Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+12=27 ; d20+12=26 ; d20+12=13 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 4:11:12 AM
Stohp's trip back to the land of the aware proves very brief for she falls asleep (27 will) and potentially falls victim to the illusion again (will 26 and 13)
Stock (JonM) HP: 312/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 7/44 used d20+18=31 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 9:39:28 AM ”Klink! I…don’t entirely understand but I do appreciate a little impromptu mining. I’ll have it down in an instant.”
——— Move action- stow flail While moving toward the “wall” Stock will draw his axe Will save 31 vs dc 29
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+19=39 ; 17d6=54 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 4:46:13 PM
Bartomus took his shot. He let loose another sunbeam at the line of giant skeletons that stood between him and the weirdness that was occurring.
Will save = 39; sunbeam 54 pts damage reflex save of 21 prevents blindness and reduces damage by half.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 212/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+25=37 ; d20+25=42 ; d20+29=42 ; d20+20=29 ; d20+15=34 ; d20+19=33 ; d20+10=22 ; d8+22=24 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=1 ; 2d8+44=54 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=6 ; d8+22=26 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; 2d8+44=48 ; d6=4 ; d6=2 ; d6=1 ; d20+28=32 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 5:19:30 PM
Zanderallen yells back at the rest of the Shields, "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING BACK THERE!? KILL THE FUNGUS!" He then continues madly hacking at the wall of skeletons in front of him, desperately trying to fight his way through. His eyes lock on the fungus just out of his reach and everything else starts to lose focus in his mind. His grip starts to loosen before he pulls himself back from the brink. ================ Divine Bond - Holy and Speed to Longsword - 165 rounds remaining
Damage taken: 6 Will Save: 32 +4(after roll hero point) 36: passes (Last hero point used)
5 ft step to AL24
Full attack F13 into F14 37 to hit - 37 damage (24 weapon, 6 fire, 7 holy) 42 crit threat, 42 to confirm - 69 damage (54 weapon, 6 fire, 9 holy) 29 to hit - 36 damage (26 weapon, 1 fire, 9 holy) 34 crit threat, 33 to confirm - 53 damage (48 weapon, 4 fire, 3 holy) 22 misses
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+19=28 ; d20+19=27 ; d20+28=47 ; d20+28=31 ; d20+28=38 ; d20+23=32 ; d20+18=33 ; d20+13=23 ; d8+23=24 ; d8+23=27 ; d8+23=26 ; d8+23=29 ; d8+23=28 ; d8+23=24 ; 2d8+46=49 ; Tuesday April 9th, 2024 8:32:45 PM
Delia dodges back from the giant in her face, yelling back at Zander, "There's a lot of skeletons IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED and I was TRYING to get you a dwarf." She will fire at the skeletons in front of Z, letting the frost crackle harmlessly over their bones.
She puts a hand against the wall, shaking her head as her brain starts to fuzz out. =========== Will save 28 Will save 27 =========== 5 ft step to P26, full round attack at targets F13-16-17 potential crit 47, 31 to confirm | 73 & 27 damage (first shot 24 non-crit) 38 to hit | 26 damage 32 to hit | 29 damage 33 to hit | 28 damage 23 to hit | 24 damage
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday April 10th, 2024 5:09:22 AM
Stohp regrets all the things. Especially failing her saves, but all the other things to.
Armalad and Joker race against time to Teleport themselves and Stohp to the Float with the Crown, and succeed in doing so just as a final ‘Chonk’ from Stock’s axe causes a dwarf-sized section of the Wall of Stone to fall towards Armalad and the rest.
Instantly, Armalad, Joker, and Stohp appear inside the Guild of the Star Mages’ leadership chamber, with the heads of the Guild assembled around the star-shaped meeting table!
Upon seeing the partial group of Shields and the unique and astounding Crown, the Guild Leader says, “Armalad! Most amazing! You’ve found Largon’s Dragon Crown! We’ll defeat Karkasan for sure now!”
With that, the Guild leadership all stands, chanting, “Three cheers for Armalad! Three cheers for Armalad! Three Rests for Armalad! Rest… Rest… Rest… you’ve won![/b]”
The Guild Leader shouts, “All in favor of making Armalad Guild Leader, say Aye!”
All shout in response, “Aye! … Rest… you have won… all of your goals are accomplished…”
A Taur member of Guild leadership turns to Stohp and says, “Rest… great Shield, you can finally open your carpentry shop. Your days of battling threats are over! Rest…”
Stohp, yes, you are here again.
1) Also, the failed save means you are asleep for 4 days, but you can be woken up as per what works for a 1st level Sleep spell: “Slapping or wounding a sleeping creature awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action).” 2) When thrown into the ‘illusion’ in this way, Stohp now has a -5 to her DC 29 Will Save to realize that she’s in the ‘illusion’.
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Stock, Bartomus, Zanderallen, Delia Highlight to display spoiler: {
Armalad and Joker advance five feet, continuing to drool.
Stohp falls asleep where she stood, snoring loudly, apparently caused by the skeleton’s strike on her.
Stock walked forward five feet, then shook his head as though in a daydream and found himself back at the cavern entrance, the Shields blasting apart several more skeletons before him!
Bartomus emits a Sunbeam above the jaywalking Armalad and Joker, which blasts apart the damaged (F7) and greatly blackens (F4) and (F2).
Zanderallen summons a heroic effort and continues battling, yelling at the Shields to prioritize killing the Fungus. He steps into the thick of it, and swings mightily at (F13), shattering it on the first strike, then continuing the swing into (F14), knocking out ribs on the way in and disassembling its spine on the way back with the third strike! Zanderallen aims his final blows on (F15), one damaging it severely.
Delia steps back five feet, refusing to be fascinated by a Colossal Purple Fungus at her vision’s limit, and launches more arrows to clear Zanderallen’s path of skeletons. Her multi-shot hits a couple of weak points in (F16) which promptly collapses into a heap! Delia’s next three arrows likewise take apart (F17) and her last arrow misses the Fungus.
Her last shot fired, Delia suddenly begins drooling.
Somehow instantly aware that Stock is not drooling, F3 and F6 take advantage of their flank and Stock’s confusion to claw desperately at him, hit, crit with confirm, and two misses (hits are for 7 and 15, respectively for DR purposes, total 22; Stock is still immune to the saves for skeleton melee damage.)
F2 moves a bit, pulling a rock out of its ribcage along the way which then glows with fire, and hurls it at Stock, the poorly-aimed rock hitting Stock on a lucky shot! (OOC – natural 20, confirming the crit on a second natural 20, as the nigh-molten rock burns Stock for 26 blunt and 2 fire damage, sum of 28!)
The damaged F4 squeezes a bit, but makes it in behind Stock (OOC – Stock, take an AoO!), and if it survives, it claws at Stock once, scraping along but bouncing off Stock’s armor!
F18 moves in front of the Fungus as though defending it, and then pulls a rock from its ribcage, hurling the fiery meteor with great force at Zanderallen, but too high, missing widely.
F11 continues to panic in the corner (round 3 of 10).
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. If you save vs the first (DC 36), there is no need to roll a second time. If you fail the first, roll a second (DC 29)
Zanderallen gains +4 morale bonus from his aura. All PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
At the moment, of the Shields, only Bartomus, Stock, and Zanderallen are not drooling.
}
Delia Highlight to display spoiler: {
Delia trivially shatters the remaining skeletal opposition at one arrow per skeleton, and then the traitorous Armalad throws up a Wall of Stone blocking the other Shields from herself, Joker, and Stohp, who has Largon’s Dragon Crown in hand!
Famous dwarven hero (from the art and reliefs in Clan Mountainheart throneroom) Klink Barrelchest arrives and orders Stock to “use your Adamantine Dwarven Waraxe to chop down the Wall of Stone so we can pry Largon’s Dragon Crown from the traitorous Elven witch Armalad!” With a sinister smile and outrageously bushy eyebrows and Colossal twirling mustache, Stock agrees and begins chopping a dwarf-sized hole in the Wall of Stone, an outline of stone soon falling forward, but the witch Armalad, her fiendish Joker, and Stohp all Teleport out!
Klink says, “No problem Shields, we’ll get that wascally witch Armalad next time! Now, I know you’re all exhausted, so it’s definitely time to sit down and Rest…”
Delia briefly wonders how Klink arrived and how he knows so much about the Shields and their mission, but it’s all so complicated… and she should really just Relax…
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+17=34 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 10:57:55 AM
Delia looks at the situation around her, terribly confused. How did Armalad get over there? And with the crown? Since when did Stock have a mustache like that? Where was Zander? Wait. She can't hear Hawky. She looks around, worried. Where is he? He was just there... she could almost... hear him. His calls bring her back to herself. To reality. She half-startles at the skeleton suddenly looming over her, but peers through his bones to survey the battlefield and pick her next targets.
======= Will: 34
Stock (JonM) HP: 276/316; AC: 29/27/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 8/44 used d20+23=25 ; d10+31=32 ; d20+23=31 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+13=27 ; d20+13=33 ; d20+12=20 ; d10+31=36 ; d10+31=40 ; d10+31=35 ; d10+31=34 ; d20+18=24 ; d20+18=19 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 5:48:47 PM
Stock is getting pummeled again but is able to ignore most of the pain. Finding himself with his axe in hand, he starts swinging it wildly at the skeletons around him.
========= Raging Stock has resist fire 20 so ignores that part of the damage AOO hits AC 25, 32 slashing damage Target order F4-F3-F6 PA1 hits AC 31, 36 slashing PA2 hits AC 27, 40 damage PA3 hits AC27, 35 damage PA4 hits AC28 with Nat 20(should have been +8 to hit), critical threat probably does not confirm vs AC 20, 34 damage Will save 1 24 Will save 2 19…ugh bring on the drool
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 212/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+27=45 ; d20+31=33 ; d8+22=30 ; d6=6 ; d8+22=28 ; d6=1 ; d6=2 ; d20+28=34 ; d20+28=33 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 6:02:11 PM
Bone fragments raining down around him Zanderallen spots his opening. Ignoring the skeleton behind him and the one blocking his path he charges forward with only one target in mind. He calls down Domi's wrath upon the fungus, leaving Domi to sort out whether the creature was hungry or some malevolent force. Either way his blade strikes true. But then his mind betrays him as he finally succumbs to the fungal song. ================ Divine Bond - Holy and Speed to Longsword - 164 rounds remaining
Smite Evil declared against Fungus
Charge to AS23 (this will provoke from F15 and F18 at AC32)
Attack on Fungus (since Holy and Smite only trigger on Evil I'll post separately for this attack) Not Evil 45 crit threat, 33 to confirm - Normal Damage 36 (30 weapon, 6 fire) Critical Damage 64 (58 weapon, 6 fire)
Armalad (Hannah subbing) d20+10=28 ; d20+8=9 ; Thursday April 11th, 2024 10:15:30 PM
Armalad breathes a sigh of relief at their close escape - those dwarves had gone crazy! She smiles at the praises of her guild, graciously accepting their instant promotion.
Joker hovers just behind her, "Glad someone else sees that you're the best, boss!"
================ Armalad Will: 28 Joker Will: 9
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+8=12 ; Friday April 12th, 2024 3:40:49 AM
At this point Stohp is well aware that this is all some sort of illusion or mental trap, but that helps her not at all as she finds herself again in the dream space playing along even as the rational parts of her mind rage in a prison in the back of her mind (will 12)
"Nah, if I'm going to retire I'm going to become a WLA administrator or something. Pushing paper for the rest of my life sounds great!" She accepts her rewards and accolades with dignity and respect looking forward to an eternity of bureaucratic excellence.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 17d6=50 ; d20+19=37 ; Friday April 12th, 2024 10:34:34 AM "Hating this cavern crap," he said aloud as he moved forward and came up behind Armalad and Joker. He reached over Armalad and let loose another beam of light at the giant skeleton off to his right and tried to make the emitting beam hit the creature further behind it.
Move to O22/23 and sunbeam against F3 and if the line is also seen the same by the GM - F2. 50 pts damage reflex save prevents blindness, as undead if they fail, I believe it kills them, otherwise reduces damage by 1/2. Will save - 37, no second one needed.
Armalad (Hannah subbing) Friday April 12th, 2024 11:50:29 PM
Armalad continues to accept the accolades of the Starmages.
Delia Friday April 12th, 2024 11:54:06 PM
Delia double checks that Stock's facial hair has returned to normal before drawing back her first shot.
Armalad graciously accepts the leadership of the Star Mages Guild, noting in the back of her mind that they should have made her Guild Leader years ago!
Merfolk arrive and report that Karkasan slipped in his own bathtub and died. The Float is safe forever! The Merfolk Princess finishes with, “You Shields can Rest now, especially you, powerful and mighty Armalad…”
The Float being saved, Stohp heads over to the WLA where Pip says, “So glad you’re here, WLA Office Leader Stohp! Look at that line of novice adventurers going out the door! I’ll stay on them if you’d be so kind as to ink-stamp this pile of requests as ‘received.’” The pile of requests is impossibly high, but Stohp’s work is routine and easy… even Restful…
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save; for Stohp that’s still at a -5 penalty.
}
Delia, Stock, Zanderallen, Bartomus Highlight to display spoiler: {
Delia ceases drooling.
Stock takes advantage of the mindless (F4) as it tries to maneuver into position, and swings at it in a slicing manner, forgetting that he never stopped holding his flail in the real world, still connecting and totally destroying F4! Next he begins his regular attack routine, his first strike and swingback second strike demolishing F3! Stock pivots quickly to (F6), his third and fourth strikes likewise making bone bits out of F6!
Pleased with himself, Stock agrees with the soothing mental voice that his work is done and he can Rest… and begins drooling.
(OOC – I adjusted Z’s endpoint to AS22; per charge rules, a straight line from any part of Z’s square to any part of the target square cannot intersect with an obstacle, including a foe.)
Zanderallen spares a fraction of a second to raise his sword to Delia in thanks and charges forth in the same motion, trusty sword already slicing at the Colossal Purple Fungus! His sword seems to be the key to easily harming the Fungus, facing none of the resistance that Delia’s arrows faced, effective though they were! The Fungus is hurt significantly by Zanderallen’s slice, but its uncanny healing factor restores some of the cut ‘cage bars’ before Zanderallen’s very eyes! Of note is that the glow of Domi’s power, visible when an Evil opponent is struck… does not appear. Whatever this foul Fungus is, it’s not Evil…
Zanderallen then becomes fascinated with the Fungus, but seeing it lit up by his shield and sword before his very eyes, shakes off the fascination, and then steels himself, throwing off its repeated mental commands to “Rest…”
Bartomus’s fine Tauric mind once more ignores the mental entreaties to “Rest…” as he moves forward , his main targets having vanished, achieving a clear line of sight between over the snoring Stohp and then emits another Sunbeam at (F2), blasting it out of existence despite it moving to the side and only being half-hit!
F15 and F18 smash at Zanderallen as he leaves their vicinity, missing! F18 is still in reach, and so tries to slam Zanderallen into the ground twice, still missing. F15 moves to just outside of its reach, pulling a rock out of its ribcage along the way, and hurling it at Zanderallen, missing wide!
The Colossal Purple Fungus, it turns out, has four tentacles and a fantastic reach, and takes the Opportunity to reach for the charging Zanderallen… and grabs him, (hit CMD 50!) pulling him in close (which is when Zanderallen slashes the Fungus) and then Constricting him (16 damage)!
There is no face or other part of the Fungus wherein a man like Zanderallen might try to read body language or facial expressions, there is only the flurry of action as it continues to hold Zanderallen in place (OOC - taking the -20 penalty for doing so, with a CMD roll of 29 that Zanderallen may try to beat on his turn, if he chooses to do so.), constricting him again (16 damage), and then its other three tentacles each slap at Zanderallen, one of them hitting (23 damage).
(OOC – per grapple rules, Zanderallen can continue using his one-handed weapon (longsword) to attack the Fungus, or to try to escape from the grapple.)
F11 continues to panic in the corner (round 3 of 10).
Go ahead and post a full round of actions. Also, make two more Will Saves. If you save vs the first (DC 36), there is no need to roll a second time. If you fail the first, roll a second (DC 29)
Zanderallen gains +4 morale bonus from his aura. All PCs gain +2 Aid Another bonus from the madly screaming hawk.
At the moment, of the Shields, only Bartomus, Delia, and Zanderallen are not drooling.
}
Stock Highlight to display spoiler: { So strange, one moment you were cutting a wall of stone with your axe, and then your flail in hand you were smashing giant skeletons, and now once more your axe is in hand, the traitorous Armalad and Stohp have escaped, and Klink says, “Yes, we’re all done here Stock. How about we sit down and I tell you about some of my adventures, help you get ready for sleep, so you can Rest…”
Please post PC actions and also make another DC 29 Will save.
}
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+19=33 ; d20+27=40 ; Sunday April 14th, 2024 11:17:53 PM
With the evaporation of the giant skeletons, Bartomus continued to hear something. Something trying to lure him to rest, but also something like battle, and in the distance Zander's shield seemed to be a glow. Bartomus ran as fast as he could straight ahead.
"Save the Zman, Shields, save the Z!"
Running - 30x3 = 90 to Ag 22/23; Bartomus is immune to the poison's affect past the green line. Failed first will save with a 33; Using a hero point before rolling the next one so 19+8= +27 --> 40. Also, 3/5 sunbeams used.
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20=4 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 6:13:55 AM
Stohp starts to do that whole sequence from Control with the endless office tasks and things getting more and more off but unlike the game she fails to question it and break free (will 11)
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used d20+18=28 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 10:41:42 AM "Klink - What is happening? It's like I'm in two places at once! I don't like it! I need to help the Shields...and I'm not even tired. How can I sleep?"
=== Raging at the start of the turn Will Save 28 vs DC29; Hero Point used to add 4 and pass the check, 1 point remaining! End Rage; tireless rage means he is not fatigued
Delia (Hannah) HP 124/124 AC: 29/21/23 d20+19=32 ; d20+19=25 ; d20+23=37 ; d20+23=36 ; d20+18=27 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+12=31 ; d20+12=31 ; d8+19=20 ; d8+19=20 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; d8+19=21 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d8+19=20 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; 3d8=15 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 11:53:32 AM
Delia zeroes in on the fungus. Her arrows may not be the most effective, but they still did something and it needs to die before the Shields succumb to its magic completely.
Hawky's cries fade as her mind wavers again.
============= Will 32 v 36 Will 25 v 29 ============= 5 ft step to Q26, full attack at fungus with flame arrows, last attack w/ normal arrow at F15 37 to hit | 20 +12 fire/cold & 20 + 9 fire/cold damage 36 to hit | 21 +11 fire/cold 27 to hit | 20 +8 fire/cold 16 to miss 31 to hit, 31 to confirm crit at F15 | 72 crit damage (frost has no effect)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 d20+25=35 ; d20+25=45 ; d20+29=44 ; d20+20=36 ; d20+15=21 ; d20+10=24 ; d8+22=25 ; d6=5 ; 2d8+44=53 ; d6=4 ; d8+22=28 ; d6=4 ; d8+22=27 ; d6=2 ; d8+22=29 ; d6=1 ; d20+28=34 ; d20+28=32 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 4:45:14 PM
Zander roar of exhilaration is cut short with the creaking of crushing metal as the fungus crushes the air from his lungs. But to hold him it had to be within reach of his blade, and that's all he cared about at the moment. His blood was up, his friends were in danger, he'd worried about his ribs later. This creature might not be worthy of being sent screaming back to the abyss but it sliced up just fine. He then blinks and fades slightly before refocused on the fungal mass squeezing the life from him. ============ Divine Bond - Holy and Speed to Longsword - 163 rounds remaining
Full attack on the fungus
35 to hit - 30 damage (25 weapon, 5 fire) 45 crit threat, 44 confirms - 57 damage (53 weapon, 4 fire) 36 to hit - 32 damage (28 weapon, 4 fire) 21 to hit - 29 damage (27 weapon, 2 fire) 24 to hit - 30 damage (29 weapon, 1 fire)
1st Will 34 fails 2nd Will 32 passes
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+10=26 ; d20+8=26 ; Monday April 15th, 2024 5:26:35 PM
(OOC: rolling rolling rolling against impossible saves ) Armalad - 26 Joker - 26
Armalad asks the mermaids how it is possible that Karkasan slipped in his bathtub when he is bound to the wood and how they would know being water creatures who do not venture into the wood and if Karkasan somehow made it to the sea how is it possible to slip in an underwater bathtub.
Stohp enjoys her ‘retirement,’ no matter how busy it is!
The Princess replies, “Armalad, if you’re wondering how Karkasan slips in the bathtub, and other logical facts, just repeat to yourself, ‘it’s magic, I should really just Relax…’”
Please see the non-spoiler text below.
}
Delia, Stock, Zanderallen, Bartomus Highlight to display spoiler: {
The drooling Armalad advances another five feet, as does Joker.
Stohp snores.
Bartomus races to help Zanderallen, and also Heroically resists the mental voice once more!
Stock ceases drooling.
Delia wonders how tough the Fungus really is as she unleashes another stream of arrows at its now-well-lit self! Four arrows hit it, but none critically, and it seemed to be primarily wounded by the fire and cold enchantments this time… Delia briefly ponders whether she just had relatively poorer aim this time than last time, as her final arrow causes a chain reaction in (F15) making it fall into a pile on the ground!
Delia begins drooling.
Zanderallen is taken aback by the Fungus-tentacle whipping out and squeezing him harder than Giant Constrictor, but the power of Domi drives him to continue slashing the Fungus, missing only his fourth of five slashes! Finally, the strange Fungal Cage falls apart, and the mental voice with it!
Zanderallen was fascinated by the soothing mental voice, but as the voice trailed off into silence, his Light shows him only a torn-apart Colossal Purple Fungus, with piles and piles of coins and glowing weapons and armor and not-glowing weapons and armor, and many other trinkets and objects in excellent condition.
F11 continues to panic in the corner (round 5 of 10).
F18 swipes twice at Zanderallen, both missing. }
With the destruction of the Colossal Purple Fungus, at once (!) the Shields snap back to reality!
Zanderallen stands before the wreckage of the Colossal Purple Fungal Cage, Domi’s Light illuminating it well, a vast mountain of treasure within shining brightly!
Delia had just begun to drool again, with dreams of retiring as Captain of the Guard of the Float, when she sprang back into the reality of this stinky cave!
Bartomus, readying a Sunbeam to blast more skeletons, likewise heard the cries of confusion as the Shields returned to normal.
Stohp continues to snore.
Armalad and Joker, as one, say, “I knew it was all an illusion” as they respectively wipe away their own drool.
Stock stares long and hard at the flail in his hand, testing it, as if expecting it to be something else. Then, the pile of shiny treasure across the cavern catches his eye. Weapons and armor on top… something familiar about them, even from over a hundred feet away.
Dolgrin is still encased in the Sphere Armalad created.
At Delia’s sigh of relief, Hawky comes swooping around the corner to rejoin her, oddly silent after over half a minute of continuous squawking at peak volume.
Zanderallen notices the stench slowly lessening, but still there.
(OOC – no more Fort saves, but this would still be a very unpleasant room to spend time in)
Bartomus and Zanderallen finish off the last two skeletons with ease.
No foes remain.
Dolgrin is still Bubbled, and Stohp is still Sleeping, and a pile of treasure awaits!
What do the Shields do?
(OOC – The DM has not been generous enough with Hero Points, and this was quite the battle!
No one tell Jerry, but… two (2) Hero Points for everyone!)
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29 Tuesday April 16th, 2024 1:28:29 AM (sorry will fix my header next post
Delia silences and calls Hawky with a short command. He lands on her shoulder, preening himself and seemingly unconcerned with the damage he may have done to their ears and the fact that everyone in this cave system now knows there is a hawk about somewhere.
She steps over to Stohp, shaking her awake and offering her a hand to stand up. Then she takes a long, hard look at Stock, "Your mustache. Keep it like that. It's better for everyone."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday April 16th, 2024 5:21:27 AM
Stohp wakes up on the cave floor wondering why on earth she was sleeping there. Vague memories of battle mix with insane ramblings and events from the illusion. It's not that hard to figure out she fell under some sort of spell, and the dead fungus and other monsters indicate clearly what was affecting her. "Good thing there's so many of us so a few could resist the monster." she comments while rubbing her temples.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=28 ; Tuesday April 16th, 2024 9:49:40 AM
They had done it. The skeletons were destroyed and then the purplish mushroom like thing was destroyed by stroke after stroke from the Zman. With it, things seemed to return to normal, or at least the voice constantly trying to encourage Bartomus to rest was gone. But now, the Taur really needed a moment to catch his breath. In doing so, he realized how terrible the room smelled. Like the fish market on the Float on a hot day. It wasn't all that welcoming.
"Well that was a challenge," Bartomus finally said has he looked about. "Suspect that that played a role in killing the various creatures that were then turned into the attack squad that welcomed us here."
Bartomus nodded over towards the remains of the purple mass hacked to bits with the slice and dice maneuvers of Zander. He then began studying the cave and particularly looking for any signs of the party of dwarves they were sent to find. He cast a light spell on his glave and used it as he walked about the larger cavern.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 16th, 2024 12:31:56 PM
(OOC: I didn't do anything that battle except fail will save after will save. But I burned a bunch of hero points doing so so I'll take the re-up)
Armalad and Joker head back to Dolgrim and verify he is back to normal. If so she will dismiss the protective sphere
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday April 16th, 2024 12:41:11 PM
Zander barely keeps his feet as the fungus collapses, not longer entangling him. The weight of it's psychic presence lifting from his mind feels like a giant hand finally letting him off the floor. He blinks several times and takes a few deep breathes to steady himself. After dispatching the skeleton in the corner he goes back to check on the others. "That was extremely unpleasant, but I'm guessing we may have found what caused the disappearance of the dwarven scribes. If that thing got into their heads, I fear we'll find their remains in that pile. Is everyone OK?"
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Tuesday April 16th, 2024 5:58:59 PM
Stock gives Delia a look and says, “mustache?” He then walks over to Dolgrin and tries to get the dwarf’s attention. “You in there, Cousin?
What a weird experience that fight was!”
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 16th, 2024 9:48:26 PM
Delia brings Hawky to her, then begins shaking Stohp, trying to wake her. It doesn’t work. In desperation Delia tries a light slap to Stohp’s left cheek which finally awakens Stohp from the Extraordinary Sleep Stohp was in!
Stohp wakes up, surprised to find herself on the cavern floor, her left cheek oddly warm to the touch. Confusing memories mix with her present perceptions. She notes how fortunate the Shields were that not all of them fell to the Fungus’ mental entreaties.
Bartomus took in the Shields’ hard-fought victory, marred by the lessening, but still awful, stench of the destroyed Fungus. He reasons that the Fungus must have killed other creatures and turned them into its skeletal defenders. Bartomus casts a Light spell on his Glaive and begins exploring and examining the cavern. He finds nothing remains but piles of bones, giant-sized armor that the bones were wearing, and the Fungus-cage full of shiny treasure.
Armalad and Joker confirm Dolgrin is no longer drooling. Armalad dismisses the sphere.
Dolgrin says, “Armalad, thank you! I was in a waking dream, I think, all of the… battle? Are those piles of giant bones and… in the distance, is that some sort of colossal fungus?
What did I miss, and (wipes face)… why is there so much drool on me?”
Zanderallen narrowly avoided falling as the Fungus dies, its tentacle still wrapped around him. He took a moment to clear his mind before felling the giant skeleton in the corner. Zanderallen turns his attention to the Shields, and also the once more free Dolgrin. He expresses his concern that the dwarven scribes were lost to this… Fungus.
Stock is puzzled by the mustache reference from Delia, and then moves over to Dolgrin, who is now appears to be acting normally.
Dolgrin says, “Thank you Stock… all of the Shields. I fear Zanderallen is probably right. Judging by the shining pile of treasure in the Fungus’s cage-like body I think our research needs to begin there.
Shall we?”
What do the Shields do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday April 17th, 2024 5:38:16 AM
Armalad tells Dolgrim, "Well ironically enough shortly after we stashed you here for safe keeping Joker and I were in a waking dream for all of the battle which was ashame because I guess it started out mirroring the layout here and I identified the creature as a Zygomind and pretty much neutralized it with an arrow imbued with an anti magic field so that we made short work of it. I guess the lesson of this battle is maybe sometimes I should hang back because maybe I could have gotten a line of sight to it without being impacted had I been more careful in my movements? Oh but if this is anything like my dream in that treasure pile they'll be a box containing Largon's Dragon Crown but I think I'll let other folks dig through that first and then help identify stuff after if it's all the same."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+28=47 ; Wednesday April 17th, 2024 7:22:34 AM
Before anyone touches the corpse or treasure Stohp will look it over for traps. Maybe not mechanical ones, but they don't need some organ in the thing to rupture and poison the party or send them to lala land again when they try to access the treasure (47 to find traps)
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Wednesday April 17th, 2024 9:23:39 AM
After helping to get everybody to their feet, Stock heads over and helps cut away the fungus cage and dig through the pile of treasure.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=41 ; d20+16=17 ; Wednesday April 17th, 2024 12:55:05 PM
Delia pats Stohp's shoulder apologetically for the wake up, then sets herself at the tunnel they came in to keep watch with Hawky on her shoulder while her party investigates the loot pile.
================ Perception: 41 (45 v undead or aberrations) Hawky perception: 17
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday April 17th, 2024 1:18:58 PM "Care for the stench. Old fungal apparently figured his wit would cover his scent." Satisfied everyone is physically well Zanderallen heads back over to the pile of treasure and starts dragging it out of the fungal mass, piling it for the others to sort and identify.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=26 ; Wednesday April 17th, 2024 6:50:18 PM
Bartomus looked over at Armalad and nodded.
"Can't say that I've ever seen, let alone heard of a Zygamogamoniama before,["/B] He said and turned his attention to the pile of shiny baubles. He waited for an all clear sign from Stohp before he started poking at things in the pile.
[B]"Dolgrin, so I hate to ask this this way, but I don't see or recall any dwarvish spelling. So, could they have gotten away from this Zygomorphianika and hidden themselves somewhere?"
Perception 26 treasure pile
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Wednesday April 17th, 2024 10:54:14 PM
Stock helps anyone get to their feet who needs it.
Armalad relates her “battle” experience to Dolgrin.
Stohp looks very carefully for traps amidst the Fungal Wreckage and all that glitters within. She pronounces the whole thing, “trap-free!”
At those words, Stock is at once arriving at the treasure pile and sorting things before anyone can stop him, which is briefly dangerous as he’s stacking fire-giant-size longswords and greatswords quickly into separate piles of about nine each, with each sword removed revealing more and more of a brighter glow beneath!
Soon, all within sixty feet or so can see that amidst the pile of weapons, armor, other stainless gear that’s probably magical, tattered-but-still-full backpacks and the like, Stock has separated out, with some care, items with intricate carvings and symbols that everyone suddenly realizes they last saw on some of the battle murals in the Clan Mountainheart Throne Room:
A set of dwarf-sized black-matte-painted full-plate armor that seems to absorb all light.
A rustless heavy steel shield of such quality even Zanderallen’s magical shield pales in comparison.
A warhammer filled completely with dwarven runes, some of which lightly glow blue from time to time.
A dwarf-height composite longbow with not a hint of wood rot, and a bowstring that might just be made out of metal!
Stock is uncharacteristically silent longer than usual.
Dolgrin has been looking over these items as Stock assembled them. After a moment, he falls to his knees and weeps softly, in an odd, gravelly, kind of way, as if dwarves can do nothing without reminding others of the rocks of the Wold.
Delia pats Stohp’s shoulder in apology and then sets herself to guard the only exit as Stohp goes to search for traps. She realizes, as she takes in her surroundings, that she still cannot see the ceiling. From the sounds of combat echoing much less harshly than she would have expected she guesses the cavern height here must be over one hundred feet. She thinks to herself, Great, there could be ambush tunnels above, full of carrion crawlers, and we wouldn’t know until we smelled their stench, if we even could smell their stench over the fungus stench!
Zanderallen warns the others of the Fungus’ stench, but with its death the stench has lessened enough to just be a big annoyance instead of a danger. He helps Stock by better sorting the items Stock throws away from the center, and then, like the rest, he stops for a moment when Stock stops and Dolgrin weeps.
Bartomus nods with Armalad. A rare fungus indeed, that he had not heard of before! He pauses when Dolgrin is weeping.
Dolgrin does not weep for long, wiping away tears and summoning dwarven stoicness, he says, “Keep going Stock. If any scribes’ journals are here, we must have them and decipher them right away! These… his… artifacts can wait a few more moments for proper Identification.”
Stock nods and begins pulling backpacks from the pile, the first few of which fall apart in his hands due to leather rot and the papers inside becoming soggy dust as they are removed! Dolgrin says, “Keep going Stock, the Fungus’s stench probably came from musk, and we all know what too much moisture does to paper.”
Bartomus takes the opportunity to ask Dolgrin whether the scribes they’re looking for could have escaped somewhere else.
Dolgrin is lost in thought, not hearing Bartomus’ question, or ignoring him, his eyes continuously following Stock’s hands.
Stock removes the final rotted backpack, and inside is a journal, not all of which has become soggy dust. More Shields gather around as Dolgrin shines a Light spell on the partially-intact single page, written in Dwarven.
Dolgrin reads it aloud in Dwarven, pausing as he skips past damaged parts of the page to move on to the next legible part: Highlight to display spoiler: { …-sk’s Guide to Caverns of the Scab said the cavern ceiling couldn’t be seen with dwarven eyes in the dark, and even when a lightstone was slung as high as it could go, some 500 feet, no ceiling could be seen… though as the lightstone hit its zenith alongside one wall, its light caught in full above the lightstone one of many flowing limestone formations fit for a monarch… …-spair we will never find the crown so we can break the curse and free K-… }
Stock ONLY Highlight to display spoiler: {Although every fiber of your being wants to make the ‘K’ for Karkasan, a legend, a myth, the truth (?), you grew up with was that centuries ago a great dwarven hero had gone looking for a crown, an artifact, that was said to be able to break any enchantment. Chief Sternbough’s distant ancestor, King Sternbough, so the story goes, had fallen under a bloodwitch’s curse of sleep, never to awaken again. The hero, the dwarven knight Klink Barrelchest, one of the greatest dwarven warriors ever, a dwarf, it is said, without fear… had set out into the Underwold alone to find the crown. All were too scared to accompany him, but dwarves enchanted his armor to enable him to escape any beast that might swallow him whole, and sneak around caverns almost as well as a trained trapfinder. Traveling alone, stronger in body than brain, he must have been no match for this great fungus and sleepwalked to his doom, just like the fire giants must have. At least now, presuming the Shields survive, you’ll be able to complete his quest to obtain the crown, you hope, although old King Sternbough’s body eventually faded away into death and old age when Klink never returned… Dare you wield the legendary Warhammer of Klink Barrelchest himself?!? If it would help you get the Crown, perhaps he wouldn’t mind at all…}
As Dolgrin finishes, Stock’s gaze turns, ever so briefly, to the runed warhammer.
What do you do?
(OOC – Items from the treasure pile:
9 fire-giant-size greatswords 9 fire-giant-size longswords heavy steel shield Breastplate Dwarf-sized Full Plate Two (2) rings Ten (10) potion vials Wand Composite Longbow Warhammer
20,000gp in assorted coins from copper to platinum, and a variety of gems, jewelry, and other non-magical baubles.
Rotted backpacks, rotted clothing, soggy paper dust. One surviving, and damaged, journal page.)
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday April 18th, 2024 7:22:20 AM
Stohp considers. "Sounds like some sort of magical darkness may await us. Hopefully we can dispel it."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+16=35 ; d20+33=38 ; Thursday April 18th, 2024 10:56:40 AM "Can someone read the journal out in not-dwarven when you get a chance?" Delia calls over.
She pulls her everburning torch out of her pack, helps Hawky get a grip on it with his talons, and then sends him up to find the ceiling. She watches him, ready to call out a warning if she spots something he doesn't.
============ Hawky: fly speed 85ft, HP: 90/90, AC 26/17/20 Hawky Perception: 35 (39 v undead/aberrations) Delia Perception: 38 (42 v undead/aberrations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Thursday April 18th, 2024 11:59:58 AM
Zanderallen pauses as the dwarven equipment is found and sorted out. He shares the loss even if he doesn't know the people. He stands next to the weeping dwarves, wishing he knew the words in dwarven, chants a warrior death dirge of Domi over the fallen. Short and bitter he wipes away a tear as he finishes and goes back to sorting the rest of the gear, leaving the dwarves to mourn as they need. He holds silent as he ponders the fragmented journal.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=36 ; Thursday April 18th, 2024 5:20:13 PM
Bartomus felt a bittersweet sense of relief in at least knowing that the lost party was not trapped somewhere. Yet, the response by Dolgrin made it clear that the remarkable items that were in the pile were the personal goods of the Keeps beloved heroes. He fished out the bag of holding he had purchased to bring along on this journey.
He examined the piles looking for something that might be holding the crown they were in search of as part of their quest.
Perception 36...natural 20
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+29=47 ; d20+29=43 ; d20+29=35 ; d20+29=36 ; d20+29=38 ; d20+29=41 ; d20+29=33 ; d20+29=44 ; d20+29=44 ; d20+29=36 ; d20+29=42 ; d20+29=38 ; d20+29=48 ; Thursday April 18th, 2024 5:59:34 PM
Armalad gives the Dwarves a wide berth concerning the recent dream she had and the fact that these magic items might be culturally important to them and says, "Is it okay if I attempt to identify the rings, potions, and wand?"
Assuming people are okay with this she casts detect magic and takes a look: Spellcraft to identify: 47, 43, 35, 36, 38, 41, 33, 44, 44, 36 -> potions Spellcraft to identify: 42, 38 -> rings Spellcraft to Identify: 48 -> wand
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Thursday April 18th, 2024 11:02:42 PM
Stohp considers the words from the journal page.
Delia asks for a translation into Common. Then she sends Hawky, everburning torch in talons, to find the ceiling.
Hawky spirals upward until it seems the ceiling is one hundred and fifty feet up, plus or minus. His spiral flight reveals to all that there’s no carrion crawler-size set of tunnels up there, though there are cracks on the ceiling and the highest parts of the walls large enough to be seen 150 feet away, but not so large as to be ‘tunnels’ in any true sense of the word.
Zanderallen notes the loss felt deeply by Dolgrin, wondering if Stock feels the same, though it seems Stock never weeps, over anything. He stands with the dwarves, respectful, and then moves on to sorting the rest of the gear, pondering the words in the journal.
Bartomus hoped the lost scribes’ fate was painless. He pulled out his bag of holding, and looked for the crown, but despite Armalad’s report from the ‘illusion’ there was no crown to be seen. Had the Fungus simply reflected their own memories and desires as part of the ‘illusion’?
Bartomus’ attention is drawn more closely to the four items Dolgrin knelt in front of. Bartomus had seen the runed hammer before… on the murals in the Throne Room… was this the hammer of some dwarven hero of the distant past, mythic heroics forever captured on royal murals, and not the more recent missing scribes?
Armalad, though often cold and analytical, gives the dwarves room to grieve. She asks if it’s alright to identify the other items. Stock gives a thumbs up. Dolgrin might not be listening.
Armalad proceeds with identification.
Stock continues to stare deeply at the runed hammer. Did his right hand flex in empty ‘hammer grip’, even a little?
What do you do?
(OOC – Two (2) rings of swimming Ten (10) potions of cure serious wounds Wand of cure critical wounds (30 charges))
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Friday April 19th, 2024 6:43:04 AM
Stohp is ready to continue on but will wait of the others aren't done.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Friday April 19th, 2024 10:32:28 AM "We probably need to get moving, folks." Bartomus said as he watched Hawky spiral upwards with the light. "These sacred relics need to be taken to their rightful home and we still have a special crown to find to stop the world coming apart."
He moves closer to the items that have captivated the two dwarves and stepped, if possible to where he was now standing behind the four items looking at Stock and Dolgrin.
"Is there something we should say or do before we remove them from this chamber? An homage or blessing or something."
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Friday April 19th, 2024 11:02:30 AM
Delia calls Hawky back, tucking the torch back in her pouch and offering him bits of jerky. Despite the Ioun stone circling his head sustaining him, he was less tolerate of the lack of eating than the rest of them.
She waits patiently for everyone to be ready to leave, maintaining her watch on the tunnel.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 34 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 33 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 6/6 Friday April 19th, 2024 2:30:21 PM
Zanderallen pauses as the information about the gear is processed, "Wait so is this the scribes or did we find something older?"
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday April 19th, 2024 8:47:02 PM
Armalad says, "Wow we have quite the haul of potions. I think we should probably each take one considering they are cure serious wounds. As for the wand of cure critical wounds I'm assuming we are giving that to either Zander or Bart."
"As for getting moving does this mean we have to go back the way we came and investigate the dry path afterall? I mean yay we found the plant thing that can turn people into unwitting zombies but does that mean there are worse actual undead along the dry path?"
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Saturday April 20th, 2024 12:46:35 AM ”Yes Armalaf, that is indeed what it means. “
Stock walks over to the hammer and grasps it by the handle. [b]”Anybody know what kind of magic this thing has?[b]
All that glitters... (DM Wayne) Sunday April 21st, 2024 12:07:26 AM
Stohp waits impatiently for the others to simply gather the loot and move on to more exploration.
Bartomus voices what Stohp was thinking.
Delia calls Hawky back, then resumes her watch, waiting for the treasure collection to finish.
Zanderallen asks whether the pile of treasure was from the scribes, or something older.
Armalad remarks on the identified magic items. Dreading the answer, she asks whether they still need to investigate the barren path.
Stock gives the answer Armalad dreaded, the barren path awaits. But first… Stock walks over to the runed warhammer, grasping it, wielding it, and asks what kind of magic it has.
…
As Stock’s dwarven fingers surround the warhammer’s shaft, and is lifted upward, readied for war, the runes shift from glowing a faint blue into a steady and somewhat bright blue, like the runes of a scroll dancing across the page before the fire of the scroll’s spell consumes it! The blue radiance that lights up the runes does not consume the warhammer, nay, the warhammer suddenly speeds up Stock’s arm, enabling him to flick the warhammer back and forth quickly, not quite hypnotically, but at supernatural Speed!
…
Dolgrin comes out of his weeping at the sight of Stock’s tree-thick thews hefting the runed hammer aloft! His eyes go wide as Stock lightly flicks the hammer back and forth, considering its weight and balance and the hammer glows somewhat brighter!
He says, “Stock… the hammer has chosen you! If only Klink Barrelchest were here to see a worthy successor to wield his warhammer and finally find the crown! Ahem… The hammer is a Dwarven Thrower, magically enhanced when wielded by a worthy dwarf! The runes translate as, “Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Speed.” The warhammer is, in your hands, enhanced to the third degree and enchanted with magics similar to a Haste spell, though only your arm moves faster when attacking at length, and not your legs. It also can be hurled with great accuracy and strikes giants for extra damage. This was Klink’s warhammer, and sadly it was of no help to him against this fungus, as I was no help to you in this battle… his head droops a moment, then he lifts it again…
These others were his as well, and I am sure Chief Sternbough would not object to you, or even the Shields, using any or all of them on this mission.
Here was his longbow, enchanted to the fifth degree for exceptional accuracy and penetration, but no other enchantments. The bowstring is a special alloy, and so the user must have exceptional, even legendary, strength to pull it and still be able to aim properly.
The shield was also his, likewise enchanted to the fifth degree for maximum protection.
The Mithral full plate armor was enchanted to the fourth degree, plus… do you see the shadows constantly playing on its surface beyond what our spells should cause? When worn, the armor makes its wearer one with the night, and nearly as silent as a trapfinder. Also, see how my hand just glides across its surface and won’t stop? The armor is also enchanted to help the wearer escape the maws of giant beasts, entangling nets, and the like, the slightest body twist enough for the wearer to slide out of the entrapment!
The others can be wielded by anyone trained… the armor, Stock, is only of use to you. First, it is dwarf-sized, and second, I am not trained in even mid-range armor, which the Mithral Full-Plate is, so that leaves you, unless your present armor, which also seems to be Mithral Full-Plate, is better?
As for the Shields’ other questions, who knows where the scribes’ bodies are, or Klink’s… enough time has passed that I’m thankful that even rotted backpacks, perhaps that stand-alone breastplate, and a partial journal was found. It’s not yet enough clues to point us to the crown’s resting place, but it is a start, if we can find more journal pages…
Yes, just gather up the treasures, and remember – these four items that belonged to Klink Barrelchest… when we return to Chief Sternbough with the crown, they must be turned over to him. But until then… no dwarf will shed tears over the Shields slaying more monsters that have slain our scribes and Klink! Onward!”
Dolgrin watches to see the choices of Stock and the other Shields with regard to the treasures, and then asks, “Do you have enough bags of holding to quickly gather everything and then head back to The Fork, so the Barren Path can be pursued to its end?”
What do you do?
(OOC – if a Shield selects one of Klink’s items to carry for the meantime, note it in your post. Any items that no one claims I will presume to be in a bag of holding, which the Shields can specify in their posts.
Your next post should include “and then s/he races out of the cavern and back to The Fork” or similar transition language.
Since the Shields will be on the road for a bit and therefore Armalad will have time…
Klink Barrelchest’s items:
Dwarven Thrower +2 (Corebook p.473), of Speed (when wielded by a Worthy Dwarf).
(This weapon functions as a +2 warhammer in the hands of most users. Yet in the hands of a dwarf, the warhammer gains an additional +1 enhancement bonus (for a total enhancement bonus of +3) and gains the returning special ability. It can be hurled with a 30-foot range increment. When hurled, a dwarven thrower deals an extra 2d8 points of damage against creatures of the giant subtype or an extra 1d8 points of damage against any other target.)
(Speed is accessible only to Stock, activating only when a Worthy Dwarf is the wielder, “Worthy” is defined by the DM. Speed does not stack with Haste. Corebook p.472)
(One-handed weapons can be wielded in two hands, so Stock can fully Power Attack to his heart’s content.)
Composite Longbow +5, built for +6 STR bonus (22 STR minimum to use without penalties).
Heavy Steel Shield +5
+4 Greater Slick (+15 escape artist), Greater Shadow (+15 stealth) Mithral Full Plate (sized for Dwarf)
Other items:
+4 Breastplate (Whoever takes it can wear it, as with normal loot; Dolgrin intimated it belonged to a scribe, but he spent no time discussing it compared to Klink’s legacy.)
Armalad identified all the other items.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+22=36 ; Sunday April 21st, 2024 5:51:20 PM
Armalad says, "That bow is beyond my strength, plus I like how I have mine enchanted up the ying yang with all sorts of goodies, merciful, icy burst, flaming burst and thundering and then my arcane archer ability allows me to make my arrows shocking burst so my bow is my preferred weapon. I guess we head back the way we came."
Perception: 36
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Sunday April 21st, 2024 11:03:38 PM "Well now, that's rather fetching for you Stock! I think I saw that hammer in one of the murals in the Great Hall." Bartomus said with an approving nod. Then Bartomus listened to Dolgrin and as he explained each weapon, he got a bit puzzled.
"Dolgrin," Bartomus said as he held open his bag of holding for the others to help load things into it. "Were there more of the heroes along with the scribes?"
He helped load things into the bag and then slung it into place.
He then worked his way back the way they came. Where necessary, he changed into a stone elemental to make the effort well, effortless as he stoneslid through the various chambers.
Bag of Holding Type IV
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday April 22nd, 2024 8:24:07 AM
Stohp has no interest in the fancy magic items. The history is cool to hear but she does not have the reverence for the ancient dead the Dwarf does. She'll help load everything up and head back with the group.
Delia curiously begins to draw the metal bow string, then shakes her head, "A little too legendary for me as well. Zander or Stock I'm sure could manage it if they ever decide to execute a plan other than 'run up and hit it'.
As they begin their trek back to the Fork, she comments to Armalad, "The barren path was infested with dwarf/scorpions and other aberrations, not undead. So at least this time we probably won't have to deal with mind control. Probably."
She resumes her place at the front, not lowering her guard despite the fact that they've already traveled this way. Hawky perches on whoever is in the front behind her that is willing to have a ridealong bird.
========= Stealth: 52 Perception: 47 (51 v undead or aberrations)
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 31/28/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 9/44 used Monday April 22nd, 2024 3:08:31 PM "Yeah. I'll use this hammer and also this armor for now and honor Klink's memory. I have no use for that shield, however nice it is. And while I could use the bow, I can't see myself putting down the hammer to pull it out. Z? Would you wield those in Klink's honor?
Dolgrin...Cousin...I am humbled by this moment. I will dedicate my life to returning these items to our people.
Did anybody see where Delia went?...oh she's already off. Not one to mince words, that woman."
Stock (JonM) HP: 225/265; AC: 35/31/18; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 9/44 used Monday April 22nd, 2024 3:10:08 PM Header updated I've also added the treasure to the party tracker...
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 5/6 Monday April 22nd, 2024 4:53:54 PM
Zanderallen watches Stock wield the hammer, some of the dwarf's awe spilling over as he watches the weapon respond to its wielder. When Stock offers the bow and shield he salutes, "It would be an honor to carry on Klink's legacy. I will do my best to honor him as we work to restore the knowledge of the clan.' Moving his own bow and shield to his bag of holding (and offering space for any other items needing to be stored) he takes Klink's bow and shield. He first gives the bow a few experimental draws, it had a hefty draw but well within his capability. Satisfied it would serve him well if needed he stows it on his back. He then straps the shield to his arm, stepping through a quick guarding exercise. The balance and coverage was a little off from what he was used to it being sized to protect a dwarf but with a little bit of practice he could adjust. Both items were works of art and he would be happy when he could return them to their proper place.
"Off to the barren path then, we've exhausted the possibilities here. Hopefully another journal fragment, combined with what we found here will lead us to the crown." Once everyone is resumes his position as rearguard. ================= Wielding Klink's Bow and Shield
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Monday April 22nd, 2024 8:53:03 PM
Armalad declines Klink’s longbow and gets ready to move with the group.
Bartomus comments on Klink’s warhammer that Stock is wielding. He then asks Dolgrin whether there were additional heroes with the scribes. Then Bartomus set about helping the group return to The Fork.
Stohp declines any of Klink’s items. Like Bartomus, she helps the group pack and ready to head back to The Fork.
Delia tests Klink’s bow, but finds it just a tad too difficult to pull the bowstring properly. As the group heads back to The Fork she points out to Armalad that the foes down the Barren Path are probably not undead… Delia returns to leading the way in the Night Below.
Stock takes Klink’s hammer and armor, to honor his memory. He asks Zanderallen to wield the shield and also the longbow. Stock swears an oath to his clan before Dolgrin. He then fails to locate Delia, but deduces she must be scouting ahead!
Zanderallen stands rapt, watching Stock wield and test Klink’s warhammer. He agrees to carry the shield and the bow. Zanderallen tests each, marveling at their craftsdwarfship! He calls the group to head on back to The Fork!
The journey back goes much quicker than the journey here – Ropes of Climbing, dwarven muscles, and Taur height make quick work of the watery path out!
As Dolgrin passes by first the Dwarven ‘Campsite’ and then the Bone Pile, he muses aloud in Common, “I wonder whether this group of scribes became local guardians of the Fungus, giving it time to mind control various aberrations, or whether the Fungus sent them further afield as guards? Did the scribes have to destroy a skeletal Klink, who had gone adventuring long before them, only to become skeletons themselves? Sadly, we may never know!”
Delia quickly finds each hidden mark she left on the way in, and though getting back to the Fungus might be more difficult, they shouldn’t need to do so. Still, she adds additional marks to indicate the path to the Fungus just in case!
The Fork
At The Fork, Dolgrin wastes no time leading the Shields down the two or three hours of the Barren Path that he knows, and then calls for Delia to lead once more.
Delia continues to lead the group, Stock and Stohp watching for attacks from the front, Stock much more shadowy than before, and quieter too! Then Bartomus in his elemental form, then Dolgrin, Armalad and Joker, and finally Zanderallen guarding the rear.
What do the Shields discuss during the first five (5) sleeps down the Barren Path?
(OOC – In anticipation of path exploration beginning, let’s get some Survival die rolls out of the way for how well the group maps and explores the seemingly uncountable number of side tunnels a dwarf could fit through!
I checked – Delia, in her Favored Terrain, is clearly the main roller.
Delia – please roll five (5) Survival checks and note all sums in an OOC line in your post. Everyone else – I recall all of you can Aid Another DC 10 easily, so Delia, please just take the +12 bonus from six assists (including Dolgrin).
This represents up to five (5) days of exploring and mapping, should the DM need to use that many – each path is of unknown length after all!
After you’ve all posted and we know where we’re going then Tuesday night’s DM post will send you on your way!
Elapsed Time: It was seven sleeps, six since The Fork, to reach the Fungus. The trip back is almost twice as fast, so four more sleeps, total of ten (10) since The Fork and the Mossy Path, and eleven (11) since entering Wind Tunnels.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday April 22nd, 2024 11:02:05 PM
Armalad says, "So we are sure the crown has to be down the barren path? I really don't want to get to a dead-end on the Barren Path only to find some heartbreaking story of what became of the other Dwarven scribe expedition and no dragon crown of Largon. Also while we were investigating the moldy path could it be possible that Karkasan's people somehow got down here too and when we get to the end of the barren path we'll end up having to fight them to secure the crown?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 1:05:49 AM "These tunnels connect up to the greater underdark so I doubt we'd hit a second dead end. How else would Drow and other dangers find their way up here if this cave system ended? I'm sure we'll end up fighting something along the way one way or another."
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 35/31/18; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 0/44 used Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 11:22:57 AM
Before he leaves the cave with the fungus, Stock pockets a small dull blue stone to commemorate the spot.
Stock reacts to Dolgrin’s grim thoughts on what became of Klink with his typical brusqueness. ”Both Klink and the scribes died down here. That’s all we need to know. It’s fortunate that none of their minds would remain attached to a skeletal form and so after that, their skeletons are just a mindless bunch of bones. It is sad but true”
To Armalad he says, ”that feels unknowable. This is a lost artifact we are talking about. We don’t even know if this new path is hours or days or weeks long…”
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 190/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 11/14 SE 5/6 Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 4:48:20 PM
Zanderallen had to fight to remain alert, while the closeness of the cave walls had felt like the Float back home at first after more than a fortnight down here they took on a completely different feeling. The lack of any light beyond their own, the oppressive silence, and the constant feeling that something was down there with them slowly took their toll. But his mental fortitude was every match for his physical fortitude and Zanderallen found ways to keep pushing on. He enjoyed the quickened pace of the return journey before settling back into the drudgery of tunnel mapping.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+39=53 ; d20+39=45 ; d20+39=45 ; d20+39=57 ; d20+39=47 ; d20+45=55 ; Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 5:25:41 PM
Delia settles into her guide role again, spending the days quiet, focused, and marking their path and the nights keeping watch and double checking her maps.
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 7:04:25 PM
Bartomus joined in the conversations about the Crown and where it might have gotten to. Yet, what intrigued him more was the fact that they had found a dwarvish legends last battle site.
After the second full test, Bartomus asked Dolgrin if he could share a tale or two about Klink and what he had accomplished to earn a spot on the walls of the Great Keep's royal hall.
Barren Path
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 11:12:38 PM
Armalad wonders whether the crown will be down the Barren Path.
Stohp plays defense barrister.
Stock takes a memento of the fungus cavern. He tries to distract Dolgrin from Grim Thoughts. Stock takes second chair with Stohp.
Zanderallen noticed that having spent nearly a fortnight in the UnderWold, the similarities with the close streets of the Float had faded. As the tunnel mapping resumed, he suddenly categorized the backtracking as a kind of mental vacation.
Delia resumed her mapping role as though she had done it all her life.
Bartomus too speculated upon the Crown’s location, but pondered deeply the recovery of Klink Barrelchest’s legacy. He asked Dolgrin for the tale of how Klink came to be included in the murals in the throne room.
Dolgrin nods at Stock’s encouragement to think positive thoughts.
Dolgrin replies to Bartomus, “Klink was one of the most adept warriors in Clan Mountainheart’s history. His greatest strength and weakness was his overconfidence. Many discounted our army’s chances in certain key battles, but it was Klink’s keen tactical mind, but moreso his sheer physical prowess, that enabled him to lead small teams to claim victory again and again, including many battles against the Drow. I believe the mural you’re referring to was one where even the establishment of our defenses, which would later prove critical in defending against the first Drow invasion via the Wind Tunnels, was in doubt until Klink and his team of warriors held out longer than any thought possible, enabling our reinforcements to arrive and finish the work. Without Klink, in hindsight, we’d all be dead or speaking Drow as our native language by now… He was an incomparable warrior, but his greatest successes came with teamwork, not solo heroics…[/b]”
With that, the group descends into the meticulous but necessary routine of scouting and mapping, once more Delia and Dolgrin bearing the brunt of the mapping, Stohp’s pentaurship clarifying key details by making them explain nuances, Stock and the others contributing tidbits here and there as they notice them.
All notice that in these first five days of caving that past water-sculpting and lava-sculpting of the Barren Path’s limestone and obsidian caverns did not create nearly as many side passages as found in the Mossy Path.
The first day would have been difficult for anyone but Delia, but many hands makes light work, and so little time was lost to confirming details. The second day was a bit more difficult and Delia was glad for the help of her friends, especially the tall Taurs, whose height allowed them quicker scrutiny of details higher on Wind Tunnel walls. The third and fourth days were yawners – even Zanderallen thought he could have solo-mapped, with help from his friends, and he was probably right! The fifth day went like the first. Two nights were spent in makeshift ‘travel caves’ relying on natural landmarks and other tricks to conceal the group’s presence as best the group could. The fifth night was thankfully a ‘desirable’ conversion into a ‘travel cave.’ Perhaps four (4) full miles mapped in five (5) days, a record? The sixth day begins…
You’ve been traveling this 10’ by 10’ lava tube, or tunnel, for about half an hour when it opens up into a 10’ wide by 40’ long and 20’ high chamber at a 45 degree angle to your tunnel. Also, as soon as you step in you see there’s a 5’ wide entrance to another chamber about 10’ wide and 50’ long with a 2’-wide section of an underground stream visible against the back wall. There seems to be a 10’ wide exit along the right-hand side of this chamber.
(OOC Elapsed Time: Total of fifteen (15) sleeps since The Fork and the Mossy Path, and sixteen (16) sleeps since entering Wind Tunnels.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+22=33 ; d20+20=23 ; Tuesday April 23rd, 2024 11:44:06 PM
Armalad and Joker hang back waiting for someone either stealthier or hardier to take the lead. She plans to keep pace with the group though to avoid being left behind but having been enchanted by the Phycomid she is wary and decides to stay towards the back while keeping eyes out for danger.
Armalad - Perception 33 Joker - Perception 23
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=27 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 6:44:29 AM
Stohp will be in her position just behind the front person keeping her eyes peeled for signs of trouble (27 perception)
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used d20+37=50 ; d20+27=40 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 9:44:09 AM ”I will be back after I check out this side tunnel.”
Stock drinks a potion and disappears. He makes his way up to the 5 ft opening and cautiously examines the area for signs of trouble or treasure.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=39 ; d20+45=62 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 12:50:57 PM
Delia pauses as Stock disappears from even her sight. That new armor was making quite a difference. No more telltale creaks, clanks, and rustles.
She will creep into the main tunnel that isn't the one Stock said he was checking out, stopping at the first signs of danger.
======== Perception: 39 (43 v undead or aberration) Stealth: 57 (-5 from movement I forgot to put in roller and hide in plain sight)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=11 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 2:29:43 PM
Zanderallen holds his position in the rear waiting for the call of trouble or all clear. He keep looking behind them for anything flanking the party. ======= Perception:11
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=29 ; Wednesday April 24th, 2024 7:08:32 PM
With Stock heading off in one direction, and Delia heading in the other, Bartomus just stood where he was leaving him ahead of Zander. He took in the entire space looking for things that might be out of sorts.
Perception 29
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Wednesday April 24th, 2024 10:00:17 PM
Armalad and Joker keep pace with the group, studiously avoiding losing their middle positions, yet mindful that horrors similar to the Fungus might warp their minds once more!
Stohp is alert, noticing
Stock drinks a potion of Invisibility (30 rounds) and scouts the left tunnel opening.
Delia blinks as Stock vanishes and yet there was only the faintest sound, if that, of plates scratching and straps flexing where he’d stood. She shifts to the right-hand tunnel and goes ahead a bit, unseen and unheard.
Zanderallen keeps pace with the group, watching the rear, or at least the twenty lit feet he can see, and the shadows beyond…
Bartomus keeps pace with the group, but with Stohp and the rest waiting for scouting news, he too was watchful over the immediate vicinity.
Dolgrin likewise is watchful, waiting for scouting reports.
Stock sneaks into the left tunnel and turning to the right just before the slow-flowing stream, finds two stalac/gmite columns, growing at a glacial pace. He quickly determines there’s nothing important here, but could be a good ‘travel cave’ – the stream is slow, but not stagnant, and the water smells fresh enough. He tells the Shields to follow Delia and immediately continues down the other tunnel Delia took, potion duration burning away.
Delia finds that a somewhat curvy 10’-wide passage leads her to a 20’-wide by 10’-across chamber with a 5’-wide exit on the opposite side. Also, as she stands just outside the chamber, she easily sees that there’s a sheer drop of 20’ to the ‘ground’ and the ceiling is 20’ high. Delia concludes the only thing of note here was the drop, which the Shields have dealt with easily before.
The group soon rejoins Delia, who has already set up a Rope of Climbing, and she hurries them along, reminding them Stock’s potion won’t last forever.
The group travels another 150 feet in an ‘S’ curve tunnel length and comes to a… tall… chamber.
This is not the largest chamber you’ve seen but at 25’ by 50’ it’s easy to spread out. As you watch for danger it seems the biggest danger is the unknown – the ceiling is not visible to anyone! All of you feel a slight breeze… and perhaps a slight stink you can’t quite place. There’s a 10’ wide exit comprising the corner of the chamber that is catty-corner to you.
The bulk of the group fully enters the chamber at the edge, preparing to traverse it without knowing what lurks in the Night Above, though it might be worth coming back to check… While they ponder, Delia and Stock trudge on through the exit and then around the corner into another chamber, passing through a “spacious” 15’-wide “hallway,” and find themselves facing a 15’ wide by 50’ long chamber with what seems to be a large pile of white bones, humanoid-shape and size, in the far right corner. There is a 15’-wide opening in the middle of the left wall.
Delia and Stock take a closer look.
The bones appear to have been picked-clean and gnawed thoroughly in the process – the teeth type seems unrecognizable – could the teeth have been not-of-this-Wold?
MAP NOTE – Legend at cell AN37; ‘B’ is the pile of bones Delia and Stock see.
MAP NOTE – most of the group is thinking about whether to scale the room whose ceiling cannot be seen, and Delia and Stock are just around the corner.
Stock’s Potion – 23 rounds remaining.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday April 24th, 2024 10:40:30 PM
Armalad says, "Perhaps we call Delia and Stock back and send Joker and Hawky to investigate to fly up and investigate the larger room Armalad suggests."
Joker says, "Thanks boss, you know just what to say to make a guy feel all warm inside, but instead of sending me and the hawk, why not just send the hawk? It is probably harder to target than I am and hardier too. Why can't I say here with you?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday April 25th, 2024 6:41:09 AM
Stohp advances cautiously, making notes of the terrain in her head to add to the map shortly.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used d20+27=33 ; Thursday April 25th, 2024 9:38:56 AM ”I could fly up there and take a look but it doesn’t seem like a great use of one of my two potions.”
He looks at Joker and says, ”Actually, other than the feathers, I’d say the biggest difference between you and Hawky is that Hawks doesn’t talk back to Delia.”
He hides a smile and moves up to the bones to investigate.
========== Perception 33
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=35 ; Thursday April 25th, 2024 1:53:29 PM
Bartomus followed after Stohp squeezing through the narrow gap. He stopped before the next opening and made sure to leave enough room for the rest of the Shields to funnel past him if the need arose.
Move to K22/23; Perception 35
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Thursday April 25th, 2024 2:11:27 PM "Before anyone goes flying up into the darkness let me see if my lantern will show anything." Zanderallen gets out his bulleyes lantern, lights the wick, and after giving it a moment for the flame to steady he adjusts the lens and shines the lantern up at the ceiling, illuminating out to 120 feet. "This wouldn't be the room Klink mentioned as being higher than they could see, could it?"
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Thursday April 25th, 2024 8:04:48 PM
Delia looks at where Stock's voice is coming from and says seriously, "Oh, Hawky talks back. He just doesn't speak Common like Joker. The feathers though. Dead giveaway. The accent too..."
She pulls out her everburning torch again and preps Hawky to go up exploring.
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Thursday April 25th, 2024 11:42:52 PM
Armalad and Joker discuss locating the ceiling.
Stohp is still in full mapping mode.
An invisible Stock tells Joker that Joker is the best scouting choice because he can intelligently report back. Then Delia thinks she hears Stock move towards the pile of bones.
Bartomus keeps pace, ensuring smaller Shields can walk around him if need be.
Zanderallen pulls out his bullseye lantern, lights it, aims it towards the ceiling, and wonders aloud if this is the room the journal page spoke of.
Delia stares at empty space and corrects Stock. Then she prepares her everburning torch for Hawky to explore the tall room they just came from.
Zanderallen’s lantern follows the wall up its full 120’ and then shadows play on the walls above that, and then darkness. Still no ceiling. Zanderallen whistles quietly.
Hawky begins his flight up with the Everburning Torch (20’ radius).
Stock looks at the pile of bones up close, Highlight to display spoiler: {and sees, with no particular challenge to his trained eyes, that these are largely dwarven bones, but a small amount seem to be human, gnomish, and halfling as well. If some of these were the scribes, and not another dwarven expedition, how would we know?
To Stock’s left, the side passage goes some 35’ feet ahead to a wall with a 10’ wide exit on the left side.}
While Joker wheedles, Hawky, a much faster flier, begins spiraling upward, rising 10’ every second, and it is an astonishingly long time, 48 seconds, before the torch’s light clearly shows the ceiling! Hawky’s highest arc also reveals a wide exit, between 10 and 20 feet wide, so hard to be precise from around 500’ away! The high tunnel is probably the source of the slight breeze, combined with the exit Stock and Delia used to enter the next room.
By the time Hawky’s expedition is completed, Stock and Delia have cleared the next room. With Stock’s potion perhaps half-gone, Stohp, Delia, and Dolgrin make careful note of the tunnel’s location and mark it to check later.
Hawky, with a gravity assist, is quickly back with the Shields in the time they gather in the next room.
As the group passes the bones, Stock asks Dolgrin about them.
Dolgrin admits he’s not a bones expert, but agrees it’s a fair number of dwarven bones compared to the human, halfling, and gnome bones.
Leaving behind the bones, a 15’-wide exit takes you 25’ further and then the tunnel ends in front of you but not on the left corner, as a 10’wide exit takes you into a 25’-wide by 65’ long chamber with four stalagmites each receiving a slow drip from the stalactites above them, and at the end of the left wall a 15’-wide exit.
Carefully hung around the ‘necks’ of the stalagmites, apparently so as to not inhibit their slow growth, are the remains of rusted and/or sodden adventuring gear – two halves of a chain shirt broken by rust, and perhaps claws, on one stalagmite. On the others an assortment of rotted and sodden leather armor… and a breastplate with a six-inch-wide puncture through the “heart” and out the back…
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+27=43 ; d20+13=17 ; d20+27=36 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 4:58:44 AM
Know[Nature]: 43 Know[Dungeonerring]: 17 Linguistics: 36
Armalad looks at the bones and at the armor pieces on the stalagmite formations and thinks to herself what she might know.
As they pass the armor pieces she casts detect magic and scans each piece of armor individually for any magic auras
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=29 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 7:38:08 AM
Stohp is expecting trouble and does her best to keep an eye out for it (perception 29)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=32 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 12:52:41 PM
Bartomus followed behind Zander and took in the obvious trophy display. A very telling and gruesome trophy display, he thought to himself. He took a moment to look at the breastplate piece of armor with a puncture hole and tried to determine whether it was a weapon or a claw that did that damage.
Perception 32; move to where the breast plate piece is on display.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=40 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 2:43:57 PM Longstrider, Darkvision, Underground +2
Delia grimaces, "Could be something marking its territory. We were warned of scorpion/dwarves - could that puncture be the scorpion tail?"
She wonders what sort of creatures might use the tunnel in the ceiling of the previous room and keeps an eye out with everyone else.
Perception: 40 (44 v undead/aberrations)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+10=19 ; Friday April 26th, 2024 3:35:44 PM
Leaned way back to watch Hawky map the ceiling Zander lets out another whistle as the bird's torch finally hits the top. He briefly hopes they don't have to explore the tunnel up there before having his attention drawn to the stalagmites. "I agree with you Delia. That looks like territory markers, or warning markers to keep out. Eyes up and weapons ready everyone." Zanderallen does just that, hand held ready to receive his blade as he douses and stashes his lantern. ======== Perception: 19
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Saturday April 27th, 2024 11:40:13 PM
Armalad considers the bones and armor pieces, casts Detect Magic, and scans the armor pieces. She Highlight to display spoiler: {Determines that if the broken gear was ever magical, some kind of large claws seem to have sundered the chain shirt in two, and the magic gone, rust came in quantity from the slow drips that grow the stalagmites here. The relatively few former armors all seem to have been rent in two or in the case of the breastplate, punctured so thoroughly front and back (through the heart!) that again, if any were magical, the enchantments were broken by the sundering and the elements, what little there are here in the Deep, took over from there, rotting leather and rusting metal. That puncture hole though… giant cave scorpion stinger??? As to the bones, Dolgrin seems to have covered the key parts without sitting down with a magnifying glass and a library of books on bones…}
Stohp is alert.
Bartomus reviews the wrecked armor… trophy display…, thinking perhaps either one claw coming to a sharp point when closed, or… Highlight to display spoiler: {a stinger… ? Do the Shields face cave scorpions?}
Delia verbalizes what some could be thinking – scorpion stinger? Unnerved by a possibility, she returns to guard duty.
Zanderallen marveled at Hawky’s mapping spiral. He suggests the armors aren’t just detritus from past victims of some aberration, but a kind of warning, of marking one’s territory. After warning the others to ready for battle, he douses and stashes his lantern, anticipating battle soon.
Stock says some of the armors seem to be dwarf-sized, but so battle-damaged and rusted or rotting that he’s not ready to call it true.
Dolgrin agrees with Stock, “The armors are too weathered and damaged for me to attribute any of them to the scribes, but it’s possible.” He winces when he stares at the breastplate with the six-inch hole front and back.
The group reassembles into marching order and enters the next room.
This next chamber is quite spacious – you’ve entered on the “long side,” more than 60’ of Darkvision can see, but your footsteps echo closely so perhaps 100’ long? Directly ahead of you is the short side, about 30’ deep. The ceiling is once more unseeable and you once more feel a slight breeze with the same subtle stink. As you round the corner and advance, indeed you find the other end of the ‘long’ wall about 95’ from its opposite. As well, there’s a 25’-wide opening at the back of the ‘long’ wall.
Each one ponders the horrors of the Night Above them, tensing for battle, but no foes appear… yet…
The room is otherwise “just” another chamber with unseeable ceiling, so the group moves ahead enough that Delia and Stock are…
Rounding the very-wide corner, this chamber is empty of stalagmites and stalactites, but not empty of… scrawls… writing (?)… on the walls. There is a fairly substantial amount of it… perhaps equivalent to one scroll’s worth of writing, though poorly scrawled and in large symbols/characters/something.
The chamber is 25’ wide and starting from the prior chamber goes forth some 55’ before ending though there is a 10’-wide exit on the right.
Armalad says that in the time she needs to translate the writing, Hawky has enough time to take the torch up again in the prior room.
Zanderallen lights his lantern again, and again it cannot reach the ceiling so he douses it and lets Hawky do his thing.
Once more Hawky takes some 48 seconds to reach the ceiling – another 500’ ceiling, with one 15’-wide tunnel at the top, in the bottom-left corner pointing in the direction of the other chamber with a 500’ ceiling.
Delia wonders aloud whether the two chambers connect at that height; and given the ground-level tunnels, maybe that’s why there’s a slight breeze.
Stohp works with Armalad to translate the Aklo, and their translation is, “The writing is in Aklo… bad Aklo, but Aklo nonetheless. It is the most primitive known form of writing – an accounting of food, apparently always shared in 4 parts. All of it is of the type, ‘six humanoids. One and one-half share.’ There is no narrative or explanation – just the extensive accounting.”
Hawky’s ascent and descent takes a total of 10 rounds, likewise the translation with two Shields working on it, as it was a scroll’s worth of text.)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=20 ; Sunday April 28th, 2024 1:21:34 PM
Bartomus followed along and listened as Stohp and Armalad worked through the accounting records apparently writ large, and poorly, along the giant wall.
"A creature that can figure and write. We need to keep that in mind. They set up their out parameter." Bartomus said cloud. He took it all in.
"Dolgrin, any legends about a warlord or ruler here in these caverns? Not Drow but someone else??" Bartomus nodded toward the ledger. Then he looked about again for any other signs.
Perception 20
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Sunday April 28th, 2024 11:30:16 PM
Armalad says to Bartomus, "Well potentially multiple somethings considering the figuring in Aklo such as it is is dividing each line item in shares of four, so perhaps whatever is down here is at least four different groups or entities? Though that doesn't necessarily mean all groups or entities can read or write or figure, just the lead group or entity perhaps?"
"Also that armor back there looked to be pierced by giant cave scorpion stingers and if any of it was magic it was rendered too damaged to continue to function as a magic armor. Between the armor pieces and the writing I'd say it is safe to say at least one group can read, write and figure in a form of primitive Aklo and one group contains one or more giant cave scorpions, I do not know if we come across anything if we should potentially try to communicate in Aklo before hostilities arise or given the broken armor on stalagmites if that is meant to be a warning and since we ignored it they won't listen to anything we potentially have to say."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Monday April 29th, 2024 8:23:35 AM
Stohp shrugs. "There's no real way to know except by continuing on."
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used Monday April 29th, 2024 2:39:51 PM "Yeah Stohp. I suspect you're right. Still though, it takes a funny set of circumstances for a being to understand accounting, let alone need accounting. And then the fact that it decided to keep its accounts on the wall...strange. Of course when the strangest thing you are encountering is unexpected accounting, you're probably in good shape."
Stock continues ahead, occasionally squinting up to where he expects the ceiling to be overhead.
"I'm not sure that many things that speak Aklo are willing to negotiate... I picked it up to understand how to hunt them better, not to have a nice chat." Delia tosses over her shoulder as she keeps an eye on Hawky, grateful that she wasn't tasked with translating the Aklo, despite her level of Aklo grammar probably being closer to the wall-scrawl than the more academically trained Arlamad and Stohp.
She retakes her place ahead of the group and continues their forward march.
Perception: 38 (42 v undead/aberrations) Stealth: 53
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Monday April 29th, 2024 8:48:06 PM
Armalad says, "You never know till you try and I wasn't necessarily recommending we be all diplomatic like we will part with x amount of rations in order to continue to investigate your territory I was thinking more along the lines of trying to intimidate them from even bothering to mess with us, kind of a you don't want to fool around and find out in Aklo and then if that doesn't work well perhaps if any survivors speak Aklo they'll tell whatever else is down here not to mess with us."
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Monday April 29th, 2024 11:05:40 PM
Bartomus asks Dolgrin for any tales of some leader down here.
Armalad speculates as to the number of groups of denizens.
Stohp says the group should just keep moving.
Stock agrees with Stohp, but noting that accounting tends to require specific circumstances. He moves on, invisibly.
Delia notes Aklo speakers tend not to be the most intelligent, and then like Stock, moves on into the Night Below, scouting.
Armalad offers her own take on ‘Aklo diplomacy.’
Zanderallen brings up the rear once the group begins moving again.
Dolgrin ponders the Aklo and the Shields’ speculations, and likewise moves on with the group. “Writing carved into stone isn’t unusual… but that’s significant effort, to write, even crudely, in limestone…”
(OOC – sorry I didn’t advance the group on the map after the prior post. I’ve added ‘Aklo Writing’ so you can see where the group found it.)
The 10’-wide tunnel takes you over 100’ before coming to an end, with a 10’-wide exit on the right and a 15’-wide exit on the left. This tunnel has a ceiling about 10’ high. (OOC this is from the perspective of walking “down” from the top of the map.)
On the right, you see a lot of stalagmites and stalactites through this 10’-wide chamber that dead-ends after 60’. Nothing of interest, but Taurs would find it very difficult to navigate through here compared to humans and smaller.
On the left, the exit goes but 10’ and then opens up into a vast unknown where you cannot see the end of any sides of the massive chamber before you!
Stock, Delia, and Stohp comment on a noticeable stink.
Stock and Delia only Highlight to display spoiler: {Standing in the entranceway to the unknowably-vast chamber, many stalagmites are Darkvision-visible on the left and on the right, but only darkness lies ahead. There is a more-noticeable breeze here. The stink is more noticeable too. The ceiling cannot be seen at all.}
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 12:04:39 AM
Armalad says."I suppose I could send a flaming sphere out into the darkness, and it can get 220 feet ahead of me before winking out of existence."
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+23=33 ; Tuesday April 30th, 2024 6:26:53 AM
Stohp looks down the stalagmite filled passage to see if there's any point in exploring it before turning her attention to the bigger room (perception 33)
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used Tuesday April 30th, 2024 8:45:57 AM ”It is so so dark ahead. That doesn’t look natural. And that smell…it comes from the darkness I think…does anybody have any way to Detect anything besides using my old eyes?”
Stock hugs the wall on the left as he enters the room.
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 5:00:51 PM
She'll look at Bart and Armalad, "If anyone can make magical light we could put it on an arrow and see how far it goes. As long as we don't mind everything knowing we're here."
She nocks an arrow in preparation.
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 5:39:55 PM
Armalad agrees to Delia's request to light up her arrow should the rest of the group agree the risk is worth taking.
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Tuesday April 30th, 2024 5:52:50 PM
Zanderallen complies with the hidden request in Stock's words and moves to the entrance of the cavern. He can't see anything with his eyes but will focus his divine sense outward. =========== Detect Evil 1st round 60ft cone presence of evil.
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) Tuesday April 30th, 2024 9:35:09 PM
Armalad suggests a Flaming Sphere to search ahead.
Stohp considers the “Taur’s Misery” passage – nothing visible within the range of the nearest light source (Light spell on Armalad’s arrow?). Those with Darkvision report to Stohp they see nothing out of the ordinary even to the back wall. That said, something small, or thin and tall, could be behind a stalagmite.
Stock comments on the Night Below, asking for magical aid in noticing things. He follows the left wall about twenty feet, ready to respond to any danger, and for his troubles only spots a few more stalagmite columns at the edge of his Darkvision.
Delia suggests Light on an arrow, then shoot the arrow.
Armalad agrees with Delia’s idea, if the group votes for it.
Zanderallen moves up, hoping not to bump into the Invisible dwarf, and begins Detecting Evil. (OOC – Round 1 – no evil within the cone ahead. (Moved Z to AD32))
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 136/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=17 ; Tuesday April 30th, 2024 11:32:44 PM
Bartomus looked at the cavern filled with stalagmites and stalactites and shivered. The darkness in the other room seemed equally problematic.
"I have an idea that might help a bit." Bartomus said and shifted into the form of a large earth elemental and glided forward through the wall to where he had a sense that Stock was standing nearby.
He paused a bit past Stock and then stood trying to get a sense of any movement from that point.
Move to AF 29/30 with earth glide through the wall. Pause there to get a sense of tremors or movement 60' outward via tremorsense. Perception natural one for a total of 17
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Wednesday May 1st, 2024 12:37:03 AM
Armalad asks in a whisper, "Is Delia firing her arrow or not or are we waiting to see if our earth elemental detects something first?"
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Wednesday May 1st, 2024 6:08:12 AM
With a shrug Stohp follows Stock into the room.
Stock (JonM) HP: 265/265; AC: 34/31/17; DR 4/-; CMD: 41; Rage: 0/44 used Wednesday May 1st, 2024 9:31:59 AM ”Shoot Delia”
Stock continues ahead to the point he can see around the larger stalactites, walking ahead another 30 ft
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+31=32 ; Wednesday May 1st, 2024 1:22:38 PM
Delia will fire the Light arrow in an arc across the chamber.
====== facing AE33, fire across the room. If you need a roll I did roll a 1... for a 32 with farshot feat, -1 for every 110 ft traveled
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Wednesday May 1st, 2024 5:32:13 PM
Zander gives the all clear signal and waits to see what the arrow illuminates.
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) d100=92 ; d100=78 ; d100=67 ; d100=22 ; d100=43 ; d100=72 ; d100=66 ; d100=80 ; d100=71 ; 8d6=22 ; 8d6=27 ; 8d6=35 ; 8d6=25 ; 8d6=21 ; 8d6=28 ; 8d6=31 ; 8d6=26 ; 8d6=32 ; 4d6=12 ; Wednesday May 1st, 2024 11:25:45 PM
Bartomus shifted into a large earth elemental and moved through the wall straight for Stock and a bit beyond.
Armalad asks which strategy the group is following.
Stohp had noted the faint sound of Stock moving further into the room. His new armor makes hearing him a lot harder! She decides she’ll know if she’s gone too far if she bumps into Stock and moves in a bit, pausing at Bartomus’ elemental form, as that was around the limit of Zanderallen’s Light.
Stock directs Delia to shoot the Light Arrow Armalad’s been carrying around, and then moves further ahead.
Armalad takes Stock’s cue and walks up to the entrance to pass the Light arrow to Delia so she can fire it right away.
Delia fires the arrow!
Zanderallen notes no ambush thus far and watches the Light arrow take flight.
Delia’s bowstring wobbled – bad pull, it happens, so the arrow went ten degrees off to the left compared to Delia’s aim, but it still goes across the room, arc not as high as Delia wanted as the ceiling is not lit up.
Dolgrin moves up to just behind Armalad so he can see the show.
Armalad only Highlight to display spoiler: {your low-light vision comes in handy, as the extension of the 20’ radius of the Light arrow allows you to see the ceiling and guess it’s about 100’ up.}
There is a distant shout, very brief, in a language unfamiliar to all but Armalad, Stohp, and Delia: Highlight to display spoiler: {In Aklo, “NOW!” }
As you delved deeper into this unknowable chamber, admired the pristine stalagmites, worked hard to ignore the increasing stench, a split-second after the shout there is suddenly an uncomfortable feeling – a sharp abrupt feeling riding a wave of loud rumbling sounds – CAVE-IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(OOC – the area of effect is LARGE. The entire group is in it. No one is near the edge of the quake.)
Though the group was ready for foes of myriad types, the very ground and ceiling, all the rock and stone of the Underwold catches you by Surprise!
An intense tremor rips the very ground asunder in far more than one place, in the large chamber, its entrance, and the tunnel that led you here, and rends the ceiling above, raining rocks and boulders down upon all of you!
(OOC – There’s a lot going on here, but in order:
1) The effect is the same as an Earthquake spell; was it a spell? Not saying – no one saw a spellcaster, and The Scab has a lot of lava action and accompanying earthquakes, so could be either spell or natural. Dolgrin apparently wasn’t expecting an earthquake now, and he’s been good about warning the Shields on UnderWold dangers, so take that for what it’s worth.
2) “When you cast earthquake, an intense but highly localized tremor rips the ground. The powerful shockwave created by this spell knocks creatures down, collapses structures, opens cracks in the ground, and more. The effect lasts for 1 round, during which time creatures on the ground can't move or attack. A spellcaster on the ground must make a Concentration check (DC 20 + spell level) or lose any spell he or she tries to cast. The earthquake affects all terrain, vegetation, structures, and creatures in the area.”
If it’s the spell version, your next post is most definitely subject to the spellcasting Concentration check above. If it’s a natural earthquake, those things can go on much longer than 6 seconds, (from personal experience) so it’d be a good sign for Shields’ spellcasters if you only have to make a spellcasting check in the next post instead of… longer.
NOTE – AS ABOVE, YOU CANNOT MOVE OR ATTACK IN YOUR VERY NEXT POST, BUT YOU COULD TRY TO CAST A SPELL.
3) Cave-Ins, from the Core Rulebook:
“Cave, Cavern, or Tunnel: The roof collapses, dealing 8d6 points of damage to any creature caught under the cave-in (Reflex DC 15 half) and pinning that creature beneath the rubble (see below). An earthquake cast on the roof of a very large cavern could also endanger those outside the actual area but below the falling debris and rubble.”
“Open Ground: Each creature standing in the area must make a DC 15 Reflex save or fall down. Fissures open in the earth, and every creature on the ground has a 25% chance to fall into one (Reflex DC 20 to avoid a fissure). The fissures are 40 feet deep. At the end of the spell, all fissures grind shut. Treat all trapped creatures as if they were in the bury zone of an avalanche, trapped without air (see Environment, Core Rulebook p.429, for more details).”
NOTE – Bartomus is in Earth elemental form – he’s surprised, so he can still be battered for damage, but on his post can earth glide past/through any rocks, etc.
NOTE – Hawky was in the air, but the rockfall of A) PINS him to the ground like the rest of you, and then he might fall into a Fissure.
THIS IS THE PART WHERE YOU FIND OUT WHAT SAVING THROWS TO ROLL.
A) Everyone Reflex Save DC 15, 8d6 damage, save for half, and no matter what, PINNED beneath the rubble, and will need to escape, as detailed below. (I googled; yes, you’re PINNED regardless of your saving throw result.)
8D6 ROCKFALL DAMAGE ROLLS - Going in the following order: Armalad 22, Joker 27, Bartomus 35, Delia 25, Hawky 21, Dolgrin 28, Stock 31, Stohp 26, Zanderallen 32.
B) Everyone 25% chance to fall into a Fissure, in which case you need a DC 20 Reflex Save. 01-25 on d100 in DM post is what I’m using to see who needs to make this saving throw. Going in the following order: Armalad, Joker, Bartomus, Delia, Hawky, Dolgrin, Stock, Stohp, Zanderallen.
These characters must make a DC 20 Reflex Save or fall in Fissure: Delia, alone.
Delia’s fissure is 40 feet deep. (It is YELLOW on the map – 5’ wide, 55’ long, 40’ deep.)
Delia if you make your DC 20 Reflex Save I will place you at AE 33, otherwise 4d6 falling damage – result of 12 base damage. (If you have any ability/item that affects falling damage, use it, of course)
C) HELP, I’M PINNED!
“Pinned Beneath Rubble: Any creature pinned beneath rubble takes 1d6 points of nonlethal damage per minute while pinned. If a pinned character falls unconscious, he or she must make a DC 15 Constitution check or take 1d6 points of lethal damage each minute thereafter until freed or dead.”
Yes, there is a time limit to avoid everyone dying of suffocation.
Should Bartomus survive the rockfall, he may free one person within his Reach with a standard action (earth glide), representing using his body to shape/create a temporary 5’-wide tunnel the victim may use to exit from under many hundreds or thousands of pounds of rock (Stohp can Squeeze to escape in this way). Additionally, on his turn, his earth glide ability enables him to free himself from being PINNED so long as he moves from his starting location.
If Bartomus hasn’t come to your rescue just yet:
“Cave-Ins and Collapses… (Core Rulebook p.415): Characters who aren’t buried can dig out their friends. In 1 minute, using only her hands, a character can clear rocks and debris equal to five times her heavy load limit. The amount of loose stone that fills a 5-foot-by-5-foot area weighs 1 ton (2,000 pounds). Armed with an appropriate tool, such as a pick, crowbar, or shovel, a digger can clear loose stone twice as quickly as by hand. A buried character can attempt to free himself with a DC 25 Strength check.”
Yes, some of you will be wholly unable to free yourself at DC 25. That’s why you have friends. The DC 25 Strength check is a full-round action. (DM ruling; Corebook doesn’t state.)
REMEMBER – NO MOVING OR ATTACKING NEXT POST; SPELLCASTING REQUIRES A CONCENTRATION CHECK, DC 20 + SPELL LEVEL;
EXCEPTION – BARTOMUS MAY EARTH GLIDE.
EXCEPTION – YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DC 25 STRENGTH CHECK TO BE UNPINNED (FULL-ROUND ACTION))
What do you do?
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 d20+20=33 ; d20+19=32 ; d20+12=31 ; Wednesday May 1st, 2024 11:55:34 PM
Concentration = 33
Armalad attempts to protect herself and Joker in her 12 foot diameter Resilient Sphere centered on herself and succeeds at getting the protection up in a single standard action.
(OOC1: functions like wall of force so sphere has hardness 30 and 240 hp) (OOC2: being that Joker and Armalad are protected by the sphere are they still damaged/buried or are they unharmed and unburried with the sphere causing the rubble to divert around it?)
Armalad Reflex if needed: 32 + evasion = no damage Joker Reflex if needed: 31 + improved evasion = no damage
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 101/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+11=14 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 1:41:32 AM
Something wasn't right and as it became obvious to Bartomus what it was, the ground gave way underneath him and he fell. As he did so, everything above him started falling as well. He slammed down and had rock slam down on him. He failed in dodging the falling things onto him and took a moment to catch his breath. Then he slipped through the rock that pinned him and as he did so, he sensed that Stohp was nearby.
He shifted towards his fellow Taur and then created an opening using himself as a support for the other rock.
"Stohp, this way, quickly." Bartomus shouted. He took the time to let Stohp climb out and then stood up.
[i]Reflex save of 14/15 - fail - take 35 points
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) Thursday May 2nd, 2024 7:42:35 AM
Stohp is surprised by the quake and even her reflexes can't keep her from being buried, though she avoids most the damage (with +23 reflex she can't fail, but I"m a little uncertain if Evasion applies here so that she takes no damage). She's fairly grim once Bart digs her out. "Get the other's out. I'll see if I can find who caused the cave in before they hit us with another."
Stock (JonM) HP: 305/316; AC: 32/30/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used d20+11=19 ; d20+10=19 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 9:53:31 AM
====Status - Raging====
Something about his innate subterranean heritage allows Stock to sense the impending earthquake before it buries him. His chest feels tight and the rocks press down tightly. He channels his inner rage but is only able to move the rubble a fraction of an inch.
====== Reflex 19 11 damage - I’m assuming DR applies Pinned! Rage Stock has 30 strength while raging…Can I petition to use his strength surge rage power? It is outside the rules as written but thematically fits. It is not included in my roll on this turn Strength check 19
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Thursday May 2nd, 2024 2:59:01 PM
(OOC: Evasion - If she makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, she instead takes no damage. Is this is indeed an attack since someone yelled "NOW!" in Aklo and then the next thing we knew earthquake and these saves normally deal half damage on success)
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 226/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 d20+17=20 ; d20+7=25 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 6:51:03 PM
As the floor begins to rumble, Zander yells out for everyone to watch out. He manages to get his shield raised to absorb the brunt of the impact of the rocks falling but still finds himself buried. Taking barely a moment to grasp the seriousness of his situation his brain switch to survival mode. Working his arms and legs up and out with a mighty surge of strength Zanderallen manages to pull himself from the debris! He immediately starts reaching into his Bag of Holding for the shovels and picks he threw in their before leaving the dwarven hold. "Is everyone OK? We'll get you out. Bart, free Stock next. Strongest first to help move rocks. Stohp if you find someone yell." =========== Reflex 20 saves, 11 damage taken after DR Str 25 to pull himself free
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+23=30 ; d20+13=19 ; d20+23=36 ; d20+5=15 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 9:29:54 PM
At the shout in Aklo, Delia whistles sharply and Hawky attempts to dive to her before the cave in occurs. They both dodge the brunt of the falling rocks, Delia hoping to tuck Hawky safely underneath her body before they are pinned. In her rock dodging, Delia neatly steps onto stable ground before getting pinned beneath the rocks.
She heaves against the rocks, but to no avail. If Hawky made it to her, she is calm and composed, trying to dig herself out but waiting for rescue. If Hawky is buried on his own, she yells, "Someone free Hawky! Help him, please!"
============= Delia Reflex: 30 (with evasion if applicable, if not 12 damage) Hawky Reflex: 19 (with evasion if applicable, if not 10 damage) Delia Reflex v fissure: 36 Delia Strength check: 15 v DC 25
The Barren Path... (DM Wayne) d20=14 ; Thursday May 2nd, 2024 11:45:20 PM
(OOC – The Rockfall Surprised everyone, so all were subject to it prior to any spells being cast. Armalad and Joker successfully evade the Rockfall damage, but are still pinned. (Evasion works because it is a Reflex Save, same as with a Fireball.) Then Armalad casts Resilient Sphere which this DM rules will push the thousands of pounds of rock up to the ceiling of the sphere, granting some breathing room as those rocks tumble a little towards the ground. (This happens because 1) the spell should still work, and 2) if the sphere carved a crater in the ground than merely shoving ‘loose boulders’ out of the way then it would become too powerful for a 4th level spell, in my opinion.)
The ground is still shaking, but the Sphere functions ‘as a Wall of Force’ so Armalad and Joker are no longer subject to quake effects involving the ceiling or ground.
The top of the sphere is not fully clear of boulders, but it is just dust up there, with a ring of boulders partially burying the sides of the sphere, threatening to re-bury Armalad and Joker if the Sphere is Dismissed.
Armalad estimates she and Joker could, on Dismissal of the Sphere, likely leap up fast enough to avoid being pinned again (another DC 20 Reflex Save).)
Armalad and Joker avoid any internal injuries, but are pinned by the Rockfall for a moment, and then some rocks are pushed away by the sudden emergence of some invisible field of force.
Bartomus wondered what was wrong with the Wold, and then Rockfall happened! Skin bruises and perhaps a bone somewhere gets close to fracturing, but he survives, though Pinned. Remembering his form, he simply glides through the thousands of pounds of rock formerly Pinning him, and remembering Stohp was adjacent, quickly locates her and forms a tunnel barely big enough for her to get out from under the boulders.
(OOC – Stohp, Saving Throws, like Attacks, always fail on a ‘1’ regardless of the bonus or DC set. I rolled a 14 for you, so Stohp did not automatically fail.)
Stohp didn’t think anything was left to surprise her, but the simultaneous violent shaking of the stone beneath her feet and boulders as large or larger than her falling from 100’ above made a good attempt! She deftly shifted her vital organs out of the way, but there were just too many of them to avoid being Pinned! The ground is still shaking too much for her to move herself, but she’s able to grab an ‘arm’ of Bartomus’ earth elemental form and he pulls her fully out, though she is still Prone due to the violent quake!
(OOC – yes, DR applies to rocks, same as if a Giant threw them.
Strength Surge: “Strength Surge (Ex) (PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 33): The barbarian adds her barbarian level on one Strength check or combat maneuver check, or to her Combat Maneuver Defense when an opponent attempts a maneuver against her. This power is used as an immediate action. This power can only be used once per rage.”
I read this as applying to any one of: you make a strength check; you make a combat maneuver check; or opponent makes a combat maneuver check against you.
The rules allow this; note that it’s only once per rage. Mark it used!)
Stock is buried alive! He struggles at first, the thousands of pounds of rock seemingly victorious over the brave dwarf… Then, his life flashing before his eyes he finds a reservoir of strength he hadn’t known he’d had and with a Surge of Strength shoves(!) the largest boulder about three feet to one side! No longer in danger of suffocation, he fights a losing battle against the vibrating cave floor which keeps him Prone… for now.
(OOC – Zanderallen, the DC 25 Strength check was a full-round action. The other actions can go in your next post if you want. Speaking/Shouting is ‘free’ when not a lengthy monologue.)
Zanderallen’s yelled warning is lost amidst the noise of Rocks Falling on Everyone. Klink’s shield ‘deflects’ some ‘smaller’ rocks and then a big boulder Pins Zanderallen to the ground! The pre-historic part of his brain kicks his muscles into action, his adrenaline spikes, the Power of Domi infuses his arms and… he… will… be… free! Like Stock, the rumbling floor keeps him Prone, but he will not suffocate! He calls out to the others to see if they’re ok. The quake vibrations keep him from reaching for his Bag, with the excavation tools, for now.
Delia reflexively whistled for Hawky at the strange shout, not having any idea what to expect, and then Rocks Fell! Delia and Hawky both managed to rotate so their vital organs weren’t squashed, but thousands of pounds of rocks really put a crimp in their plans! Not as bad though, if she hadn’t rolled herself and Hawky away from a Fissure that the Rocks were about to Pin her within! The shaking ground separated her and Hawky as the Rocks Pinned them both, her hand perhaps a full foot away from Hawky’s wings! Hawky! Oh no! He can’t possibly escape without help! Delia struggled mightily, but her body was honed by years of a mix of agility and strength training, not pure strength like Stock! Were all of them trapped? Would this be the End for the Shields???
Armalad looks around – Dolgrin was right behind her but… Oh no! Dolgrin must have been just outside the sphere’s radius! Where is he? I hope he’s conscious enough to do that walk-through-stone thing!
Thankfully, suddenly, after six seconds the ground ceases rumbling! A spell, or something very much like it! Or… a coincidence? Delia hears the Fissure snap shut a second later! That was close…
What do you do? (STILL IN ROUND-BY-ROUND ACTION)
(OOC –
1) Most of the free Shields are Prone – check above, and also check the Legend in the bottom right of the map, starting in cell AN37 with Armalad.
2) No one can see: Delia, Hawky, Dolgrin. Also, no one can see Armalad or Joker, but there is a peculiar bit of empty space covered by a thin layer of dust where they were standing…
3) Zanderallen’s escape means the Light on his Shield/Weapon/Whatever is now visible, and is the only nearby Light source – the Light arrow is a long distance away and may be buried under rocks for all the Shields know. If you want more light, then cast more Light spells or wait for the vibrations to stop so you can reach for a light source in your pack/bag.
Here’s what you can see for your next post:
Armalad & Joker – boulders block your vision on all sides. The top of the Sphere is covered in a thin layer of dust, and it is up here that you can see a diffuse light – not that you can see outside, but Zanderallen’s Light, or another source, must be nearby, but just can’t illuminate much for you. Low-Light Vision helps a little – enough to rummage through bags or packs if desired. Bartomus – Darkvision & Tremorsense, each 60’. (due to earth elemental form) Delia – Darkvision, but sight completely obscured by thousands of pounds of rock slowly suffocating her. Hawky – Blind in Dark, but sight completely obscured by thousands of pounds of rock slowly suffocating him. Stock – Darkvision 60’. Stohp – 20’ Light emanates from Zanderallen. The rest is Dark, and now there are boulders of varying size everywhere in sight, too, doing a good job of blocking much of the floor from Light. Zanderallen – 20’ Light emanates from something you have; I just forget if it was weapon, shield, or something else, but he was the backup Light after Armalad’s Light arrow.)
Armalad (Hugh) HP 134/134 AC 25 / Touch 19/ Flat 18 CMD 27 Friday May 3rd, 2024 12:41:29 AM
Armalad says to Joker, "Time to earn your keep. I want you to take out that wand of silent image I gave you and in large glowing yellow letters spell out in common say 20 feet outside the top of the sphere give or take 'Armalad and Joker are here in resilient sphere for 12 minutes. Dolgrin was behind us, lost sight of him. Help him first. We are okay. Can possibly leap free if A dismisses. Then add a glowing yellow arrow pointed in our direction at the bottom" Armalad pulls out an arrow and casts a light cantrip on it and holds it above her head, hopefully illuminating enough of the darkness beyond the top of the sphere that Joker can see to target and create the illusion
Joker does as directed taking out the wand and targeting the air space 20 feet beyond the top of the sphere in bright glowing yellow letters in Common in the largest font that can fit inside 5 10 foot cubes with enough room for a decent sized arrow below: "A and J are in 12 min. resilient sphere. Dolgrin behind us, lost sight of him. Help him first. We are ok. Can possibly leap free if A dismisses." He then adds a glowing yellow arrow pointed in their direction
Stohp (Mitch) HP: 147/147AC: 27/15/23 CMD: 26 (+4 vs grapple,+6 disarm, trip) d20+24=36 ; d20+23=30 ; Friday May 3rd, 2024 7:19:46 AM
Stohp draws her staff and casts True Seeing on herself (Use Magic Device 36). Now able to see she tries to spot the enemy (perception 30)
Bartomus(Rod) HP: 101/144 AC 21; (150/150) Glv +16 2d8+2 Slng +14 CMD 11 Melee 12/7/2;Perc+16;Heal+11 d20+16=22 ; Friday May 3rd, 2024 11:10:49 AM
Bartomus used the end of the shaking to get a sense by vibration where the others might be. Then words in bright light appear on a cave wall. Bartomus starts to giggle at the message and moves towards the others.
"Need to start digging," he says in a gravely voice as he nods to Zander and begins the effort to try to find Delia and her bird.
Move to AE/AF 34 and try to create a passage through which Delia and Hawkey can get out of the rubble. Perception 22
Zanderallen (Zachary H) 215/226 AC: 36 DR:5/Evil T: 15 FF: 35 CMD: 35 LoH 13/14 SE 6/6 Friday May 3rd, 2024 1:31:33 PM
Zanderallen stands to let the light from his shield illuminate the space around him, as far as the dust allows. Fighting back a coughing fit he finishes pulling tools out of his bag of holding as he moves over to where he last saw Dolgrin. "I'll start on Dolgrin." =================== Move action to stand and move to AC33 Standard Action to remove a pick and shovel from the bag of holding
Delia (Hannah) HP: 124/124; AC 29/21/23; CMD 44 d20+33=45 ; Saturday May 4th, 2024 12:03:46 AM
Delia will crawl her way out of the elemental tunnel, picking up Hawky along the way if the tunnel gets them both. If not, she helps direct Bart to where he is, "Thanks, Bart. Cave ins are much easier when one of you is the cave."
Once Hawky is safe, she joins Stohp in trying to pinpoint any enemies mostly by hearing.
Perception: 45 (49 v abberations)
Stock (JonM) HP: 305/316; AC: 32/30/15; DR 4/-; CMD: 42; Rage: 1/44 used Saturday May 4th, 2024 1:48:40 AM
Stock lets his rage pass and then stands and heads back to help dig. He gets to Armalad and reaches to grab a boulder from the side of the sphere.
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