slight, knowing smile as he
prepares to pummel the poor kobold into submission.
As Casimir approaches the kobold, it again attempts a shield bash and
again misses. Casimir grabs high and
misses the creature (8 rolled).
Bowen will move to engage
one of the crossbow wielding kobolds.
Bec will throw his dagger at the crossbow-wielder that Bowen
is not approaching, then move towards his target while drawing his greatsword.
Mischa is holding.
As
Bowen moves past the kobold engaged with Casimir, the creature attempts to
shield bash him.
The kobold misses so badly it falls and lands on its shield,
severely wounding and clobbering itself in the process. Bowen swings wildly (1 rolled, 12 to
recover, failed) and ends up turned around and disoriented. Bowen gets no further actions this round or
the next.
Bec’s
dagger misses (6 rolled). Bec advances
and draws his sword and currently stands just behind and to the left of
Casimir. The prone kobold is just in
front of Casimir. Bowen is just ahead
and to the left of the prone kobold.
Both crossbowmen are lined up in front of Bowen, the furthest actually
in the entrance to where the corridor turns to the left.
Bec’s
action could have occurred last round so Bec can go again. Bec can safely (without the chance of
slipping) advance as far as next to Bowen, so that he threatens both
crossbowmen. This takes a full round,
however, due to the treacherous footing.
Both
crossbowmen drop their weapons and draw small longswords. The first attacks Bowen, dealing 3 points of
damage. Bowen is now mildly
injured. The second steps forward 5 feet
and attacks Bec, but the sword glances off Bec’s chainmail.
I
have Newt holding.
The
prone kobold tries to stand, provoking an attack of opportunity from Casimir,
but the young lord misses (5 rolled).
Casimir,
Mischa and Bec may act.
Mischa continues her climb up the rope.
Mischa
is now 10 feet up the rope. (5 rolled = no progress, 13 rolled = 5’ up).
Bec will swing his sword at the kobold before him at the earliest
opportunity to do so.
Casimir
continues to try and beat the kobold into submission, but completely misses (5
rolled).
Mischa
continues climbing and is now 1/3 of the way up the rope (14 and 14 rolled.)
Bec’s
blade slices deeply into one of the crossbowmen (14 rolled) for 14 points of
damage. The creature collapses to the
ground.
One
of the kobolds hits Bowen with its small longsword for 1 point of damage.
I
have Newt holding.
The
other creature tries to shield bash Casimir, but completely misses.
Casimir
presses the attack and brings the pommel of his sword down (17 rolled), but
hits only scale mail.
Mischa,
Bowen and Bec may go.
Bec instinctively turns to the kobold before Bowen and attacks with
a vicious swing of his sword.
Mischa continues climbing.
Mischa
places her foot wrong and falls (1 rolled, 14 to catch herself)
to the ground from 20 feet up, taking 11 points of damage. Mischa has life-threatening injuries and is
clobbered so cannot stand up this round.
Bowen, having lost himself, slowly turns back towards the kobold
and regards it dumbly. Collecting his wits, he smiles cruelly down on the
creature before quickly executing an overhead chop.
Bowen
takes his target down (14 rolled) doing 10 points of damage.
Bec
no longer has a target, unless he wants to attack the creature Casimir has been
trying to subdue.
Anya’drea
rushes to Mischa’s side to help her up.
Bec pauses as Bowen finishes his foe. He looks back to Casimir,
seeing his foe is not yet subdued. Bec moves back and tries to grapple the
small enemy from behind.
As
Bec approaches the kobold it wheels and tries bashing him with its shield,
completely missing. Bec easily grabs the
creature (20 rolled) and chokes him out (17 rolled for grapple check), dealing
7 points of nonlethal damage.
No
enemies remain standing and we can drop out of initiative order.
Everyone
earns 48 XP.
Newt will run to aid Mischa with Anya’drea. “Are you ok? You
took quite a fall there. At least you didn't land on your head! Is everything
ok up there? Mischa got hurt, we are checking on her now. Tell me how to help
you Mischa I am not good at this sort of thing.” Newt looks warily to Scar hoping
that the wolf will stay back and not try to be protective of its master. Just
in case, Newt prepares to jump back if nature takes over the wolf's loyalty to
listen to his last command.
Mischa rises to her feet, and looks almost mad at herself.
"I will be fine, I should not have tried to climb
so hastily. Thank you for your concern."
Mischa will wait a few
moments for her reserves to fill in as much damage as possible.
"I was lucky I was no
higher when that happened or the results might have been far grimmer. Is
everyone up there all right? I think we, well at least I, will need to take
more time and climb more carefully."
At
the end of 8 minutes’ time, Mischa is left with 3 points of damage and 0
reserves(mild wounds), Casimir has 3 points of damage and 11 reserves (minor
wounds), and Bec has 2 points of damage and 0 reserves (minor wounds). The light spell on Casimir’s breastplate
wears off. Anya’drea and Newt can have climbed
up (Anya’drea has a lit sunrod) and Scar can be up as well, just before Mischa
climbs up after healing. Taking 10 she
makes it up without a problem. Just let
me know if anyone wanted to do something during those 8 minutes.
Bec will tie up the captive with any of the remaining rope as best
as he can and watches him carefully, waiting for the unconscious kobold stir.
Once Mischa is up she moves away from the opening with Scar.
"I think I'll wait over here as gravity does not think me its
friend."
You
must wait until Mischa climbs up as all the rope is tied together, bit one she
makes it up you can cut 5’ off to tie up the kobold.
Mischa
makes it up. You have a prisoner, and
the corridor continues around the corner to the left.
I believe our next move is to be as quiet as possible. Newt will
take the wrapping off one of his rations and use it as a gag on the orc. If you
guys want me to move a little ahead and listen for any more ambushes I will be
glad to scout.
Newt of course searches the bodies for any valuables that he can
find.
There
are 2 small suits of scale mail, 2 small suits of leather armor, 2 small heavy
crossbows and assorted small bolts, 2 small longswords and 2 small
shortswords. There are also 4 gold
pendants crudely shaped in the form of a three-fingered hand.
Who
wants to take what, if anything?
Bowen removes one of the kobolds' shortswords, to be use in lieu
of a dagger. He avoids touching the pendants, viewing them with no shortage of
disdain.
Bec strips the bodies of their armor and possessions and stacks then
neatly by the hole leading down.
"I figure, we can
grab this stuff on the way out, if possible. It won't bring much on the market,
I suppose, but every bit helps."
Bec walks over to examine
the unconscious kobold.
"Anyone have any idea
what to ask him when he wakes up. We don't even know if he speaks our tongue.
If not, then what do we do with him?"
You
have a small pile of ratty gear, an unconscious, bound prisoner and a tunnel
that continues to the left. What would
you like to do?
"I think we should scout on ahead, someone who needs no
light to see. The others can sit with our guest, to determine if anything can
be gleaned from him", avers Casimir.
There
is no one in your group with darkvision, only low-light. Anya’drea gives Newt her sunrod so he can at
least scout out a little bit ahead.
River
Crossing
Newt
is gone almost 3 minutes (moving slowly and as quietly as possible, hoping to
shiled the light from prying eyes if he can).
While waiting, Casimir heals the rest of his damage (Casimir is down to
8 points of reserves).
Newt
reports back that the tunnel continues for about 60 feet before opening up into
a large cavern,.
The rock is damp and slick, there are the now mundane stalagmites
studding the floor and the air is thick with humidity. Water drips from the ceiling in many places. Newt reports that he heard the rustling
echoes of moving water. There is a stream
that cuts 10 feet into the rock and is some 30 feet wide. Beyond, in the shadows, Newt could see that
the cavern splits off into two exits.
There are several rock formations that dangle from the ceiling down to
the river.
"Shall we revive our captive, to find out what is to be
known?", questions Casimir.
Bec, cleaning his blade, listens to Newt's report.
"Sounds safe to
proceed forward a bit and investigate, I suppose."
Bec gestures to the
kobold.
"What do we do with
him?"
"Even if we do revive him," Bowen begins purposefully
from his place by the stream, "There is a good chance that he will just
lie to us, lead us astray or into an ambush. If we can even
understand him at all. I'm rather opposed to bringing him along at
all..."
"I highly advise against bringing him with us. He may
prematurely alert other creatures to our presence."
"I wasn't thinking of bringing him with us. More like
reviving him, asking questions, getting answers, then tying him up again and
leaving him for his friends to find later. That way, we may get some useful
information, and we don't have to kill him, becoming a base creature like he is
himself....", posits Casimir, shifting from leg
to leg uncertain in the merits of his reasoning.
Bec listens to Casimir, watching the captive closely.
"Let me try to wake
him up."
Bec will gently shake the
small creature, careful to stay out of biting range.
Newt looks almost impatient. “We should really just leave the orc
gagged and move quickly before the others realize their companions are missing.
I didn't hear anymore up ahead. We should explore quickly and catch them off
guard if there are any more.”
Shaking
the kobold has no effect. Nonlethal
damage needs to be treated with either time or magical healing.
"He doesn't seem to be waking. That must have been some
blow he suffered. Let's make sure the ropes are tight the gag is in place and
explore this cavern as Newt says. Should we need this creature, we can always
come back to him."
Casimir shifts his shield
and sword into a comfortable space and readies himself to walk.
You
make your way through the tunnel and into the cavern described by Newt. There, in front of you, is the river. You spot a couple of spots where the water
looks shallower than others, and stalactites hang down offering a sort of
handhold to cross.
Bec sheathes his greatsword and pulls his dagger, freeing up his
off-hand.
"I think we should
cross here and see what we can see."
"One person crosses while the others cover him with ranged
fire, in the event of some problem? I will follow Newt, unless someone else
wants to...", Casimir uneasily eyes his own
armor, which could be problematic should he slip.
We’re
just waiting for someone to go first….
My bad. I thought Newt was going. If he
doesn't, Casimir will take the lead. He will take a rope tie it around his
waist and have Bec and/or Bowen hold the other end. Casimir looks for a shallow
crossing and heads out...
Bec will hold the rope, giving Casimir enough slack to move
comfortably.
Bowen raises his oft-unused bow and waits, scanning the other
side of the water for signs of movement.
Mischa readies her bow and prepares to cross the river.
"I will go next with Scar, he may make the little fiends think twice before
approaching."
As
Casimir begins to move across, he fails to notice the rather large centipede
moving its way down the stalactite. The
carapace of each of its grey segments is marked with the red mark of an open,
three-fingered hand. The centipede tries
to bite Casimir’s hand but misses. A
second centipede scurries across the ceiling and drops to the ground directly
in front of Bec.
Initiative
order is Anya’drea, Bowen, Casimir, and Newt..
Anya’drea
drops the sunrod on the ground, gripping both hands of her staff as she
advances. She swings, (11 rolled) but
her staff bounces back off of the centipede’s natural armor.
Bowen will fire a shot at the centipede with the least cover,
then quickly drop his bow, and draw his battle axe while rushing into melee.
Thanks
to Bowen’s point blank shooting skills, he puts an arrow square into the
centipede, and it collapses on its many legs, twitching. Bec draws his axe as he moves to the edge of
the river, but the only other visible attacker s on the stalactites above
Casimir.
Assuming Casimir is not across the waterway, he steels himself
and concentrates on gettng across the water. 'No sense in falling in the water
here', he thinks to himself, almost out loud...
If he is across the water,
Cas will attack with due diligence.
As
Casimir moves to the next shallow/ stalactite combination, the centipede makes
an attack of opportunity, but strikes the paladin’s armor. Casimir is now half-way across the river (19
rolled for balance).
(Posting
for Newt) Newt takes a shot with his
crossbow, piercing the creatures tail (19 rolled, 16
to confirm, a mild critical hit) for 8 points of damage. The centipede splashes into the water and is
quickly swept downstream.
Everyone
earns 50 XP.
Casimir
is able to make it to the 3rd steeping point (18 rolled for balance),
but then falls in the cold water as he tries to make it to shore (4 rolled for
balance). The water tugs at the paladin
but he is able to pull himself up on shore (11 rolled for strength check); safe
on the other side, if not dripping wet.
Who’s next?
"We can either re-tie each person, or we stretch the line
taut, and have people hold the line...", Casimir
directs from the shore...
"Cas, if you and I hold the ends of the line, the others
could cross along it. I doubt the water would give me any trouble crossing it
alone."
“I will go second to last to keep an eye out for anymore
nasties. While the ladies cross. Bec you should also go before me so you can
lend some muscle on the other side. What does everyone think? I like the rope
idea myself you could always use the stalagmites to assist in keeping the rope
taught and effective while you two hold on to it.”
"Ladies first!", smiles
Casimir as he gently pulls the rope taut. He has his sword in one hand and the
rope in the other, in the event that other denizens of the cave make their way
here.
Mischa will try to toss her quarterstaff to the other side of
the river, and with one hand on the rope and one hand on Scar, begin making her
way across. (taking 10 if that will do the trick).
"Scar come"
Taking
10 does work for Mischa, and she makes it across easily, along with Scar.
Anya’drea
goes next, and almost immediately slips (2 rolled) and falls into the
water. She pulls herself back up,
sopping wet and shivering and tries again.
She makes it to the last stalactite, hesitates for a moment (5 rolled)
and then makes it across. Anya’drea
begins pulling out wet pieces of parchment and her spellbook, carefully airing
it out and trying to blot the pages dry with her wet clothing (this doesn’t
seem to be working very well.)
Next
up is Bec, who manages to get wet with is first step (4 rolled). He pulls himself up and makes it across 2 in
quick succession, hesitates, makes it to the third, hesitates again, and then
plunges into the water (1 rolled). Bec
pulls himself back up, and slips in to the drink again (5 rolled). He fails to fight against the flow of the
river (2 rolled, 4 rolled) and ends up pulling himself ashore 11 feet downriver
from where he intended. Bec’s trail
rations are quite soggy now.
Newt
makes it across without difficulty (taking 10).
Bowen
is the last, and with Casimir’s help holding the rope, is able to take 10 and
make it across,
After
5 minutes, Anya’drea has given up on the parchment, having concentrated on
drying her spellbook. She slides it back
into her sodden backpack and indicates she’s ready to proceed.
There
are two tunnels leading out of this side of the river cavern. Both appear similar, approximately 5 feet
wide; the one on the left seems level, while the one on the right slopes
upward.
"Any suggestions? I would make a case for the one on the
left, though that is just a hunch...", avers
Casimir.
"Lead the way."
Shaking the last droplets from the sides of his traveling boots,
Bowen regards the two paths with a frown.
"To be honest, I
think more important finds would be found to the right. Little fiends such as
goblins and kobolds are always trying to protect their belongings from the
larger creatures, such as ourselves. It would be easier for them to protect
their things from the higher ground. The left is still worth exploring, but I
wonder if it might not be a trap or dead-end."
The
DM will wait until someone specifies an action.
If a path is chosen, a single-file marching order will be required.
Bec looks at the two choices.
"I would say left,
too. We've been moving from bottom to top so far, so we should be...what's the word...thorough. Yeah, we should take care of
everything on one level before going up to the next."
"To the left it is, then."
As
the last order used was Casimir, Bowen, Mischa, Scar, Anya’drea, Newt, and Bec;
and no alternative has been suggested, I’ll stick with that one. Casimir has 10 feet of light, and an
additional 30 feet of shadowy light which he can see in front of him.
Area
1-9: The Rat Trap
As
you advance into the passage, which bears little to distinguish it from the
rest of the cave complex (walls slick and damp, while small holes, stalagmites
and loose rocks litter the floor), Casimir’s foot catches on something. An old tin pot clatters to the floor from the
ceiling, as a net falls down, barely missing Casimir, Bowen and Mischa (Reflex
saves of 20, 18 and 12 rolled, respectively.)
Three
kobolds come running out of the passage ahead.
The one in front carries a small heavy crossbow, is wearing leather
armor and has a small longsword on its hip.
The two behind wear scale mail, have wooden shields and are carrying
small short swords. They each have a
small javelin on their backs.
This
cavern has widened out a bit, so there is enough room for 3 fighters to stand
side by side. Casimir is the first and
the ranks file behind him as previously mentioned in the marching order. The kobolds are 15 feet away, and are lined
up single file in a passage that, once again, narrows to 5 feet.
These
kobolds appear as the others; small humanoids about the size of Newt, with
scaly hides with patches of rough red scales growing on their bodies, and naked
tails like that of a rat, and doglike heads with two small horns. Their canine teeth are elongated and their
finger nails are long, thick and sharp.
Each one wears a small gold pendant crudely shaped in the form of a
three-fingered hand.
I’d
like to try the combat posting suggestion found here:
Initiatives
are:
Anya’drea 23
Casimir 20
Bowen 19
Kobold
footmen 15
Bec 12
Scar
(if attacked) 7
Kobold
crossbowman 6
Newt
5
Mischa 4
Please
send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat.
It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think
of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Your personal preference
and general statement of intent will always take precedence over these modes,
but in case of unforeseen events, this will help me to determine how your
character behaves.
Bec will display agressive melee tactics, doing his best to get into
the fight and taking an attack of opportunity if it will allow him to hold a
melee position. If Bec cannot get to the front before his allies take those
positions, he will hold until either a kobold or an ally falls, then will move
to take that position and attack with his greatsword.
"Arrrgghh!" Casimir will close the gap between the
two parties, taking on a standard combat methodology (not aggressive, not
defensive). "Who's with me?!"
He will strike the first
kobold in range. He will continue to attack, though will not chase the enemy
should they flee. He will look to protect the weaker members of the party
should ill befall them, particularly the mage.
(Aggressive Melee
Bowen will rush ahead to
engage the kobolds, preferring to target the ranged opponent first, if
possible.)
Round 1
Anya’drea
holds.
Casimir
strides forward and strikes at the kobold in leather, but misses (4 rolled). Bowen rushes in and attacks the kobold from
around the corner of the passage, (15 rolled) taking the crossbowman down with
8 points of damage.
The
kobolds in scale mail step forward over their fallen comrade, the first in line
attacking Casimir, the small longsword glancing off the young lord’s
breastplate.
With
no way to get into melee, Bec holds, greatsword at the
ready.
Newt
and Mischa also hold.
Round 2
Casimir
strikes again, (15 rolled) taking down the first footman with 10 points of
damage.
Bowen
steps past Casimir, taking the lead position in the narrow space, and attacks
the last standing creature, (16 rolled) taking it out with 8 points of
damage. Your most recent attackers lay
before you after only 12 seconds of combat, and none of you took a scratch of
damage from them.
You
each earn 132 XP
Casimir smiles at Bowen, "Well done, that was spectacular
weapon work there, friend!"
"Let's check the
bodies for any hints or ill-gained loot and keep moving. We must be getting
closer to their lair, as the attacks are coming faster and more
furious..."
"Thanks. I guess there's not much of a dif'rence between
firewood and these things. Best we continue before every Kobold around knows we
are here."
Mischa follows the others, silently watching the change that has
undertaken the young ones around her.
Newt lowers his crossbow that he barely had time to get ready.
"I am glad we have such able protectors! It makes my job at staying alive
so much easier. Do you guys see anything else in there? I want to take a look
at the net and perhaps equip myself with readily available blades in case i am
unfortunate enough to get caught in one of these rude contraptions." Newt
proceeds to place daggers/blades/sharp objects in easily accessible places. As
he notices the others leave, he hurries to catchup.
You
find only the typical arms and armor for this particular tribe, and those gold
three-fingered claw pendants.
Area
1-10: Rat Keeper’s Chamber
You
move ahead and see a wide area set up as a crude workshop. A set of crude switches crafted from bone and
driftwood are piled in one corner, while a small sack lies next to them. Two more sacks are piled in an opposite
corner. To your right you see a gate
crafted from wood and bone lashed across a passageway. A simple latch wedges the gate between the
cave walls. Squeaks and scratches can be
heard from behind the gate. A crude set
of dice lies in the center of the room.
"A possible prisoner? We didn't hear of anyone being captured
of late in town, had we? I think we should check that out immediately!", Casimir proclaims striding towards the gate.
Mischa listens carefully to the sounds coming from the gate. Do
they sound like animal sounds?
They
do sound like animal noises.
Bec stays towards the back, listening for any kobolds responding to
the fight.
Casimir listens at the gate and whispers, "Who's in there?
Is there anyone there?"
"Kobolds are known to keep large rats and other rodents
as....pets... Perhaps that is all we will find back there."
Area
1-11: Rat Den
There
is no answer to Casimir’s question, but the stench of feces and rotting meat
assails his nostrils. The squeaking turns to hissing and Mischa is able to
confirm Bowen’s suspicions; rats (big ones by the sound of them).
"Any ideas? I don't feel right killing them
outright, but the spread of disease is certainly possible. I also don't want to
just leave them here, that could be another death sentence.",
Casimir says as he steps back from the gate, shifting his grip on his sword.
"We can always release them on our way out. Nature created
them and nature will care for them in the meantime. But to release them now,
would be folly, they are obviously very agitated. On the way out I may be able
to take some time and get them to see reason."
"If we let them out, they'll attack us all the same. Rats
do little good for anyone; they carry diseases, spread
filth and eat crops. They don't even have desirable furs. I say we either leave
them be, or rid the area of them right out, as releasing them, at best, makes
them more of a problem."
Mischa shakes her head at Bowen's words, looking at him as a
parent would a child.
"Do not be so hasty Bowen. All of nature's creatures serve
a purpose, even if it is hidden from your reasoning. Would you be rid of the
insects in the field, simply because they bite at the farmer as he toils in the
sun. To do so would have a catastrophic result, as all
the birds and frog and all other creatures who sustain themselves on those
insects would waste and fade away, and the trees and flowers which rely on the
bee and the birds to help them to spread their seeds and flourish would wither
and die. All creatures serve their purpose in this world to maintain its
delicate balance. We are only here for the will of Nature wishes it so. So
think carefully before you go wishing away a piece of life's' puzzle."
Bowen clenches his jaw at the druid's words, but refuses to give
any ground.
"Surely not every creature serves a useful purpose. More than once have
rats chewed through and ruined furs of mine, and there is not a farmer alive
who hasn't lost crop or feed to the vermin. The loss of lamb of calf to hunger
because one of these things has stolen into the winter's stockpile is a
tragedy. Even wolves and foxes would be better served eating rabbits. Right
now, their only purpose is to provide the kobolds with entertainment or food,
and to end that would be reason enough to kill them. Let us just do every
villager a favor and do away with them."
"Hold! Hold, you two! This cave must be getting to us! We
can't continue arguing with each other; we have a common enemy! Let's go find
him! As for the rats, let's open their cage when we leave. If they attack us,
so much the worse for them!", Casimir huffs while
turning his heel to leave.
The
only place left to go is back the way you came, and up the slope.
Area
1-12: Guard Chamber
A
sharply sloped passage, wider than the last (you can walk 2 by each) leads out
of the river cavern and up. Only a short
ways into the passage, you spot the dim glow of a fire, but the floor of the
cavern still lies above you up a slope.
"I think Newt should go have a look before we all clamber
up there...." Bowen's hushed whisper trails off as he looks to the gnome
to scout ahead.
Bec looks up the slope.
"After Newt reports
back, mind if I go up front this time? I feel kinda useless here in the
back."
Casimir quickly glances at Bec, thinking for a brief second that
his mettle is being tested, but gains his composure and smiles at Bec, "I
am sorry Bec, of course you can be up front. I am
sorry that I didn't consult you before. I can take rear guard for a while,
surely!" Casimir is certainly genuine in his willingness to do other
things in the party to make the group run smoothly...
Newt
comes back, reporting that he doesn’t think he was spotted or heard. There are three kobolds, 1 crossbowman and 2
footmen, gathered around a fire chattering in their strange, yipping
tongue. The floor is even in the cavern
and there is a passage on the other side.
Casimir whispers, "We should missile fire the crossbowman
and hand to hand the footmen. I will take a footman, who’s with me?"
Newt readies his crossbow and waits for Bec to lead the way. I
will flank to the side if possible so they can't concentrate on one area
when/if they are able to react. Newt rubs his hands together and grabs his
black book of possible ideas. I think a little concoction of sorts that I can
make with either poison or something to put a man sized creature to sleep would
be great to work on... How would I do it? What to use? Newt, caught up in the
moment has set down his crossbow and begun furiously working out all the
details from this impromptu thought. Maybe I could....he starts mumbling at
this point taking the last few seconds to finish up what he was writing in his
book then places it back in his armor pocket.
You
try to sneak up on the unsuspecting kobolds, but you must have made too much
noise because, as you reach the top of the slope, they are standing and are
prepared.
Initiatives
are:
Kobold
footmen 18
Scar
(if attacked) 17
Kobold
crossbowman 17
Anya’drea 15
Bec 14
Mischa 9
Casimir 8
Newt
7
Bowen 5
Please
send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat.
It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think
of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Bowen will aggressively attack, going for the ranged enemy
first, if possible, and chasing down any who attempt to escape to warn their
kin.
Bec will move forward and engage the footmen in melee, using
standard attacks. If any of his allies take serious hits or appear to be in
trouble, he will switch targets and engage that ally's opponent. Only after the
footmen are defeated will he move to attack the crossbowmen.
Casimir does the same as Bec. He will attack the crossbowman
first, however, taking him out of the action. Melee will be the same as before,
standard melee.
Newt will take an aggressive ranged stance. Trying
to get into place for flanking or back-stab shots that will not harm his
friends. He will also try to keep an eye out for oncoming orcs that may
be lurking further away. He will make sure that his friends are not surprised
or netted by hidden enemies.
Round 1
The
first kobold throws a javelin that glances off of Bec’s chainmail. The creature then moves up to Bec.
The
second creature hurls its javelin at Casimir, striking the young lord for 3
points of damage (a minor wound). That
creature also advances on Bec.
The
crossbowman fires at Casimir, but the bolt is deflected by Casimir’s
breastplate. The crossbowman drops his
weapon and he, too advances on Bec.
Anya’drea
holds.
Bec
attacks one of the heavier armored kobolds, his greatsword bringing the
creature down in one cut (19 rolled to hit, 4 failed to confirm critical, 2
rolled for damage.)
Mischa
holds.
Casimir
attacks the unarmed crossbowman threatening Bec, taking it down with a slash
(17 rolled to hit, 6 rolled for damage.)
Newt
enters the room and fires at the remaining kobold, but his bolt misses and
snaps against the cavern wall (6 rolled to hit). As a rules note, without
certain feats or conditions a ranged weapon will only be able to achieve sneak
attack damage if an opponent is surprised or unaware of the attack. Ranged weapons normally cannot be used to
flank.
Bowen
enters and attacks the last kobold, but he swings his axe too high and misses
(3 rolled to hit).
Round 1
The
kobold draws its small short sword and viciously stabs at Bec, but misses
completely.
Bec
swings but his blade bounces off the kobold’s scale mail (10 rolled to hit).
Casimir
steps forward 5 feet and strikes but also meets armor (13 rolled to hit.)
Newt
unfortunately no longer has a shot into the melee but may re-load his crossbow.
Bowen
attacks and brings the last kobold down (12 rolled to hit, 5 rolled for
damage).
Each
PC is awarded 75 XP.
A
search of this room and its dying inhabitants yields the same results as
before. All kobolds appear alike, all
have the same equipment as the previous units and all have the same gold
pendant fashioned like a three-fingered hand.
A
quick reconnoiter by Newt indicates the passage ahead leads to a nexus of
sorts, just 20 feet outside of this room.
There, the passages split off; 2 to the left, 1 to the right and 1 relatively
straight ahead.
"This is leading to a maze of sorts, I am afraid. Shall we
continue to veer left whenever we have a choice? I am unsure as to the best way
to succeed...", Casimir looks about with a trace
of uncertainty.
Bec cleans his blade off on the clothes of one of the dead kobold's with a veteran's detachment. He looks up at
Casimir.
"Left makes sense to
me. I say we continue in that direction."
To
the left it is. You make your way down a
narrow passage that opens into a fairly large cavern.
Area
1-13: Barracks
You
enter at one end of a long chamber with three massive stalagmites. This cavern holds more than a dozen crude
pallets scattered about the floor. Each
is little more than a lump of old furs, skins and moth-eaten blankets tucked
into a pile. There are no others, save yourselves, in this room.
A search shows that the far left section of this cavern holds an armory
of sorts; a dozen javelins, three crude short swords, a suit of scale mail
armor, and two wooden shields are kept in neat piles. The armor and weapons are rusted and dull,
but all are in serviceable condition, albeit small in size.
Please
let me know if you wanted to do anything in particular in this room.
Pressing
on, you check out the next branch off the nexus; another long cavern with three
massive stalagmites, completely empty. A
search turns up nothing. Back at the
nexus, you know have only the passage to the right or the one straight ahead
from where you came in. Both slope
slightly downwards.
With frequent looks over his shoulder, and a hand that seems
fused to his axe, Bowen seems to be growing increasingly agitated. Any time to spent resting or considering courses of action find the
young man restlessly pacing the cavern floors.
Casimir eyes Bowen's agitation with marked attention. 'These
caves, while fine for gnomes or dwarves, are wreaking havoc on Bowen,' he
thinks to himself.
"Let's press on. I
say we take this closest path!", he smiles as he
directs, looking for other members of the party to follow...
Bec nods and follows the young paladin, sword at the ready.
Bowen follows determinedly behind the other warriors,
practically stepping on Bec's heels along the way.
Area
1-14: Commander’s Chambers
As
you approach you all hear what sounds like rain drops hitting a tin roof. Casimir, Mischa and Newt spot small pebbles
skipping down the slope toward them.
(This corridor was previously incorrectly described – it slopes upward,
not down). The pebbles tumble down with
some regularity, and individually, as if someone were throwing them.
"Shall we see whom is so
carelessly alerting us to their presence?" Mischa
wispers to the others.
Bec looks curously at the rocks skipping down the passageway.
"Well, we could send
Newt to take a look...or we could all rush 'em as fast as possible and try to
take 'em by surprise."
He looks to Casimir for
advice.
"What do you think, Newt? Trap or just
something weird? If you want to have a look, that would be great!
Otherwise, we will go in blindly...", Casimir
intones, obviously expecting a particular answer.
Newt, nervous like always, cracks a smile while trying to make
sure that rocks aren't getting bigger as they tumble down. I can take a look
and return back as quick and quietly as possible but I would not stand in the
rocks paths if I were you as it seems likely problems could arise very quickly
should things go wrong for me.
Waiting for Newt to climb up the path, Bowen moves up to its
base in anticipation.
Newt
carefully makes his way up the slope.
When he gets about halfway up the 40’long tunnel, he spies two kobolds
clad in scale mail at the top of the slope, skipping stones back down the
slope. They do not appear to see Newt,
such is the angle of the slope, but Newt determines that they could not be
effectively attacked with ranged weapons unless the attacker was at least a
little closer.
Newt will continue to move quietly up and get into position to
strike with his crossbow. He continues to look for traps and will be ready to
make a quick withdraw down the slope to his companions if things start to go
wrong.
OOC: Newt will spend an
action point for the shot and will ready himself to slide down the slope to
safety (on his backside if necessary) close to the ground limiting any return
fire that may come his way.
Mischa pulls her bow and waits for the orders to attack.
Newt
appears to have gone unnoticed. Just as
one of the kobolds turns around (presumably to grab another rock) Newt fires,
piercing the beastie right in the tail (19 rolled to hit, 12 rolled to confirm
critical, critical hit plus sneak attack damage = 7 damage total). The kobold falls immediately. There is a cry from a previously unseen enemy
in the room. Newt is currently 20’ up
the tunnel (about half-way)
Initiatives
are:
Unseen
enemy 23
Mischa 23
Scar
(if attacked) 21
Casimir 19
Anya’drea 13
Bec 13
Newt
11
Bowen 3
Kobold
footman 3
Please
send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat.
It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think
of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Hearing the piercing death scream of someone/something, Casimir
will aggresively rush into battle (aggressive melee until down to half hit
points, if possible). Knowing only that Newt is up
there, and not knowing from whom the scream generated, Casimir fears the
worst...
Bec will engage in aggressive melee, moving forward into melee and
charging whenever possible. He will keep this up until 1/2 hp or less, when he
will engage in standard melee. Bec will attack anyone he sees but will not run
into darkness or out of the current room to pursue a foe unless his companions
do as well.
Newt, will try to maintain ranged combat. When his initiative
comes he will holler out that there is more than one creature/monster up there
and that the others may want to use caution when advancing in case of some
still untriggered trap.
Mischa will advance and use ranged attacks as soon as possible.
She also order Scar to attack, and will advance each round if needed to keep him in sight.
Bowen will proceed aggressively, and will double move into position
if charging is not an option.
Bec runs forward, ready to meet any challenger coming from the cave
beyond.
There is more yipping from somewhere in the cavern beyond the slope.
Mischa gives the
order to Scar, who bounds up the slope.
Mischa then advances to half-way up the passage (next to Newt) where she
can see Scar at the top, menacing a kobold.
Casimir makes it
up to just behind Mischa, but can’t see anything due to the slope of the
passage.
Anya’drea moves
in with the light source, stopping just behind Casimir.
Bec moves in as far as Casimir.
Newt re-loads,
but has no clear shot from where he is due Scar’s position in front of the
kobold. Newt advances further up.
Bowen advances
to ¾ of the way up the passage.
The kobold that
still stands draws a small short sword and attacks Scar, hitting the wolf for 2
points of damage. Scar has a minor
wound.
Mischa advances
to just behind and to the side of Scar (this requires a double move). She has no clean shot on the kobold.
Scar bites at
the kobold, hitting it (17 rolled) for 7 points of damage. The small creature falls with a yip.
Casimir advances
to just behind Scar.
Anya’drea
advances.
Bec advances.
With no kobolds
visible, Newt advances. A double move
puts him first to reach the top of the slope.
This is the most
comfortable cave Newt has seen so far.
Its floor is smooth and the area is largely free of stalagmites and
stalactites. The chamber itself is
richly appointed by kobold standards.
Old, moth-eaten tapestries, stained with water and blood, hang from the
walls as trophies from caravans raided long ago. A wide, low stone set in the middle of the back-right
wall serves as a crude desk. A single
black candle set in a golden holder rests in the middle of the desk, while a
leather-bound book lies open before it.
Four pallets consisting of furs and blankets are piled along the right
wall, while a noticeably larger pallet is kept on the left wall. Tucked next to the large pallet are a dozen
black candles. The chamber is some 50’
wide and 30’ deep.
Standing at the
center of the far wall, some 25’ away from Newt, is a small kobold; small
evening comparison to other kobolds.
This specimen is about 6 inches shorter than the others you have
encountered. He wears tattered, bright
yellow robes stained with food, water, dirt and mud. His right eye is twice the size of the left
and is clouded over with cataracts. His
skin is covered with crimson scales while a single, small horn grows in the
center of his forehead.
Upon seeing
Newt, the kobold raises a wand and yips.
A bolt of energy strikes Newt for 4 points of damage. Newt is mildly wounded.
Bowen bounds up
the remaining portion of the slope and hustles forward, ending up within
striking distance of the kobold.
It takes all of
Mischa’s movement for her to enter the cavern, but Scar, still following his
command, easily bounds into the room and attacks, but the wolf trips (1 rolled,
10 rolled to recover) and is prone.
Casimir enters
the room and makes it to just behind Bowen.
Anya’drea enters
the room and steps to the side of the passage entrance.
Bec makes it to
just behind and to the right of Casimir.
Newt has no shot
once again, so double-moves to the far back wall, hoping to fire next round.
The kobold steps
5’ to the side and hold his hand out as if to cast a spell, but in the process
of trying to avoid being bitten by the prone wolf or attacked by Bowen, nothing
happens.
Bowen swings his
axe (8 rolled) but the kobold moves out of the way of the blow.
So ends round
3. Please post your actions for the next
3 rounds of combat. Mischa is 40’ away
from the kobold with no clean shot. Scar
is prone. Casimir would have to move 10’
to attack. The kobold does not appear to
be armed. Bec would have to move 15’ to
attack. Newt does have a shot at the
moment, although into melee (-4 to hit).
Bowen can attack from where he stands.
Casimir will shift to moderate or standard combat. He will move
the 10' to attack, staying until the job is done. He will then look for other
opposing creatures to attack.
Bec will move up to flank the kobold caster, anxious to drop the
magic-user before he can cast another spell. Once finished, Bec will look
around for any other opposing enemies.
Mischa
makes a double move to get next to Newt, hoping to shoot next round.
Scar
gets up and bites at the kobold, bit the wolf’s jaws are deflected by an
invisible shield (15 rolled).
Casimir
moves the 10 feet and attacks, and his blade is likewise deflected by the
invisible shield (11 rolled).
Seeing
the difficulty her companions are having hitting the small creature, Anya’drea
drops her staff and points her finger at him, a bolt of energy striking the
kobold for 4 points of damage, mildly wounding the little spell-caster.
Bec
moves in to flank with Casimir and attacks, hitting (17 rolled) for 16 points
of damage, dropping the creature.
There
does not appear to be any other threats so we can drop out of initiative.
Everybody
earns 124 XP.
Casimir pats Bec on the back, "Good show. I couldn't seem
to get past his dweomered defenses. You did well to vanquish that potent enemy!
Good work!"
Casimir looks to the body for any indication of how he can get some magical
defenses, too.
"A small study, but I'm willing to bet that's a wizard's
spell book," Bowen says in a slightly agitated voice. The man is clearly
reluctant to have a look at the book himself in order to find out.
Bec cleans his blade off on the dead kobold's clothing, grinning
slightly at Casimir's praise.
"You kept him busy so
I could get a good solid swing at him. Good effort all around."
The young fighter looks at
the little creature's bloody, broken body. His gaze becomes somewhat distant.
"It's kind of scary
how quickly this has become normal. All this danger and death, you know?"
Bec goes silent but
quickly shakes of his somberness.
"Anyway, let's keep
going. We need to make sure this area is clear before we relax."
"Mayhap our recent turn of events has necessitated a
disturbing new skill set, but think of the evil we are eliminating not just for
the poor people in the village below, but for the world at large. I, for one,
am happy that I can help, though I see your point. If we cross the line and
seek to eliminate that which does not advance the purposes of evil, then we
shall have to examine our very souls, but until that time...", his
soliliquy done, Casimir grins at his friend, hoping to quell the doubt setting
into his mind.
"Now let's get to the
business of what is going on here. Let's look for clues. How is everyone doing,
health-wise?", Casimir looks to the group to
check the injury status of the party.
Following
is the status of the party:
Anya’drea:
unharmed, 11 reserves
Bec:
2 damage out of 20 hit points (minor wounds), 0 reserves.
Bowen:
unharmed, 0 reserves
Casimir:
2 damage out of 20 hit points (minor wounds), 7 reserves.
Mischa:
3 damage out of 13 hit points (mildly wounded), no
reserves.
Newt:
3 damage out of 11 hit points (mildly wounded), 10 reserves.
Scar:
2 damage out of 13 hit points (minor wounds).
The
two kobold footmen are wearing scale mail armor and carrying small wooden
shields. They are armed with small short
swords and small javelins. Each has a
flask of oil on his belt and is wearing the now familiar gold pendant in the
shape of a three-fingered hand.
The
magic-user is wearing wrist guards and is holding a wand. He is armed with a small dagger and a small
light crossbow with 10 bolts. He, too,
wears a three-fingered golden pendant.
In his pocket is a pearl.
The
book contains black, flowing script in a tongue none of the party can read.
Anya’drea
casts read magic, but cannot make out any of the text as she flips through the
pages. She informs you that the writing
is not magical.
The
young sorceress then casts detect magic on the gear carried by the
kobolds. She says there is definitely magic. A moment later and she says 3 of the items
are magical and at least on of them has a strong aura. One more moment and she is able to tell you
the wand is faintly magical (of the evocation (force) school – obviously magic
missile as it was used on poor Newt), the wrist guards are moderately magical
(of an unknown school) and the pearl is strongly magical (of the transmutation
school - spells change the properties of some creature, thing, or
condition.) Anya’drea also notices a
tiny symbol of a spell-book etched into the pearl.
The
party hit points above assume resting for 1 minute while Any’drea investigates
things arcane.
Who
is taking what?
((If I may- I think Anya'drea is the one who would benefit the
most from each of these items.))
Unless
someone expresses a different desire, Anya’drea puts the wand and pearl in her
backpack. She puts the wristbands on and
they become larger to fit her wrists.
I
also forgot to mention the fact that the candleholder appears to be made of
gold.
"Let's take that candleholder. Perhaps it can be given to a
family in need.", Casimir asserts looking for an
egress from the cave.
"Though it stands to
reason that this spellcaster must have a spellbook, correct?",
Casimir glances to Anya'drea for assistance, "and that book is not a spell
book, right? I think we should look for anything resembling a hidey-hole or
convenient place to store valuables..."
Anya’drea
pipes up, glad to be speaking about something of which she has knowledge. “Not all casters cast from books, Lord
Casimir. I myself channel arcane
energies in a way different than a wizard would, and therefore have no need of
studying a spell book every day.”
"Indeed. Shall we continue on and hope to discover more of
what transpires here. Should wounds become more grievous I can mend them, but
as of now there seems little requirement for such."
"Yea, let's get moving. The sooner we can get the bottom of
this, the sooner we can get back outside. I'd rather have the sun, or stars,
shinning down on me than this leering tomb of stone."
Casimir looks around. "All agreed? Let's keep moving"
Bec nods and grins.
"Agreed.
Let's finish this."
Area
1-15: River Docks
There
is only 1 unexplored passage left. Once
you enter the tunnel you hear the sounds of rushing water. A steep downward slope leads from the
entrance to this cave. You walk down it for a little more than a minute. It opens onto the broad subterranean stream
that runs underneath this mountain. The
footing here is treacherous, as it is in many portions of these caves. Situated at the right side of this cavern is
a crude set of docks fashioned from giant mushroom stalks.
The
dock extends 8 feet out into the water.
Tied to it are 2 rafts built from giant mushroom stalks bound together
with rope. Two long, wooden poles are
set on each raft. Each raft is large
enough to hold 6 human-sized individuals.
Based
on the flow of air and the echoes in this cavern, Anya’drea, Bowen, Casimir,
Mischa and Newt can all sense that a large, open space lies downriver
"I think it's clear what we do now."
Bowen returns his axe to
its resting place before gingerly steping onto the outermost raft. Lifting one
of the poles, he waves the rest of the group over. The open space and blowing
air have certainly changed the young man's mood for the better.
Casimir will take off his armor before treading on the raft.
"No sense in drowning because of that."
He places his sword on the raft as well, and holds his bow and a knocked arrow.
"Perhaps someone else
can row, while I protect the raft. Otherwise, I will row and others can watch
out for us."
Bec removes his armor as well, rolling up the mail and stowing it as
best he can. He sheathes his greatsword and unstraps his spear from his back.
"I will help pilot
the raft; as well. Probably the best idea, since I don't have many options for
attacking at a distance."
The large man steps onto
the raft, dropping his spear near the center of the raft to prevent it from
rolling off. He then grasps the other pole and readies the raft for travel.
It
looks like you have just enough traveling companions (including Scar) to
require 2 rafts, unless someone wants to carry Newt.
"We should take two rafts, the
weight on one alone would be questionable. I will go on the second with Scar,
should anyone wish to join us there is plenty of space."
Mischa carefully steps out
onto the second raft and after picking up a pole and steadying the raft with it
as much as possible calls Scar to join her.
To balance things out a little, how
about Mischa, Newt, Scar, and Bowen on one, and Casimir, Anya'drea and Bec on
the other? That
should leave both with a mix of defense.
Sounds good to me but I won't be taking off my armor unless it
is necessary. Newt readies his crossbow and will position himself in the boat
(away from scar if possible to avoid any jarring from the animal if things go
bad)
"As Bowen says, let's split the raft mates. For those
taking off armor, place it in the middle....",
Casimir looks to board raft #1.
Navigating
down the river turns out to be rather easy.
You pass through natural caves as wet and choked with stalagmites and
stalactites as you had encountered previously.
Level
2: The Outer Vaults
Area
2-1: The River
The
river runs strong and fast through this area, carrying you and your rafts down
a wide and tall passage. The passage is
smoothly carved and glistens with moisture in the light of Anya’drea’s sunrod.
Bec looks down the passage, listening for any sounds ahead.
Unconsciously, he rubs his chest and shoulders; enjoying the freedom of being armorless
but feeling exposed as well.
"If everyone is
ready, we should be off. I want to get this over with."
60
feet ahead, Newt suddenly notices a large, shadowy shape suspended in mid-air
above the river. It’s still in the
shadows since Anya’drea’s sunrod is on the second raft back.
What
does Newt do?
Newt will try to alert the others and see if navigating to the
side is possible in this swift water. If he feels it is not, he will start
looking for the claw thingies that everyone has been finding as they may come
in handy for saving our hides if we wear them... Newt as a last resort will
ready his crossbow and try to identify the big target hovering in the water.
Mischa will try to see if her vision will allow her to make out
the creature any clearer then Newt, and will begin trying to guide the raft
towards a path to the side of the mass.
Your
rafts continue down the river another 30 feet.
You can now all see a large monstrous spider, seemingly floating in the
air above the river, some 30 feet ahead of you.
You will be upon it in 1 round.
Casimir alone among you spots the web covering the entire area, down to
a height of 3 feet above the river. We are in initiative
rounds.
Initiatives are:
Anya’drea 25
Mischa w/ Scar 19
Bowen 16
Casimir 16
Spider 13
Bec 9
Newt 4
Please send me a
message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat. It should
be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think of.
Also specify
your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Ranged: Bowen will drop the pole onto
the raft and turn to his bow. If (when) he gets caught in the web, he will try to free
himself with his axe.
Newt, realizing there is no way around the web/spider will lay on his back in the boat and wait for a shot at the
spider as the boat passes under. (OOC Ranged combat with flavor text)
Bec will drop his pole on deck, pick up his spear, and throw it at
the spider. Then he will draw his greatsword and attack the creature when we
reach melee range. If anyone goes overboard, Bec will attempt to save them if
they appear to be in trouble. After his ranged attack, he will be using
standard melee as his action.
Bec, seeing the spider, drops his pole on the raft's deck.
Scrambling at his feet, he retrieves his spear and throws it quickly at the
monster.
Casimir shouts at the people on the rafts to "DUCK, webs
across the water!" He ducks down and tries to get off a shot with his bow,
if possible.
Round 1
Anya’drea
holds as she still cannot see the spider.
Mischa
continues to control her raft.
Bowen
drops his pole and draws his bow, but must ready his shot as he also cannot see
the spider.
Casimir
drops down, as he cannot see the spider to shoot at it.
Bec
drops the raft pole, grabs his spear and launches it, but misses (4 rolled).
Newt
drops down and readies his shot.
Round 2
Your
rafts continue downstream another 30 feet.
As they do, Bowen now sees the web for himself. Casimir spots the spider but cannot fire his
bow as he has ducked down, trying to avoid the webbing. Bec now spots the web as well.
Anya’drea
spots the spider 10 feet out and launches a magic missile at it, dealing 3
points of damage, a minor wound to such a large spider. The sorceress then drops to the deck to avoid
the web.
The
first raft is now upon the web.
Bowen
still cannot see the creature so maintains his readied shot.
Casimir
tries to stay down under the web (held action).
Bec
immediately gets caught in the web as the raft passes underneath, but Anya’drea
and Casimir are untouched by it. As soon
as Bec touches the web, the spider moves.
Now
Bowen can see it and fires, hitting (16 rolled) for 10 points of damage,
moderately wounding the beastie.
So,
too does Newt now fire, (8 rolled) but the bolt bounces off the creature’s
natural armor and splashes into the river.
The
monster bites Bec, dealing 6 points of damage.
Bec is now mildly wounded. Poison
courses through his veins (2 rolled on FORT save) and Bec takes 4 points of
Strength damage.
Bec
struggles to get free from the web, but fails (9 rolled for strength check).
Round 3
As
this is not a standard combat situation, I'm going to ask for your actions for
round 3 (and possibly future rounds).
Misha
will duck down under the web, and draw her bow, dropping the pole to the raft.
Casimir will do the same as Mischa, unless he determines that he
can use his hand weapon more effectively...
Shortbows
and longbows cannot be used while prone, so you’d have to stand again to fire.
Bowen will continue to fire arrows as long as possible.
Afterwards, he will draw his axe and atempt to attack/break free from there.
I
think I have enough information to continue.
As
the second raft passes under the web, Anya’drea discharges another magic
missile at the spider, this one doing 5 points of damage, clobbering and dealing
a life-threatening wound to the hideous creature.
Bowen
fires his bow again, but misses (6 rolled) and then draws his axe in
anticipation of having to cut himself free from webbing.
Newt
re-loads and fires from the first raft, while remaining prone, hitting the
spide (19 rolled, 4 rolled and failed to confirm a critical hit) dealing 2
points of damage.
Again
the spider bites into Bec, dealing 6 points of damage. Bec is clobbered and suffering from severe
injuries. This time Bec fights off the
poison (7 rolled for FORT save.)
Misha
falls prone under the web, and draws her bow, dropping the pole to the raft.
Casimir,
whose raft is passing under the web, stands and fires his bow, his arrow
striking (18 rolled) for 8 points of damage.)
The spider falls into the river.
Bec
continues to struggle but still cannot free himself.
At
this point, the lead raft carrying Casimir and Anya’drea has continued to drift
30 feet past the web. The other raft
passes under the web directly behind it, but Bowen is caught up in the web
right next to Bec. The raft continues
on.
So
both rafts have drifted 30 feet past the web, depositing Bec and Bowen in its
sticky strands. Casimir stands in the
lead raft, with Anya’drea prone and nobody guiding it (it’s starting to spin a
bit.)
Mischa
lays prone on the raft closest to the web, with Scar standing up and Newt
crouching.
What
does everyone do?
Casimir quickly exclaims, "Yahtzee!" after downing the
large arachnid. He places his bow in the center of the raft and grabs the pole
to help right the raft. Ideally, he places the two rafts together in a
flotilla, giving instructions to Newt and Anya to grab hands to join the rafts
together.
The next question is: Can
the rafts be poled against the current to pick up our friends? Is the pole
hitting the bottom or not? If so, I would think we could pole back upstream. If
it is deeper, Casimir begins paddling!
Unfortunately
Newt would most likely be lifted off the raft rather than be able to hold onto
it.
The
rafts can be poled. Anya’drea stands and
grabs a pole and helps Casimir. Their
raft begins making progress back against the current and moves 15 feet closer
to where Bec and Bowen are.
Misch
stands and begins trying to pole her raft, but fails and she drifts another 30
feet downstream.
Bowen will begin working
himself and possibly Bec free of the webs with his axe.
Bowen
managed to keep his axe hand free and begins to cut himself out of the web (7
rolled for damage to web). Unfortunately
he can’t get to Bec to so the same.
Bec
continues to struggle but remains stuck (10 rolled for STR check).
Casimir
and Anya’drea continue to make progress, as does Mischa (with Newt now
helping.)
Bowen
cuts more of the web away and Bec continues to struggle.
Both
rafts continue against the current, Casimir and Anya’drea’s making to the
webbing just as Bowen cuts himself loose and lands on the deck.
Bowen
remains trapped.
Casimir
and Anya’drea fight the current to keep the raft where it is and Bec breaks
free the very next moment.
Each
PC earns 100 XP.
Current
PC statuses:
Anya’drea:
0 damage from 11 hp, 11 reserves (uninjured)
Bec:
14 damage from 20 hp, 0 reserves, 4 pts. STR damage
(severely wounded, weakened)
Bowen:
0 damage from 20 hp, 0 reserves (uninjured)
Casimir:
2 damage from 20 hp, 7 reserves (minor wounds)
Mischa:
3 damage from 13 hp, 0 reserves, 1 pt. CON damage (mild wounds), sick)
Newt:
3 damage from 11 hp, 10 reserves (mild wounds)
Scar:
2 damage from 13 hp (doesn’t have reserves) (minor wounds)
"Let's land these floats and see if we can tend to our
wounds. Those spider bites look nasty!", Casimir
states and begins to pole back down river.
To Newt: "You don't
think that spider had any other victims up in the web do you? Perhaps we could
burn the web and see what falls??"
"Indeed, I have some spells which may help with the
injuries, but as for the poison, unless I can tend to the poisoned immediately
I there is little I can do for that. Bec, if we get the rafts together please
try to come over to this one. You pole the raft and I will see what I can do
about the poison before it progresses further in your system."
Mischa tries to position
the rafts as close together as possible and holds a hand out to help Bec cross.
Bowen returns to polling as well.
Bec wobbles as he tries to stand, wiping webbing off his clothing.
"Woah...I'm feeling a
bit...weird. You mind if I sit down for a minute?"
The large man looks pale
and clammy.
Bowen looks over at the larger man, afraid he might tip over and
right off the raft.
"You might as take a
break while you may. I don't think we are going to get any time to rest for a
spell. Besides, if you fall off the raft, I'm not sure if you'll have it in you
to swim back to the surface."
To Casimir: I don't think I saw any more bodies while looking up
at the spider. I am more concerned about getting away from this area in case
there are more of those spiders lurking in the darkness.
Newt will do the best he
can to get to solid ground with the party so he can help Mischa the best he can
with the wounded.
As Bec sits the poison courses through his system. (Fort save 9 rolled, success, Fort save 3 rolled, failure). Bec takes an additional 4 points of strength
damage, bringing his strength to 10. Bec
will not be able to carry all of his gear.
Area
2-2: The Pool
As
you travel downriver your rafts come to a sudden halt as they are deposited
into a large pool of calm water. The
pool here is roughly 10 feet deep. The
ceiling rises to over 20 feet in height, forming a vaulted rock dome over the
water. The river appears to continue on
into deeper realms of the earth, but the cavern ceiling at the pond’s outlet is
too low for you to raft through. Poling
around the edges of the pool on your rafts you find the left and right ends of
this cave open into small grottoes, both of which rise sharply from the water.
Does there appear to be anywhere to tie up or wedge the rafts?
Or does it seem like we have to drag them onto the cave floor?
The
grotto to the right features a dock very much like that from which you took
these rafts. In fact tow rafts
constructed from giant mushroom stalks are moored to it with thick ropes.
The
closer grotto, to the left, features a cave some 10 feet above the level of the
water.
"I think we should try the docks. I can't see anyway we
could get to those caves 10 feet up off of these rafts...", Casimir looks
to the other members. "Besides, we have got to try to get well!"
Newt showing concern when his companion is no longer able to
stand steady with all his gear also nods with agreement on not having to climb
out of this raft. “i can try to scout ahead if you
want to make sure the landing is secured. I won't try to attack this time since
we are at an extreme disadvantage. I will just check out what I can find and
return quickly.”
Bec slumps down on the deck of the raft, looking with strange
fascination at the fresh puncture wounds.
"When I was seven, I
got bit by a spider while I was cleaning out the loft in the barn out back.
Then, I got a red bump and felt kind of sick for a day."
Bec looks at the party
with some guilt.
"Im afraid I'm not
going to be very helpful right now. I feel as weak as a kitten and I'm pretty
banged-up."
"Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about the poison
now as too much time has passed. The only way for you to regain your strenght
is bed rest at this point and from the looks of you well over a week of it. As
for the physical wounds those I can mend."
Mischa casta a cure light
wounds spell on Bec.
Mischa
heals Bec for 3 points of damage.
As
the party is poling their way toward the dock, a hail of crossbow bolts comes
from the raised cave, and you can see 4 kobolds in leather armor armed with
small heavy crossbows. They are
approximately 80 feet away and you are about 100 feet away from the docks.
1
bolt misses Casimir, 1 strikes Anya’drea for 5 points of damage, 1 glances off
Bowen’s armor and the other strikes him for 4 points of damage.
We
are in initiative rounds.
Initiatives
are:
Anya’drea 24
Mischa w/ Scar 21
Bec 12
Kobolds 11
Newt
9
Casimir 8
Bowen 6
Please
post or send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of
combat. It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can
think of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Casimir will fight in normal mode: pulling out his bow and
standing between them and our spell casters.
He yells to Bec"Find
cover, we can't afford you getting hurt!"
Bowen will enter Ranged combat, dropping his pole to the raft.
Should any attacks come from the water or from the docks, Bowen will switch to
aggressive melee.
Sorry,
the DM left out an important detail. The
humans cannot see the kobolds. And even
for Mischa and Newt they are in shadows.
The only cover available while on the rafts comes from other party
members.
Bec fights his way to his feet, his face a mask of angry
determination. He drops the backpack that was weighing him down onto the middle
of the raft.
"We need to get to
the docks. Everyone who can fire, keep 'em busy."
The big man grabs the pole
and starts pushing the raft towards to docks. While clearly in a weakened
state, he is hardly helpless.
"Help me get this raft out of the water we can use it as a
shield."
Mischa reaches down and
starts trying to pull the raft up onto the dock.
You
are 100 feet away from the docks.
Mischa will pole over to the dock and try to drag up the raft so
they can use it as cover.
Bowen will add as much speed to the raft's progress as he can
via the pole.
Round 1
Anya’drea
drops prone on the deck since she cannot see the enemy.
Mischa will pole over to the dock and try to drag up the raft so
they can use it as cover.
Mischa
makes 5’ of progress.
Bec fights his way to his feet, his face a mask of angry
determination. He drops the backpack that was weighing him down onto the middle
of the raft.
"We need to get to
the docks. Everyone who can fire, keep 'em busy."
The big man grabs the pole
and starts pushing the raft towards to docks. While clearly in a weakened
state, he is hardly helpless.
Bec’s
raft moves 5 ‘.
Newt
drops his crossbow, grabs a pole and helps Mischa, adding 5’ to their movement.
Casimir will fight in normal mode: pulling out his bow and
standing between them and our spell casters.
He yells to Bec"Find
cover, we can't afford you getting hurt!"
Bowen will add as much speed to the raft's progress as he can
via the pole.
Bowen’s
raft moves 5’ closer to the docks.
At
this rate it will take you 9 more rounds to reach the docks. Based on the fact that crossbow bolts are
flying at you, you know the kobolds will only be able to shoot every other
round. The only ones that can see the
kobolds are Mischa and Newt, and they are the only ones on their raft, so if
they stop poling, they stop moving, or if one stops poling it will take twice
as long to reach the docks.
Based
on this analysis, would anyone like to change their actions?
Mischa keeps polling with all her meager might.
The way things are going, it would be faster to swim to the
docks... Though it means leaving equiment behind. When
Bowen can see the kobolds, he will take up the bow, but as of now, he will
continue polling.
Based
on the fact that Mischa and Newt identified (ok, I’m assuming here) the
attackers as being in shadows, and knowing roughly how far they can see, and
also knowing how far most creatures in the depths of the earth can see,
Anya’drea makes a snap decision. She
hurriedly stuffs the sunrod she is carrying into her backpack and closes it,
plunging you all into darkness.
She
whispers “Keep going straight for the docks. They may keep firing but they’ll
have a heck of a time hitting us now.”
It
takes over 3 minutes to carefully try and pole toward where you remember the
docks being. During that time, every 12
seconds, a hail of bolts splashes into the water all around you. Two find their mark during the ordeal; 1 bolt
hitting Bec for 2 points of damage (Bec now has 13 points of damage out of 20);
and 1 bolt hitting Casimir for 6 points of damage (Casimir now has 8 points of
damage out of 20).
Your
rafts thud quietly against the docks.
Area
2-8: Landing Grotto
Once the group finds the docks, Casimir lowers himself into the
water and if he can touch the bottom, lifts the raft up to use as a shield for
the group. He whispers "Guide me, I can't see in this pitch black..."
Since
you’re now at your destination, Anya’drea risks a little light and pulls the sunrod from her backpack.
A
single dock built from the stalks of giant mushrooms juts into the water from this
rocky shore. Two mushroom-stalk rafts
are moored to the dock, while a third has been dragged to shore, in addition to
your two. A small pile of wood and
mushroom poles are stacked next to the beached raft. The floor and walls here are slick with wet
moss.
You
see no sign of any hostile creatures and are not being fired upon. Bec’s and Casimir’s armor is still on the
rafts.
As a
reminder if Bec leaves his old studded leather armor behind, he will be able to
move with the reast of his gear and armor, but will be heavily encumbered (due
to his strength damage.)
Bec wearily starts donning his mail. When finished, he drags his
suit of studded leather away from the river edge. Groaning with the
frustratingly heavy load he carries, Bec prepares to carry on.
Casimir sighs inwardly as he looks at Bec. There is a certain
degree of sadness for the big guy. Casimir fetches his armor quickly and dons
it. He approaches Bec, "Allow me to carry some of your load. You have paid
more than your price in spider bites and poisoning. With luck, we will soon be
in a place where you can get some well deserved aid. Until then, I insist on
carrying some of this!" Casimir begins to repack his things taking on as
much as he can of Bec's with still maintaining medium encumbrance. He will
leave Bec the weapons, missiles and armor, but anything else he will take or
look to the others to divy up.
"Bec, you need to stay out of melee for now, if you would
like to use my bow and arrows. I have some melee tricks up my sleeve I wouldn't
mind trying out."
Mischa pulls her bauble
back out and puts it around her neck again and then begins looking for the next
path carefully inspecting the ground for tracks as she goes.
Bec takes the bow. Though none of you had seen him practice, the
young man seems familiar with the weapon.
"Oh, okay. I'm not
too bad a shot. Been practicing with different types of
weapons out at the farm."
Bec gratefully hands over
some of his equipment to Casimir.
"Just let me know if
that gets too heavy. I'm a little weakened by the venom, but I'm still
okay."
Bec seems to step a bit
lighter after the efforts of his friends.
After
only a few rounds of activity (Bec has still not yet donned his armor) you hear
movement from ahead in the darkness and the sound of kobold voices.
We are going to be going
into initiative rounds again, but I'd like to get Bowen and Newt's level info. before we do.
We
are in initiative rounds.
Initiatives
are:
Mischa w/ Scar 14
Casimir 14
Bowen 12
Kobolds 9
Anya’drea 7
Newt
4
Bec 3
Please
post or send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of
combat. It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can
think of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Agressive Melee. Bowen will happily rush towards the kobolds and
begin chopping away at them.
Mischa will start by dropping her staff to the ground and with a
quick motion and a few words, there is a crackle of popping joints and tendons,
as her hands and fingers become long curving claws. (prepared
Beast Claws spell)
"Told you I had some
new tricks to try out." She gives the others a quick glance. "Scar
attack."
Mischa and scar will
attack the same foes, standard melee. Mischa will break off if someone gets
hurt and needs healing however.
Casimir will use his normal attack, breaking off if he is
severely wounded (fewer than 6 HP). He will use his sword unless the tunnel
prohibits its use. In that case, he will use the mace...
Acting against his gut instinct, Bec will hold his ground and raise
his bow, using the arrows Mischa just gave him. He prepares to fire at any of
the enemy who have yet to close for melee.
Newt also will take a ranged stance and work the crossbow as
quickly as he can to offer some support to non melee combatants.
Surprise round (more to come)
Mischa
casts her spell and Scar advances (single actions due to surprise round.) In the shadows ahead she can just make out 7
kobolds.
The
kobolds in front fire their crossbows.
The first hits Scar for 4 points of damage. The second bolt fails to penetrate the wolf’s
natural armor. Another bolt misses
completely. The fourth kobold twists his
ankle and falls prone (critical miss). As each of the front rank fires they drop to
a crouch so the rear rank can shoot. One
bolt does 5 points of damage, clobbering the wolf. Scar dodges another two bolts.
Mischa makes a
double move and brings the first row of archers into shadowy vision for even
the humans in the group. She is still 55
feet away from them.
Scar whimpers
when the second bolt strikes and turns and retreats to Mischa’s side.
Casimir makes a
double move and is still 40 feet away from the kobolds.
Bowen makes a
double move and is 45 feet away from the creatures.
The kobolds
re-load their weapons, including the one lying on the cave floor. The others all take a 5’ step back, back into
the darkness as far as the humans can see.
Anya’drea makes
a double move to stand next to Mischa.
Newt advances 15
feet and fires (15 rolled, 90 rolled for miss chance) hitting a kobold for 5
points of damage, taking it down.
Bec holds until
he can see a target.
Round
2
Mischa
makes a double move and is now only 20 feet from the kobolds. Scar stays back in the shadows.
This
illuminates the targets and Bec unholds, moving to a position from where he can
take a shot, but he misses (3 rolled).
Casimir
makes a double move and is now engaged in melee.
Bowen
quickly joins him.
The
two kobolds in the front rank stand and withdraw into the shadows, thus
avoiding attacks of opportunity.
The
prone kobold 10 feet to the right of Casimir fires it’s
crossbow and hits the paladin for 3 points of damage. (Casimir has 11 points of damage out of 26
hit points).
Bowen
dodges a crossbow bolt.
Another
two bolts miss Casimir completely.
The
kobolds closest to the party draw their longswords and move back 30’.
Anya’drea
advances a little, but not so far as to leave Bec in the dark.
Newt
makes a single move and re-loads.
Round
3
Mischa
makes a double move and is engaged in melee.
Mischa Bowen and Casimir now notice a second tunnel to their left,
joining this one.
Scar
advances a little, but remains far from the combat.
Bec
has no shot from where he is so makes a double move.
Casimir
makes a single move and is able to attack, and almost fumbles (1 rolled, 19 to
recover).
Bowen
makes a double move to position himself to try and
prevent the leap-frog tactic the kobolds are employing.
The
first two kobolds draw longswords and attack.
One
swings at Mischa, dealing 4 points of damage.
The
other hits Casimir for 3.
The
prone kobold re-loads and fires at Bec, but misses.
The
remaining 3 kobolds take 5 foot steps and all attack Bowen with their
longswords.
Two
blades glance off of Bowen’s chain shirt.
A
third finds it’s mark dealing 1 point of damage.
Anya’drea
moves forward, leaving Newt just in her circle of light. She points her finger at the prone kobold, and
projects a ray of freezing air and ice at it, but the ray passes just above it
(13 rolled.)
An
eighth kobold armed with a crossbow comes from around the corner.
What
are your tactics for the next 3 rounds?
Bec turns to fire at the kobold who fired
at him. He will continue to use ranged attacks with his bow, firing at those
shooting at him and moving as needed to maintain a clear shot, to avoid attacks
of opportunities, and to maintain his range away from his attackers.
Casimir will press his attack on the foe in front of him. After
vanquishing him, he will continue to press the attack on the next foe with a 5
foot step.
Mischa will continue to press on with melee attacks,
if she can aid someone by taking a 5' to flank she will do so.
Likewise, Bowen will continue putting all possible pressure on
the kobolds and advance aggressively.
Mischa claws at
the kobold in front of her the first attack missing (8 rolled) and the second
slash passing over his head (9 rolled).
Bec fires at the
prone kobold, but misses completely (6 rolled).
Casimir slices
into the kobold directly in front of him (11 rolled) and takes him down (5
points of damage dealt). The paladin
takes a 5-foot step forward.
Bowen’s axe
bites into a kobold (14 rolled) dealing 7 points of damage and taking it down.
Seeing
an opening, the latest crossbowman moves and fires at Bowen, but critically
fumbles and falls prone.
The crossbowman
in front of Mischa steps 5 feet back and slashes at Casimir, and misses.
The prone kobold
re-loads.
The kobold in
front of Casimir withdraws 30 feet, as does the kobold threatened by Bowen.
Anya’drea
strides forward, drops her sunrod on the ground, grips her quarterstaff and
strikes at the prone kobold, critically hitting (20 rolled, 10 rolled to
confirm) for x3 damage, doing 13 points of damage and stilling the small
creature’s shots.
Newt makes a
single move and fires at the farthest kobold, the only one he has a clear shot
on, and hits (19 rolled, 5 fails to confirm a critical) dealing 4 points of
damage to the kobold, clobbering and disabling it.
Mischa
takes a 5-foot step and attacks, her first claw missing (4 rolled) and her
second claw again going high (9 rolled.)
Bec
takes another shot, hitting the kobold in the eye (20 rolled, 19 to confirm)
only doing 1 point of damage but taking it down.
Casimir
takes a 5-foot-step and attacks the kobold in melee with Mischa, hitting it (10
rolled for 7 points of damage and it drops.
Bowen
makes a single move and brings his axe down on the prone kobold, striking (8
rolled) for 9 points of damage. The
kobold stops squirming.
The
last remaining kobold crossbowman looks nervously down a dark corridor, then moves quickly into it.
Anya’drea
and Newt hold as there are no more visible targets.
Round
6
Just
at that moment, a javelin flies out of the darkness at Bowen, missing him. Following it out of the darkness is a kobold wearing
scale mail and with a wooden shield. It
draws a short sword as it advances.
A
second javelin flies out, glancing off of Bowen’s chain shirt, if for no other
reason than the kobold that follows was trying to not hit the first one that
came out. A second kobold emerges.
A
javelin flies out from the darkness at Casimir, striking him for 3 points of
damage. Casimir now has 17 points of
damage out of 26 hit points.
Another
javelin thrown at Casimir from around the corner just misses.
Yet
another kobold steps from the dark and launches a javelin at Casimir.
Anya’drea
unholds and makes a double move.
Newt
unholds, re-loads and makes a single move.
Mischa
makes a single move, bringing her to the next corner of the tunnel. Her bauble illuminates all visible
enemies.
Besides
the two kobolds in the main tunnel, there are two more around the corner. Ten feet beyond them are four more, and a
kobold with a heavy crossbow is behind them.
Mischa
attacks around the corner, but strikes only a small heavy wooden shield (16
rolled).
Bec
re-positions and fires at one of the kobolds engaged with Bowen, but misses (6
rolled).
Casimir
moves to stand next to Mischa and attacks, but he kobold avoids the blow (6
rolled.)
Bowen
hacks at one of his combatants (18 rolled), dealing 5 points of damage and
taking him down. Bowen takes a
5-foot-step.
What
are your actions for the next 3 rounds of combat?
Once Casimir clogs the hallway, he will use action points to
gain one extra attack per round. He will do this until he is vanquished or they
are.
Casimir yells, "Everyone in the back, clear out a flight
path! We got a mess up here!"
Casimir will step into the
hallway to clog the advance of all the footmen. To Mischa,
"Help Bowen!"
Bowen, seeing the new entrants emerge
from the pervasive shadows, growls and begins throwing everything he has into
his swings. He will continue to wade himself into the middle of things.
((Bowen Rages, continues
to fight aggressively))
Round
7
The
kobold next to Bowen attacks and misses.
One
of the kobolds fighting Casimir takes a 5-foot-step and attacks the paladin,
dealing 4 points of damage.
The
other kobold strikes the paladin with its longsword for 1 point.
A
third kobold drops its javelin and draws its sword as it advances on Casimir,
slashing for 1 point of damage.
Seeing
the rather dire straits her party is in, Anya’drea unleashes a magic missile (using
an action point to not use up a slot) at the kobold trying to maneuver past
Casimir, dealing 4 points of damage, clobbering and disabling him.
Newt has no shot so makes a double move.
Mischa
takes a 5-foot-step and casts Cure Light Wounds on Casimir, healing him for 6
points.
Bec
fires at Bowen’s attacker, missing (4 rolled).
Casimir
attacks, slashing into the kobold (18 rolled) for 9 points of damage, dropping
it.
Casimir
uses an action point and attacks again, (13 rolled) finding an open spot in the
scale mail, but his blade does not penetrate the kobold’s natural armor.
Casimir
takes a 5-foot-step into the passage.
A
kobold drops its javelin, takes a 5-foot-step and attacks Casimir, missing.
Another
creature advances to stop Casimir’s approach, dropping its javelin and drawing
a small longsword, attacking and missing.
Bowen
lets out a battle cry, gripping his battleaxe with both hands and hacks at his
enemy (15 rolled), dealing 9 points of damage, felling his foe.
Bowen
takes a 5-foot-step.
Round
8
The
clobbered, disabled kobold takes a 5-foot-step away from Casimir.
A
kobold takes a 5-foot-step to flank Casimir, attacks and deals 5 points of
damage, clobbering the paladin.
Anya’drea
uses an action point to not lose her spell slot and sends a magic missile into
the kobold flanking Casimir, dealing 4 points of damage, clobbering and
disabling it.
Newt
moves 15 feet and fires at that same kobold, missing the shot (7 rolled).
Mischa
takes a 5-foot-setp and claws twice at the kobold flanking Casimir, missing
both times (4 and 2 rolled).
Bec
moves and fires at a disabled kobold but misses (8 rolled.)
Casimir
turns to fight his way back to safety, striking (15 rolled) and dealing 3
points of damage to the kobold behind him.
The kobold falls and Casimir takes a 5-foot-step.
One
of the kobolds that had been hanging back steps up to take the place of one of
its fallen brothers, drops its javelin and draws its
word and attacks Casimir. A critical hit
deals double damage to the paladin and Casimir takes 7 points of damage. Casimir falls to the ground, bleeding.
A
cheer rises up from the remaining kobolds.
A
kobold moves 5 feet and attacks Mischa, but the Druid avoids the blow.
Bowen
ignores the disabled kobold, takes a 5-foot-step and attacks the creature that
brought Casimir down, hitting it (15 rolled) for 10 points of damage, and it
falls.
A
kobold steps forward to take its place and attacks Bowen, and the barbarian
avoids the attack.
Round
9
The
disabled kobold begins picking its way out of the combat, heading towards the
docks.
Anya’drea
moves, uses another action point and sends a magic missile into the kobold
attacking Bowen, dealing 5 points of damage and dropping it.
The
last crossbowman has, in the meantime, sheated his short sword and re-loaded
his small heavy crossbow. With an
unobstructed shot at Bowen, he fires, but misses completely. The kobold hurriedly begins re-loading.
Newt
re-loads and fires at the escaping kobold, but the bolt does not penetrate the
kobold’s natural armor (14 rolled). Newt
re-loads.
Mischa
steps 5 feet back and casts Cure Light Wounds on Casimir, healing him for 5
points. Casimir’s eyes open.
Bec
fires at the last combative kobold footman, (12 rolled) but because Bowen is so
close, the kobold is able to avoid the arrow.
With
a combatant right above him, Casimir uses his lay on hands ability and heals
himself for 4 points of damage (making an assumption here.)
The
last fighting footman attacks Bowen, and misses.
Bowen
returns the favor (17 rolled) and lays the kobold out with 13 points of damage,
almost killing the creature with a single blow.
Bowen moves to the crossbowman.
Round
10
What,
if anything do you want to change for your tacics? Only two kobolds remain moving. A disabled footman trying
to get to the docks, and a crossbowman in the process of re-loading.
Casimir looks about, confused. Blood and gore and the smell of
scorched flesh permeates his nostrils. Suddenly, being
home in a comfortable bed with the smell of cinnamon rolls and honey in the air
seems like a much better proposition.
"Let's defeat this
enemy!", Casimir cries as he reaches for his
bottle of cure light wounds. After downing it, he will head into battle...
Bec, seeing the kobold reloading, pulls his bowstring back fires at
him. He will concentrate his attacks on the attacker, all but ignoring the
fleeing kobold.
Bowen will continue advancing on the remaining kobolds, repaying
them for their attacks and for their twisted existence as well. When the last
Kobold is defeated he will return to his comrads and rest a spell.
Mischa will check to see that noone is in dire need of healing,
if someone is she will heal them, if not she will move to the nearest kobold
and attack.
Mischa would also like to
start using action points when she cast her healing spells.
The
disabled footman continues his slow walk toward the docks.
Anya’drea
approaches him from behind, both hands on her quarterstaff and attacks, but her
wooden staff rings loudly off of the kobold’s scale mail (16 rolled).
The
kobold crossbowman takes a 5-foot-step away from Bowen and finishes re-loading.
Newt
fires at the fleeing kobold (20 rolled, 5 rolled to confirm critical hit),
hitting it for 4 points of damage and dropping it. Newt re-loads.
Mischa
makes a double move and advances on the kobold.
Bec
holds as he has no shot on the last kobold.
Casimir
retrieves his potion and drinks it, healing 7 points of damage.
Bowen
moves forward 5 feet and attacks the last kobold (9 rolled) striking for 8
points of damage and bringing him down.
We
can now drop out of initiative.
Each
PC earns 192 XP.
You
drag yourselves back to the raft and those who are injured rest to recover any
possible damage. The others I assume can
busy themselves by searching the bodies of your fallen adversaries.
The
kobold crossbowmen are wearing leather armor and were armed with small heavy
crossbows and small longswords. Many of
them were down to their last few bolts.
They appear as did the previous kobolds you have met here, with patches of
rough red scales growing on their bodies.
Their canine teeth are elongated and their finger nails are long, thick
and sharp. Each one wears a small gold
pendant crudely shaped in the form of a three-fingered hand.
The
footmen are different. They are armored
in scale mail and carry small heavy wooden shields and small short swords. 8 small javelins also litter the ground. Their skin has been entirely replaced with
dark red scales, their fangs extend from their upper gums down below their
jaws, and sharp spines grow from their scalps.
It would also appear that they were foaming at the mouth during the
battle. Each of these also wears a small
gold pendant crudely shaped in the form of a three-fingered hand.
Scar
has 11 points of damage out of 13 hit points.
After
3 minutes of rest Newt has no damage and 7 reserves left.
After
5 minutes of rest Anya’drea has no damage and 9 reserves left.
After
5 minutes of rest Bowen has no damage and 4 reserves left.
After
6 minutes of rest Mischa has 1 point of damage and 0 reserves left.
After
8 minutes of rest Bec has 5 points of damage and 0 reserves left.
Bec
can then put his armor back on and give Mischa back her bow (if they so desire)
After
12 minutes of rest Casimir has no damage and 1 reserve left.
Casimir
can then put his armor back on.
Mischa will cast a Cure Light Wounds spell on Scar and use an
action point to recall the spell.
Mischa
heals Scar for 8 points.
Bowen will collect the gold emblems on the party's way back
towards the passage. Bowen will also use an action point to grant another rage
this day. ((I believe this is possible, but I am unsure of how many APs I have
remaining after using one to stabilize earlier.))
For
the purposes of class abilities you need not spend the action point until you
want to use it. Bowen has 6 action
points (you lose unspent actions points and gain 5+1/2 your level every time
you level.
Current
actions points can always be seen at the link below by hitting the current
characters button:
http://www.paintedknights.com/hwcharacters.html
“Man... These things keep getting uglier and uglier,” Newt's
nose crinkles in disgust as he examines foaming bodies and makes sure his
crossbow is ready for any possible future combat. “I don't believe that I have
seen a kobold with scales before. What do you guys think is up with these pendants. Not that I am worried but it is getting creepy.”
Bec will Bowen, still holding the bow unless Mischa protests. He
examines the bodies as the other man takes the pendants.
"Maybe these gold hand
things are like symbols of their club or cult or something. Maybe the...um dark
god or whatever they worship twists them into weird shapes as they advance as
like some kind gift or something."
Bec
rambles a bit in his speech; a sum of his confusion, exhaustion, and lack of
natural insight.
"I fear what we may
run into if we continue on this day. Whatever is here has twisted these
wretched creatures beyond imagination. With the current state of things we may
not be able to withstand this evil ourselves. I also fear we may have come too
far to turn back now however, as fighting a river in our current state would be
no easy task."
"Agreed. Shall we set a stiff guard and rest
while we can on the river here? Set two guards, one watching each direction
while the rest get their sleep? I will volunteer for the first watch."
Bec nods.
"I would like last
watch, if possible. I'm almost falling asleep just standing here. I feel that
after a bit of sleep, I'll feel much better.
The young man starts
stripping off the mail he just got back on.
Bowen removes his pack and sets it within the "camp"
after withdrawing his bull's eye lantern.
"I'm doing alright,
so I will share the first watch. Anya'drea and Newt should take the second
watch. Leaving the last set Micha and Bec. I'll post
myself at the tunnel entrance, if you don't mind, Cas."
Bowen retreats to the
tunnel, places the lantern (unlit) at his feet and listens into the darkness.
None
of you is actually sleepy (believe it or not you’ve only been awake for about 2
½ hours (time always drags underground.)
That is not to say you could not “camp” here and rest until at least
some of your wounds heal and your abilities replenish. I will assume you keep your armor on and
equipment handy until you need to rest.
You have
been relaxing for less than an hour, when, in a moment of quiet, Mischa and
Newt both hear something scrabbling along the ceiling out over the lake. Nothing can be seen, however.
Mischa peers into the shadows hoping to catch a glimpse of the
creature that made the sounds. Her staff at the ready she and Scar move to try
and get a better vantage point.
I am
having Newt ready his crossbow.
Mischa
can see nothing. Then, some 70 feet away
in the shadows (even for her and Newt) she can make out 4 medium monstrous rock
centipedes crawling along the ceiling over the lake and moving toward the party
on the ledge at the docks.
We
are in initiative rounds (keep in mind only Mischa and Newt can see the
centipedes at this time.)
Initiatives
are:
centipedes 22
Bec 19
Casimir 17
Anya’drea 10
Mischa 6
Newt
5
Bowen 5
Please
send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat.
It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think
of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Casimir will engage the centipedes in standard melee.
Bec decides to leave his armor on. He had mistaken his weakness for
sleepiness, but remains awake. As soon as the his
companions move into defensive positions, he groans.
"Oh, man. What
now?"
Bec pulls out his
greatsword, feeling more comfortable with his weapon due to the concealment of
the enemy.
Bec will be using a
conservative melee stance.
Bowen will continue to stand watch at the tunnel entrance,
being, for the most part, unaware. Should the creatures become illuminated,
Bowen will use his bow.
After Newt readies his crossbow, he will make sure everyone is
aware of the incoming attackers. Incoming, get ready!!
Newt takes a ranged stance
also listening for ambushes down the tunnels behind them.
Round
1
The
centipedes have moved to within the limits of Mischa’s and Newt’s low-light
vision (albeit the creatures are still in shadows) as previously described.
As
soon as Newt sees them he fires and misses (5 rolled.)
Bec
draws his greatsword and readies an attack.
Casimir, likewise
readies himself for melee.
Anya’drea
pulls her sling free and loads it.
Mischa
and Scar ready themselves to attack the creatures.
Bowen
readies his bow.
Round
2
The
creatures move into the light so that even the humans can see them. They are crawling along the ceiling faster
than a man can walk on ground.
As
soon as they are visible Bowen fires (13 rolled) but misses due to the shadows
(7 rolled).
The
centipedes continue their quick scurry across the ceiling making it all the way
to where the party stands. They are now
on the ceiling directly above your heads.
Newt
re-loads and fires, but misses (3 rolled.)
Bec
maintains his readied attack, as does Casimir.
Anya’drea
hurls a sling bullet at a centipede, hitting it (15 rolled) for 1 point of
damage. She lets her sling drop and
picks up her staff.
Mischa
and Scar maintain their readied actions.
Round
3
Bowen
again fires, (3 rolled) his arrow shattering on the ceiling.
The
centipedes climb to the far wall, climb down it,
advance on the party and attack, but not before those with readied attacks.
Bec
slashes at a centipede, (15 rolled) cutting it down by dealing 4 points of
damage to it.
Casimir
also attacks but misses (4 rolled).
Mischa
attacks and misses (5 rolled).
Scar
attacks the same centipede as Mischa, stumbles and falls prone (1 rolled, 3 to
confirm critical fumble).
A
centipede bites Casimir for 3 points of damage.
A
centipede bites at Scar, and misses completely.
A
centipede strikes Bec’s chainmail.
Newt
re-loads but has to use a move action to get to a place from where he has a
shot.
Anya’drea
strikes the centipede attacking Casimir with her staff (18 rolled) for 1 point
of damage.
Round
4
Please
post your actions for the next 3 rounds.
Enraged by the bite that Casimir just suffered, he will go into
aggressive melee stance.
Mischa and Scar will continue their combined attack on the
centipedes, both attacking the same one if possible.
Standard Melee, but Mischa
will also move to keep the centipedes from reaching the weaker party members.
Bowen decides not to risk firing into the general melee (just
look at his shots already). He drops his bow, draws his battleaxe while moving
towards the centipedes.
((Agressive
Melee; Should Bowen be to far to attack using his regular move, he shall charge
and attack.))
Bec switches to a standard melee stance, attacking the centipede who attacked him last round. He will concentrate on his
attackers first, then attack those centipedes
attacking his friends. Bec will concentrate on those centipedes attacking the
more wounded of his party.
Newt will continue moving about the melee members looking for
openings to fire a quick shot here and there. ((is it possible to grab other
crossbows and fire 2 shots (one in each hand) [assuming both are loaded]?))
In
general, yes, however no other crossbows were gathered/ are loaded. Should such a circumstance ever arise you’d
be at a -6 to the first attack and -10 to the second and would not be able to
re-load.
Bowen
drops his bow and draws his axe as he approaches the centipede attacking Bec,
hitting it (8 rolled) for 7 points of damage and it stops moving.
Bec
makes a standard move to get to the centipede attacking Scar (to go further
would provoke attacks of opportunity) and brings his sword down (19 rolled, 8
failed to confirm) for 7 points of damage and another bug is down.
Casimir
brings the last one down (16 rolled) by dealing 9 points of damage to it.
We
are out of initiative and each PC earns 100 XP.
"Well done, all. We escaped that tricky situation. We'll
need to be aware of these big centipedes as we continue in these dark
corridors..."
Casimir looks at the
options, "I only see the opportunity to go straight ahead. Are we
agreed?"
Bec nods with a deep sigh.
"Okay, okay. Let's
keep going."
Bec slaps the flat of his
blade over his shoulder and walks after Casimir.
Casimir
is correct in his assessment of where you can go, beyond getting back on the
rafts and further exploring the lake.
You follow the tunnel down from where the kobolds appeared and come to a
split, where you can go straight, bear slightly to the let or take a sharp left
turn.
"Does anyone have a feeling either way? I would opt for the
sharp left, but I don't have a definitive reason for doing so...", Casimir looks around to the rest of the group...
"Lets go to the sharp left, if we
stay to one direction, we will only have to go right to get out should we
become lost."
Bec nods.
"Left is as good as
any other direction at this point."
Area
2-9: Sniper Nest
After
about 80 feet of corridor you come into a 40-foot-wide cavern overlooking the
lak and some 10 feet above it. Three
crude stools crafted from mushroom caps are set along the lip of the cave
overlooking the water while two small light crossbows and 100 small crossbow
bolts are neatly arranged nearby.
"We should take these, lest we find ourselves on the
receiving end of them."
Bowen grunts in consent.
Mischa
is able to fit both crossbows and all the bolts in her pack without slowing
herself down any more than she already is.
Turning
around and continuing, you take the left fork.
Area
2-10: Guardroom
After
50 feet you come to a large cavern that smells like it has been occupied for a
long time. Many crude pallets composed of old furs and
tattered blankets are piled throughout this chamber. A large fire pit has been dug into the cave
floor in the corner to the left, while food and water in crude pots are
clustered at the wall next to it. An
old, rotted carpet hangs over an exit to your right.
Casimir looks at the carpeted egress and makes for it slowly. He
motions for the others to follow him. He stops short of the doorway with out
going through. "We need to make sure this way isn't trapped, Newt",
Casimir whispers. To the others: "Let's stand on either side of the
doorway while Newt does his thing..."
Newt
determines that the doorway is not trapped.
Casimir will push aside the carpeting with his sword and quickly
enter the hallway, room or whatever lay beyond.
Area
2-11: Derro Chamber
Casimir
pushes the carpet aside and sees a chamber 20-feet-deep by 40-feet-wide. A few simple tapestries crafted from spider
webbing cover the walls, helping to give it a more comfortable feel. Matted webbing also covers the floor, while
two beds crafted from stones and covered in furs and blankets are set in the
far left corner. At the left wall is a
small fire pit that provides warmth and illumination for the cave. On one bed is the bound and gagged form of a
human wearing studded leather armor.
Suddenly
from behind the other bed stands a small, stocky dwarf-like creature in studded
leather armor and wearing a small buckler with gold and silver runes inlaid on
its inner and outer facing. The creature
is tittering and mumbling to itself as it stands. Its skin is a pale blue-white color and its
bulbous eyes have no irises or pupils.
Its hair is coarse and white and a long mustache droops past its
chin. On its hip is a small short sword
and it is holding a small repeating light crossbow.
It
fires at Casimir as soon as it stands, catching the paladin flat-footed. The small bolt hits dealing 6 points of
damage plus 1 point of sneak attack damage.
We
are in initiative rounds. Casimir is the
only one in the doorway at the moment
Initiatives
are:
Derro 26
Casimir 21
Anya’drea 19
Bec 17
Bowen 15
Mischa 12
Newt
4
Please
send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat.
It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think
of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to economy,
taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
Casimir will be aggressive until his comrades
get into the room, then he will shift into normal mode. During his round
Casimir will try to move to get between the captive and that creature...
Bowen will fight in melee aggressively. Should any other enemies
appear within the room or from behind, Bowen will use an action point to rage
again. Likewise should anyone suffer a critical, or be disabled.
Bowen's feeling a little
tense underground.
Newt will be ranged as usual. If it doesn't look like he will
ever get a shot then he will attempt to free the person tied up and get her to
safety outside in the hall.
Bec, as soon as he becomes aware of the situation, will move into
the room and attack. He will engage in standard melee, moving to flank the
creature opposite Casimir but not willing to draw a
AoO to do so.
Seeing these newcomers I have a renewed strength of will and
attempt to free myself again, while calling for help.
“MGHMGHGMGH”
Realizing that they can’t
understand me because I’m gagged I try to wiggle over to the edge of the bed so
if they get me un-tied I’m closer to my Hammer.
Mischa will move in for standard melee, positioning herself as
close to the captive as possible in case she is needed to heal him. She will
command Scar to attack as well.
Round 1
The
creature hits Casimir with another bolt, dealing 6 points of damage, plus 3
points of sneak attack damage, clobbering the paladin. There must have been something on the bolt,
as well, for Casimir feels weakened (takes 1 point of strength damage).
Casimir
positions himself between the creature and its captive.
Anya’drea
lets loose a magic missile from the other room and uses an action point to keep
that spell slot available. Her jaw drops
as her usually unerring magic missile swerves at the last second and goes
around the creature, dissipating harmlessly!
Bec
takes a double move to get into melee.
Bowen
enters and attacks the creature, (20 rolled, 4 failed to confirm) dealing 5
points of damage to it.
Mischa
takes a double move to get into melee.
Scar
moves into the only remaining space from which the creature can be attacked
(flanking Mischa) and bites at it but misses (2 rolled).
Newt
has no shot so takes a double move to get to the captive.
Round
2
The
creature opens its mouth and blasts the nearby area with a tremendous cacophony. Everyone except Anya’drea takes 5 points of
sonic damage. Bec is stunned and drops his
greatsword. Casimir is clobbered
again. The bound captive is
clobbered. Scar is stunned. The creature then draws its small short
sword.
Casimir
attacks, (7 rolled) but the creature avoids the strike.
Anya’drea,
somewhat at a loss, holds in the outer room.
Bowen
attacks again, (12 rolled) but his axe fails to penetrate the creature’s
natural armor.
Mischa
attacks with both claws
The creature ducks the first blow (9 rolled) but the second
connects (20 rolled, 9 failed to confirm) dealing 3 points of damage.
Newt
sets his crossbow on the bed and unbinds the captive.
The
captive then removes the gag from his mouth.
Round
3
The
creature glares at Bowen for a moment but seems concerned with all the weapons
coming at him. Nothing happens.
Casimir
attacks, (20 rolled, 19 to confirm) a critical hit! Casimir injures the crerature’s left ear and
stuns it. The creature drops it’s shortsword and repeating crossbow.
Anya’drea
continues to hold.
Bec
picks up his greatsword and attacks, (6 rolled) but his blade glances off the
creature’s buckler.
Bowen
presses the advantage, (13 rolled) dealing 8 pints of damage, clobbering and
disabling the creature.
Mischa
almost critically fumbles (1 rolled, 14 to recover), and her second claw hits
buckler (9 rolled).
Scar
bites the creature (14 rolled) for 7 points of damage, taking it down.
We
can now drop out of initiative.
Each
original PC earns 150XP and 1 point of honor (except Newt, who earns 2 points
because he has not yet submitted level info and is fighting at 1st.)
Over
the weekend I will have to auto-level Newt as a rogue unless another choice is taken.
"Yahtzee.", Casimir whispers to himself. Not seeing
any other danger, he sets himself next to the captive on the bed.
"What may we call
you, unfortunate captive? I go by Casimir, even when I am not being used as a
common pincushion.", Casimir grimly smirks while
he asseses the crossbow damage.
"Poison, I suspect!
Cowards!", he exclaims, pulling out the
treacherous bolt.
Newt grabs his crossbow and makes sure that the creature is down
and will not be giving us any surprises. i.e. (binding and
covering his ugly mug with a cut up sheet from the bed where the captive was
held.) Newt is fascinated by the repeating crossbow and possibly the
short sword. “I would be careful while handling any of his equipment. I think I
will be taking his weapon and ammo! I should spend some time looking this over
so I will be more effective in any future skirmishes.” Newt carefully rifles
through the down creatures body looking for any and all items to sort out away
from the creature. Newt will look at the newly released prisoner and make sure
that he is physically ok. “You ok? How did you come to be caught by this
creature? Does it speak a language you understand? Tell us everything you know!”
Newt
relieves the creature it of its small short sword and small repeating
crossbow. Newt also takes the small
buckler with gold and silver runes inlaid on its inner and outer facing. This last was the only item of masterwork
quality. In the creature’s pockets Newt
fins a large diamond and 30 gold pieces.
Newt leaves the creature’s black studded leather armor and black cloak
on it.
“MGH MGH MGH” As he shakes his head because they expect a
coherent answer from a gagged man.
“You are unbound and have removed the gag. Now spill the beans! “
Newt looks expectantly at
the previous captive. Hard eyes from such a small guy.
It is almost as if he has honed his skills at information gathering and is
prepared to weigh each word as it comes out of his mouth.
Feeling my wrists and wincing at the slight rope burns my
struggle against the woven prison gave me I look over the party with awe and
amazement, and a little frightened because that wolf looks hungry
“My Thanks adventurers, my name is Camthalion, I wanted to train to be a Cleric
and I was on my way to learn from a monastery up north when my caravan was
ambushed. I tried to fight but they overwhelmed us. The last thing I remember
is that awful looking dwarf coming around the corner of the caravan, when I woke
up I was bound and gagged with that most dreadful tasting rag. I had tried to
free myself. But his rope work was far too good. I thought my self a goner till
your band arrived. I thank the gods that watch over me. This must be a sign
from above that I am to fight at your sides and help complete what ever quests
befall you and share in what ever fate you have. I have only learned a little
in the arts of a cleric and my abilities are limited, but I have a trusty
hammer that bruised many kobolds before I was taken and with your help and
guidance I feel that you will help me grow and along with your party to become
mighty indeed.”
"I think I speak for the group when I say that you are more
than welcome to accompany us as far as the next town. We are a tight-knit
platoon, though we are always in need of healing aid," Casimir glances
down at his many wounds. "Acquit yourself well in the coming hours, show
us your worth and we will seriously consider keeping you on for a longer time.
That said, let's look about this room and find what can be found. What
information did you you garner while a captive of that brute? Tell us what may
be known!"
Bec looks at his blade which had slipped out of grasp.
"This weakness is
making this whole business much more difficult than it should be. Damn that
spider."
Bec extends his hand to
shake with Carnthalion,
"Hello. It's a
pleasure to meet you. Name's Bec. Welcome to our
little band."
Bowen holds eye contact with the newcomer.
"Glad we could reach
you before you became... dinner. I'm Bowen. The short one is Newt and these two
are Mischa and Anya'drea," he indicates the druid and arcane casters,
respectively. "You are welcome to travel with us. Might
be the smart thing to do. You'll have trouble guiding a raft upstream
all by yourself, and likely a few creatures have filled in behind us..."
Bowen smiles helplessly
and hands the man the nearby hammer.
Casimir
takes an additional 4 points of strength damage from secondary effects of the
poison in his system.
Once Casimir and Bec start to extend welcome to the newcomer,
Newt will Hmphh silently to himself and go back to
studying the repeating crossbow. “I will reload this and if no one minds
perhaps use/study his masterwork shield. Anya’drea, I have been watching you
closely and making notes as to how you use your magic. Perhaps when we stop to
rest we can compare notes and study some of the arcane writings we both like to
look at.”
Anya’drea
smiles at Newt. “Now I understand why I
couldn’t make out what you were talking about when you would mutter about
magic. I’m afraid we are on different
arcane paths my friend. I use my magic
naturally, and don’t have much use for books and scrolls. But I have something for you.” The sorceress reaches into her backpack. “I took this from that evil wizard we
vanquished. It was his spellbook. Perhaps you can make use of it?”
After composing himself and reequipping, I look over the party
to see how everyone is doing in the injury category.
Party
status:
Anya’drea
has no wounds and 9 out of 14 reserve points left.
Mischa
has 6 points of damage out of 15 hit points, and no reserves left. Mischa also has 1 point of CON damage.
Scar
has 8 points of damage out of 13 hit points.
Newt
has 5 points of damage out of 11 hit points, and 7 out of 11 points of reserves
left. If Newt were to rest for 5 minutes
he would have no damage and be left with 2 out of 11 points of reserves.
Bowen
has 5 points of damage out of 29 hit points and 4 points of reserves left. If Bowen were to rest for 4 minutes he would
have1 point of damage and be left with no reserves.
Camthalion
has 5 poijnts of damage out of 10 hit points and 10 points of reserves
left. If Camthalion were to rest for 5
minutes, he would have no damage and be left with 5 out of 10 points of reserves.
Casimir
has 23 points of damage out of 26 hit points and no reserves left. Casimir also has 1 point of strength damage.
Bec
has 10 points of damage out of 28 hit points and no reserves left. Bec also has 8 points of strength damage.
Great! More reading I have to do each day Newt will take the proffered
book. “Well regardless of our differences of magic use I still believe that you
are the closest person I can confer with on this subject and you have seen more
than me. Though you have been quiet lately.” Newt will
pack up the rest of the items to divvy up later. “So what is the plan from
here?”
Looking over the party I see that Casimir is the worse off.
“Holy Grim ripper Casimir,
You have seen better days, I have heard of a spell that I could use to give you
back your strength, but I do not know that one yet, however, let me see if
there is something I can do for your wounds.”
I will swap out bane and
shield of faith for two cure lights and cast it on Casimir.
Camthalion
heals Casimir for 15 points.
(retroactive post with DM approval
Mischa will do a heal check on Casimir to aid him in avoiding the secondary
effects of the poison result 18. Mischa prevents the last 4 points of STR
damag, leaving Casimir with only 1 point of STR damage)
Mischa looks around the
room.
"Perhaps we should
use this room to make camp. It seems to be the most easily secured are we have
come too. I can tend to Bec's wounds and possibly help him recover some of his
STR, although it will take at least a full day for him to regain any of
it."
Casimir looks gratefully at Mischa and the newcomer. "I
appreciate your gracious help. I didn't realize how grim my injuries had
become! I agree with your take on this one, Mischa, about setting camp. But how
can we stop? Won't every touched creature in this gods-forsaken place be
looking to end that which we hold so precious? Our very
lives? I wish we knew more..", Casimir
looks dejectedly down at the ground. "Good Cleric, had you heard anything
of import from your captor?"
“Unfortunately no, I woke up to an awful smell, All I could make
out was the dwarf singing to himself, although I couldn’t understand it, my
guess is that is was a cooking song, because he kept looking at me and licking
his lips, then he herd the commotion outside and went about preparing himself
for that. Sorry”
As he slumps and looks at
the floor, feeling as though he has failed his first mission for the party
"No matter. The good thing is that you are safe. We
may yet return you home should you wish to return."
Casimir begins to detect
evil in the room, just in case.
“Thank you, but that decision will be
left to another day, until then, I have had the most rest, being I was
unconscious for some time, so if we do want to take some rest here I will take
the first watch.”
Camthalion will look
around the room for anything he might be able to put up again the doorway to
make a make shift door.
One
of the beds can be pushed up against the opening.
After detecting evil about the room, Casimir looks to the group,
"So what is the decision we have come to? Hunker down here, or press on.
Both arguments have pros and cons, but we need to make a decision...Remember
though, we are no closer to finding out the cause of the metamorphoses about
this mountain..."
“I know I have just recently joined your party, but everyone
looks like they could use a little time to rest. If we do decide to rest, I
suggest we use this bed as a makeshift door and tip it on its end. It will give
us more time to prepare if some one tries to enter.”
"Good idea, Camthalion. Are we agreed that resting is the
course of action we want to take? If so, I will take the third watch again.", Casimir says looking to the others for their
decisions.
Bec looks around and nods.
"I'm all for stopping
and taking it easy. It's still pretty early, I think. Let's see what we have to
eat."
"I must say we rest, Bec is in no condition to continue on,
and you were almost in no better shape yourself. If I am able to tend to him
for an entire day I should be able to restore a small amount of his strength.
Scar can also stand guard for a bit. Now Bec you need to lay down in bed this
instant if you are to benefit from my care. You may eat you may speak, but
nothing else, bed rest is what I order."
Mischa directs Bec to the
bed not tipped on it side and sit him down on it. She pulls her kits from her
bag and sits herself down on the floor next to the bed and begins tending to
Bec's wounds.
The
time will pass uneventfully. I will need spell choices from Camthalion, Mischa and Newt for
the next day.
After
the rest,
Anya’drea
has no wounds and 12 out of 14 reserve points left.
Mischa has no wounds, and
no reserves left. Mischa also has no CON damage.
Scar has 6 points of
damage out of 13 hit points.
Newt has no wounds, and 7
out of 11 reserve points left.
Bowen has no wounds, and 2
out of 29 reserve points left.
Camthalion
has no wounds, and 6 out of 10 reserve points left.
Casimir has 2 points of
damage out of 26 hit points and no reserves left. Casimir has no strength
damage remaining
Bec has no wounds, and 2
out of 28 reserve points left.. Bec still
has 6 points of strength damage.
“What
kinds of trouble have you guys run in to, what kind of spells should I prepare
to best help you guys out? I can switch exchange any of my spells to heal you
guys so don’t worry about my healing spells. “
Since it has been decided that we will be staying I have a few
questions that must be discovered. Newt goes over to the captive and checks for
breathing, nudging/kicking the dwarf awake. (is he dead?)
Before sleeping Newt will also detect magic on everything in the room with them
(item wise)
Newt will also cast
comprehend languages in the morning if the dwarf is alive: and try to get some
answers about what is going on here. Questions such as: "Who do you work
for? What is this place? What was he doing/going to do with Camthalion? Are
there others? How many? etc...
If the dwarf is dead:
There is no good with keeping a dead body in a makeshift "sleeping
chamber" maybe we can take it out and hide it in a crevice so he doesn't
smell up the place.
The
dwarf-like creature is, in fact, dead. Newt’s detect magic reveals nothing magical, other than
those small items individuals may already have on them that are known to be
magical.
"Camthalion, most of our travails of late have involved
varying degrees of seemingly insane indigenous creatures of this mountain. The
small hairy creatures that reside in this mountain,
have began to metamorphosize, or change intrinsically in some way. I believe
that we have seen them in various stages of change, going from small, hairy
monsters to seemingly having the mange, to outright bug-eyed, crazed insanity.
As for spells, at some point we need some answers. We need to capture someone
with knowledge of the inner workings here. If we do that, we will need some way
to communicate. Also, we have struggled with a lot of fighting to get to where
we are, so any assistance you can give us, a blessing from your higher power
would be much appreciated. Anything that you can cast that will help defend us
or reverse the effects of venom/poison, would be very
helpful as well. Otherwise, do what you think is best. So tell us a little of
yourself, so that we may know each other better...",
Casimir talks while helping Newt remove the body of the dead dwarf-like
creature.
Mischa speaks little during the night and day,
she seems ill at ease so far from her woods. She sits with Scar by her side,
singing quietly in elven as she tends to Bec's wounds.
Mischa will prepare the
following Spells:
Adept 0- Level: 1 Read Magic, 2 Touch of Fatique
Adept 1- Level: 1 Comprehend Languages, 1 Sleep
Druid 0- Level: 2 Detect Magic, 1 Detect Poison, 1 Mending
Druid 1- Level: 1 Cure Light Wounds, 1 Healthful Rest, 1 Magic Fang
Bec lays down and goes to sleep despite the
early hour. He only rises to eat a bit of food, then
lays back down. Eventually he grows bored of laying
around but he follows the bedrest orders despite this.
Bowen spends his time quietly, striking up no conversation and
rarely joining in. Much of his time is spend sitting propped against on wall or
another, eyes closed and with his axe across his lap.
Camthalion will spend the time he is not on watch studying the
same spells he had the previous day. Since he is the newest member he will just
sit and listen to the stores and conversations, only breaking in when he is
asked a question. He admires the camaraderie that is exhibited with in the
group, even the brooding one with the axe, although he is away from the group
and sitting by himself they still include him in the
conversations.
What
is your plan after resting?
“Is there a map we can look or a general plan of action we
have?”
There
is no map, but there is a tunnel that goes further on that has not yet been
investigated, along with other parts of the underground lake that have not yet
been seen.
"Assuming that this was some sort of living quarters,
especially for this higher-up, I would think there is some sort of bounty he
has, right? I think we should search for secret compartments and spaces about
this place....", Casimir notes, starting to think
more and more like Newt everyday.
((I do have that effect on people Casimir))
Assuming I have time after
studying my spells for the day and scanning the room for secret compartments.
Newt will cast Read Magic on the wizard's book that was given to him to see if
anything can be gleaned from it for future use.
“We don't really have a
map of this place that we have discovered. We just tend to be directed by need
and instinct. I for one do not wish to stay in this place longer than necessary
but I wouldn't want to move out before everyone is able to be at their best. I
feel we are just starting to move through phases of corruption and I for one
would be asking any deity you worship for protection. Newt takes out one of the
medallions we have been collecting and tosses it to the newcomer. Does this
mean anything to you?”
No
secret doors or other treasure were found in the chamber.
Skimming
through the spellbook Newt discovers that Suto Lore's spellbook has all
standard 0-level spells except evocation and necromancy; 1st-level = charm
person, detect undead, grease, mount, obscuring mist, mage armor, shield,
summon monster I, unseen servant; 2nd-level=darkvision, fog cloud, glitterdust,
levitate, locate object, pyrotechnics, rope trick, summon monster II;
3rd-level=gaseous form, hold person, magic circle against evil, magic circle
against good, summon monster III.
The
symbol Newt hands to Camthalion is a small gold pendant crudely shaped in the
form of a three-fingered hand. It means
nothing to the cleric.
Mischa will start the day be casting Cure Light Wounds on Scar
and use an action point to recall the spell.
"If we rest another
day Bec will be in far better shape, but if you wish to press on we could do
that as well."
Scar
is completely healed.
Can Camthalion make a knowledge religion check?
Yes. Camthalion still has no idea what the symbol
means (4 rolled).
“I say we press on, listing to your stories I fear the longer we
wait the worse ahead our road will become.”
"I agree. Let's press on down this hallway. Suit up and arm
yourselves. This could prove to be a bumpy ride!"
"Aye, the longer we sit around the more time these
creatures have to mount a defense against us. The longer this corruption has to
grab a hold of us as well. Let's be off."
Bec, though still weak from the poison, is bored out of his mind
from resting. When he hears the call to press on, he jumps up and starts
donning his mail.
"If I had to lay down
another minute, I swear I was going to lose my mind," he says, smiling.
Mischa shrugs, gives Scar a pat hehnd the ears and rises from
the ground to start gathering her gear.
"So be it."
“Let us be off as soon as everyone’s ready”
Assuming
you are continuing through the caverns and not going back out onto the lake,
you continue down the only passage you have not yet explored. You walk for a full three minutes.
Area
2-12: Winding Passage
This
narrow passage through the rock slopes sharply upward as it turns a corner to
the right. The rock here slowly changes
color to a deep black as the characters proceed along its length.
Just
as you round the corner you hear the tamp of small
feat from up ahead in the shadows.
Mischa and Newt can just make out, in the shadows some 80 feet ahead of
you, a line of kobolds in chain mail advancing on the party. The have large metal shields linked side by
side and are armed with small flails.
From
the darkness behind them, crossbow bolts whistle toward the party. A bolt is deflected by Bec’a armor. Mischa is hit for 2 points of damage. Another bolt is blocked by Bowen’s
armor. One hits Mischa’s armor. One bolt critically hits Mischa in her left
arm. The druid’s left elbow is
injured. She will take -6 to all
off-hand attacks and cannot use a shield. A final bolt misses Bec completely.
We
are in initiative rounds. Only Miscah
and Newt can see the enemy at the moment.
Initiatives
are:
Mischa
and Scar 23
Bowen 18
Kobold
crossbowmen 17
Newt 16
Anya’drea
11
Bec 11
Casimir 8
Camthalion 8
Kobold
footmen 7
Please
send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat.
It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think
of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to
economy, taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
(Bowen will rage and double move out into the darkness. He will
fight aggressively.
He seems to have finally
snapped under the looming pressure of darkness and stone.)
Casimir's initial response is to rush the group, but since he
can't see them, his instincts say, "Back up!"
"Let's retreat so
that we can get them on our terms!", cries
Casimir.
Should the kobolds close
before we can flee, Casimir will fight in the defensive fashion.
Mischa will fall back so the party can try to get in a more
advantageous position and casting as needed, avoiding melee if possible.
“I say we back around the corner so they can’t keep firing at
us. Then we can hold a better defensive position.”
If they close to fast I
will take a standard melee.
With a hoarse growl, Bowen recklessly charges out towards the
assailants and into the darkness, his axe held tightly in both hands.
“Bowen come back, we don’t know what awaits us.”
If Bowen does not come
back I will rush forward to help him. And when I get there I will partake in
regular melee.
Bec sees the wisdom in retreating backwards and fighting from a
position of strength but he will never leave a companion to die on his own. If
Bowen can persuaded to return, he will withdraw with everyone else. If Bowen
charges as planned, Bec will follow and engage in standard melee.
"Someone get a light
up ahead so we can have half a chance!"
Certainly, if Bowen charges, Casimir will go with him.
Otherwise, a strategic
retreat will be his lot.
Newt sensing that this situation is just going to get worse will
move within range of tossing his alchemist fire within the group of kobolds.
Hopefully causing enough light for the rest if the group to see and hopefully
enough of a distraction to stop the cross bow bolts (not to mention a little
damage at the same time). He then will pull out his new "tommy gun"
and start laying waste to the survivors using his expert ranged tactics.
Round 1
Mischa
is holding
Bowen
flies into a rage and double moves to the edge of the shadows (you cannot
charge what you cannot see).
You
all hear the sound of crossbows being re-loaded.
Newt
retrives an alchemist fire and makes a single move, but is still not close
enough o throw.
Anya’drea
flings her sunrod as far as she can.
Bec
is out of charge range so makes a double move.
Casimir
keeps pace with Bec.
Camthalion
makes a single move and draws his Warhammer.
The kobold
footmen advance on Bowen, their shields still linked. As they step into the light of Anya’drea’s
sunrod you see that their skin has been entirely replaced with dark
red scales, their fangs extend from their upper gums down below their jaws, and
sharp spines grow from their scalps. They
are foaming at the mouth and chanting in low droning voices. Each also wears a small gold pendant crudely
shaped in the form of a three-fingered hand.
The
two closest to Bowen attack, but the barbarian is able to avoid both blows.
Round 2
Mischa
continues to hold.
Bowen
attacks and hits nothing but shield (6 rolled).
A
hail of crossbow bolts peppers Bec and Casimir from out of the darkness.
Two bolts glance off the shields of kobold footmen. One bolt strikes Casimir’s armor. A third bolt strikes Casimir for 6 points of
damage. Bec is struck by 2 bolts for 5
and 4 points of damage, respectively.
Newt
takes s single move and throws his alchemist fire, (6 rolled), but the flask
only smashes on the right wall and splashes one of the kobolds for 1 point of
damage. Newt regains his grip on his
repeating crossbow.
Now
that she can see them, Anya’drea sends a magic missile into the kobold directly
in front of Bowen, doing 4 points of damage and clobbering the creature.
Bec
advances and attacks, but misses completely (6 rolled – I swear these are
different 6’s!)
Casimir
joins Bec’s side and misses as well (2 rolled).
Camtahlion
takes up the last melee space available and attacks, (13 rolled) his Warhammer
glancing off the kobold’s chainmail.
The
clobbered kobold’s flail hits Bowen’s armor.
The next creature completely misses Camtahlion. The next in line completely misses
Casimir. The last one strikes Bec’s
armor.
Round 3
Mischa
continues to hold.
Bowen
attacks and again hits nothing but shield (5 rolled).
Mischa
and Newt can see the crossbowmen finish re-loading their weapons.
Newt
fires at the crossbowman (his only valid targets) but misses completely (7
rolled). He cocks the level and re-loads
the repeating crossbow.
Anya’drea
sends another magic missile into the kobold fighting Bowen, dealing 2 points of
damage and disabling it.
Bec
takes down his kobold (19 rolled to hit, 17 failed to confirm critical),
dealing 9 points of damage. The creature
drops.
As
soon as this happens another kobold from the rear ranks takes the fallen
creature’s place and attacks Bec, hitting him for 3 points of damage.
Casimir’s
blow is deflected by chainmail (13 rolled.)
Camthalion
takes his kobold down (19 rolled) dealing 7 points of damage.
Once
more, as soon as that happens, the last kobold from the rear fills the rank and
attacks the cleric, but misses.
The
disabled kobold does nothing but keep his shield locked with his companions.
Casimir’s
enemy completely misses him.
Please
send me a message of your general intent for the next three rounds of combat.
It should be as inclusive as possible to cover any possibility you can think
of.
Also
specify your character's combat mode for that three-round
period:
* Conservative melee: The
character closes for melee combat but does so cautiously, ensuring he does not
expose himself to unnecessary risks. He will quickly retreat if things seem too
dangerous.
* Standard melee: The
character engages in melee, not taking any excessive risks, but not in a
particularly cautious manner either.
* Aggressive melee: The
character rushes into battle, attacking regardless of risk to personal injury.
* Defensive. The character
avoids melee combat completely, retaliating only when attacked.
* Ranged: The character
relies on ranged weapons and stays out of melee, if possible.
* Magic Defensive: The
character casts spells only to protect himself in an
emergency.
* Magic standard: The
character casts spells as and when the situation dictates but with regards to economy,
taking care not to use up all his spells.
* Magic aggressive: The
character uses magic liberally, regardless of economy.
(If there are no attackers on my right or left I will move up to
the shooters, but staying with the group I will not advance till there is at
least on other that advances, when I get there, regular melee)
What foul demons are these, the very sight of them makes me
shake at the very depths of my soul. What or who ever has done this will pay
dearly.
Mischa will move forward far enough to cast Sleep and will use
an action point to recall the spell.
She will try to hit as
many of the kobolds as possible but will not risk hitting party members.
Lost in his fury, Bowen fails to acknowledge the approach of his
companions. He continues to hack away at the obstacles in front of him,
oblivious to the fact that they are attacking back.
(Bowen will continue fighting aggressively. He will use an
action point on his next attack, frustrated by the determination of the kobolds
to remain living. He will continue fighting while there are enemies within his
reach, but once they are dealt with he will double move into the darkness
again, to wards the source of the crossbow bolts. Should two or more of the
others fall, Bowen will come to his senses and try his best to help them
escape, keeping himself between them and the kobolds.)
(Casimir will fight aggressively with the combatants in front of
him. Should he feel that he is sufficiently weakened (less than 6 hp), he will
withdraw from battle. If the foes in front of him are
vanquished, and he is only moderately injured, he will lead the men on to the
other end of the hallway. Should that prove too much, he will heal himself for whatever
he can and step into battle. Should spellcasters show themselves, he will try
to get to them first, if possible. The goal will be to
make the crossbowmen drop the ranged weapons and fight like civilized beings.
Should a member of the crew drop, Casimir will try to lay on hands for what
ever he can.)
Newt will begin "rapid firing". spending
action points to get 2 shots off per round till his ammo runs out. Then he will
begin casting magic missile (making sure to keep one slot available for later
use)
Bec will continue with his standard melee attacks but will spend an
action point each round to take another attack until: A) Any enemies within a
5' step are dead. B) Bec is down to 1 action point. C) Bec is unconscious/dead.
If by some miracle, the
melee combatants are defeated in the next 3 rounds, Bec will try to retreat back
to the turn of the corridor. If Bowen presses the attack towards the
crossbowmen, however, Bec will follow him into fight.
Round 4
Mischa
removes some sand from her spell component pouch, makes a gesture and speaks
some strange words. The humans see no
effect from her efforts, but can hear the sound of armored bodies hitting the
cavern floor, followed by snoring.
Bowen
attacks (7 rolled, 5 rolled for action point use), dealing 11 points of damage
and instantly killing the disabled kobold.
A
bolt comes from the darkness and glances off of the barbarian’s shield.
A
second bolt deals 7 points of damage to Bowen.
A
third bolt glances off the back of a footman’s shield.
Newt
must hold as he has no shot at the moment.
Anya’drea
makes a single move and sends another magic missile into a kobold footman for 2
points of damage.
Bec
attacks, (17 rolled) hitting the kobold’s chainmail. The fighter feels he would have hit kobold
flesh if it hadn’t been for the hampered fighting conditions these caverns have
on 2-handed weapons.
Bec
attacks again, but misses completely (4 rolled).
A
kobold attacks Bec, completely missing.
Casimir’s
attack (8 rolled) glances off the kobold’s shield.
Camthalion
attacks, and misses (2 rolled).
The
kobold retaliates but his light flail strikes Camthalion’s shield.
The
last kobold critically hits Casimir for 7 points of damage.
Round 5
Mischa
repeats her spell, and more bodies can be heard to fall.
Bowen
steps forward and attacks, (19 rolled) dropping a kobold for 7 points of damage.
Newt
continues holding.
Anya’drea
hits a footman with another magic missile for 5 points of damage, clobbering
him.
Bec’s
first attack strikes chainmail (16 rolled) and his second (19 rolled) finds a
chink but fails to penetrate the kobold’s natural armor.
The
kobold attacks Bec, hitting for 4 points of damage.
Casimir’s
attack hits chainmail (11 rolled.)
Camtahlion’s
attack (12 rolled) also strikes chainmail.
A
kobold’s flail glances off Casimir’s armor.
Round 6
Mischa
suggest she and Newt move forward and finish the sleeping kobolds. Mischa then makes a double move, Scar
following.
Newt
makes a double move.
Bowen
steps to a flanking position with Bec, attacks (16 rolled) and takes the kobold
down dealing 12 points of damage, killing it.
Anya
makes a double move.
Bec’s
first blow hits chainmail (14 rolled) and his second (16 rolled) does as well.
The now-panicky kobold attacks Bec, but hits only
armor.
Casimir
disables the last footman (17 rolled) by dealing 6 points of damage to it.
Camthalion
moves to a flanking position, but misses completely (2 rolled).
Round 7
Mischa
makes a double move, and now in the shadows the humans can see 6 kobold archers
slumped to the ground.
Newt
makes a double move.
Bowen
steps over and attacks the last footman, (7 rolled) but strikes only
chainmail). Bowen is now fatigued.
Anya’drea
steps back and picks up her sunrod.
Bec
attacks (14 rolled) and hits only chainmail.
Given the condition of the kobold, the number of attackers and Bec’s
difficulty hitting the creature, he does not expend another action point (DM’s
prerogative.)
The
last kobold lunges at Bec, who evades the blow.
The kobold drops to the ground.
We
can now drop out of initiative, as there are no more combative kobolds.
Each
PC earns 120 XP.
Bec breathes heavy, tired from the unusual effort he made in his
attacks. He winces from his fresh wounds. He looks over at Bowen with a weary
grin.
"Man, you must be
crazy. Charging in like that. We're lucky to be alive."
Despite his criticism, his
smile grows as he speaks.
"These things are
endless, aren't they?"
"Bowen, I applaud your brave efforts. What some call
fool-hearty, others call heroic.", Casimir clasps
him on the shoulder. "Just a little more warning next
time, ok?"
"let's
investigate the bodies, to see if they contain more clues. It seems that we are
getting closer to the abomination, as the mutations are getting more
pronounced. While Newt checks the bodies, let's have the others fan out, just
in case..."
Casimir will lay on hands,
if he is able (on himself, that is).
Casimir
heals himself for 4 points.
Bowen stares down at each of the bodies for a moment, lost in
his own world. Finally he seems to notice the others.
"I... I just don't
know. I am sorry, but something just took over when I heard the footsteps and
the bolts. I don't like endangering any of you, but I don't know if it will
happen again. In this... I feel powerless. The deeper
we go the heavier these walls seem to press in on me."
“HUH HUH HUH, It is ok, I can understand how being down here is
so tuff, I am sure that if it were not for your timely rescue I am sure I would
have lost my mind, and not just to the hungry.Although it is nice to know that
this is a possibility again and won’t be exactly a surprise next time it
happens. Also my friend, do not fear fighting alone, you will never fight
alone.”
Newt
finds 6 small heavy crossbows, 102 small crossbow bolts, 12 small light flails,
12 small suits of chain mail, 6 small heavy metal shields and 12 of the
3-fingered gold pendants.
Following
is the status of the party:
Mischa
has 2 points of damage out of 15 hp.
Bowen
has 6 points of damage out of 29 hp.
Bowen also has 1 reserve point.
Bec
has 15 points of damage out of 28 hp.
Bowen also has 1 reserve point.
Casimir
has 11 points of damage out of 26 hp.
Bec helps with the bodies, stripping each of weapon and armor. He
takes the goods and piles them at the side of the corridor.
"There is a lot of
stuff here. Not one piece all that valuable, but added
together...we should be able to get some coin for 'em."
Bec groans a little as he
lifts the pile of mail armor.
"I hope my strength
returns and soon. I never knew how hard it was to be like the rest of
you," he says with a grin.
"Though we are weakened, I think we should press on. As
these attacks get more severe, the mutations seem to be getting worse. I would
guess that the source cannot be far off!"
"I think we should
have someone scout ahead, so as not to be surprised yet again. Someone with
stealth on their side, someone who can see in this infernal dark", he
smiles at Newt, "Any volunteers?"
"I will go with Newt, so that he does not find himself
alone facing these creatures. Scar and I will give him whatever aid we
can."
Camthelion will switch out a bless for a cure and give it to Bec
“Here you go friend, you need this more then anyone, and with you and scar
going with Newt that kind of defeats the purpose of him sneaking ahead
to scout, we will be close by, he wont be alone for long, just 10-15 ft up”
Camthalion heals Bec for 4 points.
Mischa
and Newt scout up ahead of the group.
You proceed slowly for almost 3 minutes up through the natural
hallway. Now the tunnels change from
unfinished, natural stone to a finely crafted series of chambers built from
black rock.
Shadows
cast along the walls seem to move of their own accord, as if your light sources
have shifted position even when they haven’t.
The shadows bunch around the members of your party, covering them in
darkness. You believe you could use
these shadows to hide more effectively.
Just let me know if you’d like to.
Before setting off Newt reloads his repeating crossbow (how many
clips do I have?) and takes some extra ammo (20 bolts or so) from the plethora
laying about...
Newt's tension almost
visibly dissipates as he finds his home in the shadows (he will meld with the
shadows). He also pauses when we get to the new structures of walls. (Are these
natural mixed with magical or purely magical structures? Newt is relying on his
native knowledge of rocks and formations*) Newt keeps his eyes peeled and
listens intently in all directions. He will also feel the walls and floor
looking for vibrations of any kind. H