Re: Book One: Chapter Five: "Veiled Trespasses"

[151prooftattoos]

Davin will grab the Half-Orc's discarded crossbow, cartridge, and tripod (as well as his own crossbow). On the way back, he will check what bodies he can, but will make sure to check the EoG's. He will also grab the Everburning Torch and replace it in Hound's loop.

"I second that. Let's move."

O.O.C. - Don't let me forget Sending ritual when we are in a safe spot.

-Swift

[151prooftattoos]

Straegis II: HP:81/74 AC:24 Fort:22 Ref:22 Will:19 Healing Surges:8/8 Action Points:0

Straegis helps with the quick checking of the bodies, offering the opened bag of holding to everyone, for anything that looks interesting or needs to be inspected later. Straegis pulls out the map they bought from the bazaar and says, "Vangg, Tulgaarnuk help me take a look at this map, we're gonna need something that at least resembles a plan."


Dungeoneering(to Assist): 1d20=8+5(half-lvl)=13
History(maps): 1d20=3+16=19
Perception(maps): 1d20=14+5(half-lvl)=19

EDIT: If there is a second spear, Straegis will grab one also.

[151prooftattoos]

"Let's beget aways from 'eres an' check da bedamned maps on da ways an' what nots."

Dungeoneering on the map:1d20+14=21

[151prooftattoos]

Mordax shows momentary confusion, brows furrowed. Picking up a spear discarded in the shadows, he murmurs to himself "Could've used this in tha' fight. S'pose I'll jus' hang on tae it fer' a bit."

Trying hard to downplay his muddled state, he declares "Onward, fair 'un's, tis tae vengeance we march!"

[151prooftattoos]

"I shall clean us up." Alex says as the group converge in a safe spot. It doesn't take long. As usual he removes the blood simply by commanding it to congeal in a corner and not on your armour. Then he washes everyone down with splashes of water that swirl around your body before causing it very quickly to evaporate away. Leaving everyone in the party looking and smelling much cleaner.

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Prestitidigitation.
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As the group discuss moving on, he certainly adds. "Yes. Lets make haste before more of the damned things appear. Although...I wonder where the one that teleported away went."

[151prooftattoos]

The party loots as quickly as possible. Verity takes the small chest. Davin grabs the heavy crossbow and its accessories, as well as his own crossbow and the EBT. Straegis grabs the EoG's spear, then he and Davin loot the bodies. Mordax recovers his own forgotten spear.

And then, they're off. Quickly they hurry along, trying to get away from this grisly scene. It's a frantic race, and distant torch lights appear before they get very far. Picking up the pace, they hurriedly look for a place to freshen up.

A thousand yards from the fight, they find a wide closet on the side of the hall; it's sliding wooden door left open, it's spacious room left empty (save for an old rusty bucket).

Stepping into the cubby, Alex cleans the blood away as Verity touches up the make-up. The brother's Rinh peruse the map for an alternate route, but find none available; the map simply doesn't present any.

For a moment, Taalgarnuk entertains the notion of shutting the door and waiting it out ... but after thinking it through, he realizes how long of a wait that would really be. There will be Orks out there for a quite awhile now.

Alex's query evokes some concerns. Where did the half-ork teleport to? How long will it take for his account of the battle to reach the ears of other orks? Will your disguises compromised? Hopefully the party can get far enough away that they won't be surrounded by Orks when it happens.

And they set out again. Minutes later, they pass the first of what promises to be many, many orks: a band of thirty. Another is band is right behind them. Davin hides in the shadows. Vangg, Straegis, and Alex act their parts. The rest of the party merely has to keep their cool.

After a cursory glance at their spotless disguises, the first group passes them by. The second group does the same, but takes a moment to say "Bad place ta be, ye all. Better move along." The party complies.

A third group passes. Then, the first group comes back up from the rear, and passes the party in the opposite direction. Their leader looks to Alex as if he's going to speak, but his eye's wander to skull dangling from his neck, and the Ork thinks better of it. They continue on.

Hide 34; Bluff 26, 33, 21

A couple hours pass before the heroes see anything other than orks and worgs, and it's well into the afternoon before they find a safe spot to rest. The map promises an intersection with dead ends in both directions; but when the party gets there, they find a battlemented wall blocking one the passages. Vangg can easily tell that the wall was constructed in the last year or so.

Quietly, the party's scout scales the wall, and looks around. It seems to be empty? Who'd wall off a dead-end? After ropes are lowered, the entire party takes refuge behind the wall.

Short rest. Spend some surges if you need to; refresh your encounter powers. That last fight was a double; it counts as a full milestone (you get back an AP, and one use of an item daily).

As they eat lunch, they examine their booty.
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____

The half-orks heavy crossbow was an ingenious weapon, even before it was enchanted. Without the box mechanism, it's basically a superior crowssbow (+3 Prof, d10 Damage, 20/40 Range, 31 gp, 8 lb, Load minor, but the box mechanism transforms it into a superior repeating crossbow (+1 Prof, d10 Damage, 15/30 Range, 35 gp, 9 lb, Load Free). It's repeating mode is difficult to handle, requiring a bit of muscle; but with the tripod attached, that problem is mitigated (attaching the tripod takes a move action, but raises the Prof bonus of the repeating form to +2). Furthermore, the crossbow itself is enchanted.

Mardogc's Crossbow (Level 13, 17000 gp)
Weapon: Superior Repeating Crossbow
Enhancement: +3 Attack rolls and damage rolls
Critical: +3d6
Power (Daily): Free Action. Use this power when you hit a target with this weapon. Make a basic attack with this weapon against a target of your choice.


At first, the EoG's spear seems like an ordinary spear, but after fiddling with it for a few minutes, Straegis discover's it's convenient properties.

The EoG's Spear (Level 11, 9000 gp)
The EoG's weapon transforms into any other melee weapon the wielder desires.
Weapon: Spear?
Enhancement: +3 Attack rolls and damage rolls
Critical: +3d6 damage
Power (Encounter ✦ Polymorph): Minor Action. Change the weapon into a different weapon from any melee category (simple, military, or superior). This effect lasts until the end of the encounter, or until you end it as a minor action.


Mordax picks up the spear he set down; after buying it in jaru, he keeps forgetting to use it.

Flesh Seeker (Level 2, 520 gp)
Thinner than most weapons of its type, this weapon slips between rmored plates and even magic defenses.
Weapon: Spear
Enhancement: +1 Attack rolls and damage
Critical: +1d6 damage
Power (Encounter): Free Action. Use when you hit an enemy with this weapon. You gain a +1 power bonus on your next attack against that target with this weapon.

Taalgarnuk offers to help Verity with the chest, and asks Davin to help him. The two examine the lock and spot a small spring loaded needle inside the mechanism; they easily disable it. Not expecting to find anything, they pop the box open, and see for themselves that it's empty. Bare. As they're about to close it, however, Davin's keen sees that one of the boards in the lid doesn't fit quite right. Taking his shortsword, he pops the board loose; three tiny diamonds, less than a gram a piece, tumble out of it. Alex and Straegis realize right away what you've found: astral diamonds (three of them)!
_____ _____ _____ _____ _____

After lunch, the party is on the move again. Orks are still mulling about, but notably less often. The party is a little weary of passing the tunnels that seems to head off toward the Illithids, but they pass by it with no trouble. The tunnels are suspiciously empty (aside from orks, a few more trolls and mixed group of goblinoids is all they see), but the party makes good time.
Stealth 21; Bluff 29, 28, 19

Near the end of the day, the party is faced with a choice: stop an hour earlier than planned and spend the night in what looks to be a dead end ... OR ... press on and just hope a to find a safe place that isn't on the map?


_____ _____ _____ _____ _____

OOC: The party gets 1296 XPs for the Ork fight.
They also get 667 for the Disguises SC.
That bring everyone to a total of 24,090.

So what it gonna be? Lose an hour of travel by resting safely OR maintain your daily pace and risk not having a safe place to sleep? You decide.

[151prooftattoos]

The Deathknight ponders before speaking. "I say we press on beyond these suspiciously empty tunnels that seem to lead off towards Mindflayer territory.
"We've passed defensible tunnels every few hours, ought not be too difficult to find another later tonight."

[151prooftattoos]

Alex fingers the skull at his neck...shuddering slightly. "I feel fairly confident today. Lets press on. Given an hour I could attempt to prepare even an undefensible coridoor with a magical warding, so even if we find nothing, we're not completely at loss. It's not a full proof shield, but it stops enemies entering within a small area. If we could find boxes again we could set up barricades if we really needed to."

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Alex is of course thinking of the Magic Circle ritual. I'm happy to continue, I haven't used any daily attack spells yet, just my healing spell.
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[151prooftattoos]

Davin nods in agreement with Alex and Verity.

"Does anyone mind if I use this new crossbow? I think I would like to train with it."

-Swift

[151prooftattoos]

The heroes decide to press on, confident that they can handle anything fate may throw at them. And of course, the passages marked on the map are not the only one's down here; many small doors and small side-passages line the sides of the underdark highway.

Twenty minutes after the decision is made, the party is nearly bowled over by forty goblins, frantically fleeing in the other direction. Curious, Davin scouts ahead, but before finding the cause of the stampede, he and the rest of the party are passed by a dozen or so equally frantic gnolls.

A moment later, Davin crosses a dead dragonborn soldier, two dead grimlocks, and burnt lump of flesh than can old be ... a dead eye tyrant? A moment or two later, the party passes the same scene.

Minutes later, Davin passes a massive iron door, flanked by two marble columns. The columns have been meticously carved to resembe nude, writhing, human shapes. Unusual writing has been carved into the stonework above the door. He presses on.

A little past the door, the hall is littered with charred bodies of varies species; all unidentifiable, but there are hundreds of them. Around the bend, maybe a quarter mile from Davin, is a group of 20 Drow, seemingly shaken and apparently involved in some kind of battle.

Then, Davin sees it ... a collossal red dragon, older than time itself, approaches from the shadows. With one bite, it swallows one of the Drow, whose broken corpse bursts into flames even as it is crunched up and swallowed. One of the Drow spearmen moves behind the wyrm, and is immediately crushed by the Dragon's swaying tail; the elf's body flies against the wall with sickening snap. Yet, at the same time, the Dragon's claws lash out, severing the spines of two more dark elves.

The other Drow run ... but they don't get very far before the dragon immolates them with its fiery breath. All of them.

Then, it lazily continues on it's way ... right toward the party (who's not only in it's path, but dressed like it's most recent meal).

Davin heads back to warn the party, and meets up with them just after they reach the iron door.

[151prooftattoos]

Alex laments with sadness his eagerness to study the various things they pass. Each passageway could hold bounty of knowledge most rare. As he hurries along the passages with the skull clanking on his sternum he wishes he was back in the library...with Katrina.

[151prooftattoos]

Upon return, Davin immediately begins to closely inspect the giant iron door.

"Colossal red dragon...coming quick....we need to get off the road. Help me with this, Tal. Cyl, come."

Perception=43

-Swift

[151prooftattoos]

"A re- WHAT?! We need to get off the road QUICK"

[151prooftattoos]

Verity raises his shield to provide cover for Davin and Tulgaarnuk as they work the lock of the great iron door. He peers warily through the slits in his helm in the direction of the dragon's thunderous footfalls.

[151prooftattoos]

Upon return, Davin immediately begins to closely inspect the giant iron door. "Colossal red dragon...coming quick....we need to get off the road. Help me with this, Tal. Cyl, come."

Perception=43

Davin and Taalgarnuk examine the door as quickly as they can, but given pressing matters, it isn't as thorough as they'd prefer ... still, neither is able to detect any sort of trap. (There are, however, FOUR very sturdy locks).

[151prooftattoos]

Obviously still shaken by the sight of the great wyrm, Davin turns to Alex and Straegis, his touchstone for all things Arcane, and speaks in a low whisper before wiping the beads of newly formed sweat off his brow with the back of his dirty sleeve.

"Any magical wards?"

-Swift

[151prooftattoos]

After Davin mentions fixing the map, Straegis responds "Tyrol, em mevne bal ekvir, A vernil sa riner ellrine bavil." (Cousin, I'm one step ahead of you, I've already been amending the map when I could.) He continues, "What I need is some occasional help from anyone trained in Dungeoneering. If I get that, the map will be flawless!" As they march on, Straegis takes a minute to get a better look at the EoG spear.

Just then Davin comes running back to tell the party about the red dragon, Straegis' jaw drops as his curiosity tries to get the best of him. He is fully aware of the impending danger, he has read several tales about them and their exploits, but he has never actually seen one in person. He shakes himself back to the task at hand and tries to assist his allies any way he can.

History(red dragon): 1d20=2+16=18

O.O.C.: dont forget to add these to the group inventory...

three tiny diamonds, less than a gram a piece, tumble out of it. Alex and Straegis realize right away what you've found: astral diamonds (three of them)!

[151prooftattoos]

Mordax . . . giggles?

Once the uncontrolable spasms of quiet laughter pass, he exclaims "I shoulda' known tha' gods had i'in fer' us when I failed tae kill tha' hag - twice. Weel, nothin' fer' it.

Putting his shoulder behind the weight of the door, he aids his companions in the closing.

Strength Check? 1d20+3=22*

"Doon through tha' wrigglers territory, then? There mus' be a way oot other tha' this. P'haps an ally oor three we'll find aginst tha' dwarves?"

*DM EDIT: Your Strength CHECK is your strength mod plus half your level.

[151prooftattoos]

After the others check for magical wards, Davin will try his hand at the locks.

Thievery=35
Thievery=35
Thievery=39
Thievery=34

O.O.C. - I added Tal's +2, assuming he was Aiding

-Swift

[151prooftattoos]

Aid with Dungeoneering on map when able:1d20+14=22

[151prooftattoos]

History(red dragon): 1d20=2+16=18

There are several historical records that speak of Dragons; but few detail their full powers and abilities. Still, everybody knows of their unpenetrable hides, their monstrous strength, their acute senses, their razor sharp claws, and most importantly, their fiery breathe. Historical records of Dragons usually involved entire populations being eaten and/or burned alive.

After the others check for magical wards ...

After a few seconds, Taalgarnuk says "Dat will taketh a too long while. Letss gitss sstart'd."

OOC: It'lll take Alex or Straegis a full minute to check for magic. Taalgarnuk doesn't wait that long to START on the locks, so he urges Davin to throw caution to the wind and start right away.

Davin will try his hand at the locks.
Thievery=35
Thievery=35
Thievery=39
Thievery=34

One by one, the old tumblers fall: click, click, click, click.
... but it still won't open; the old iron is jammed.

Verity raises his shield to provide cover for Davin and Tulgaarnuk as they work the lock of the great iron door. He peers warily through the slits in his helm in the direction of the dragon's thunderous footfalls.

With his shield set between the "dragon" and his friends, Verity watches the darkness ... after a minute, the sound of its heavy footsteps seems to be right on top of you.

Better hurry!!

Putting his shoulder behind the weight of the door ...
Strength Check? 1d20+8=27

Mordax steps over to help and shoulders it open.
Quickly the party heads through the door ... but it doesn't want to close anymore than it wanted to open!

he aids his companions in the closing.

With a loud bang, Mordax shoulders the door back, but it still doesn't close.
Strength Check? 1d20+8=10

He tries again, and the old iron pounds into position. The door is closed.
Strength Check? 1d20+8=22

There seems to be no way of re-locking it from this side (the Dragon won't fit through the door, anyway).

SC "Escape Conflagaration" = 333 XPs Each (24,423 Total).

[151prooftattoos]

On the other side of the iron door is a long straight hallway, with shelf-like crypts on either side. The hall itself is lit by EBTs that are periodically sconced high on the wall. The crypts are stacked cieling high, and run the length of the hall (or rather, as far as the eye can see). An inch-thick blanket of dust covers the floor as well as the bodies; decrepid old cobb webbs decorate every corner. Through the dust, the same strange writing can be seen; labelling each of the shelf-like crypts.

The dragon's heavy steps travel right past the door, fading as it continues on. Vangg and Taalgarnuk take a second to help Straegis update his map. It seems you've come to the place on the map that looks almost like a "studded sideways T."

[151prooftattoos]

Verity touches his holy symbol to his lips and mutters a short prayer of protection for the crypt's long dead inhabitants.

"From the map it looks like this passage leads due North and re-connects with the main tunnel. This path is the most direct route toward our destination. The orcs will not know to seach for us here and the dragon cannot enter. Too, we may be blessed with the opportunity to liberate souls cursed with undeath. Onward then?"

[151prooftattoos]

Looking to Alex and Straegis, Davin asks, "Before we go on, should we use the magic that would let you two read the script in here?"

-Swift

[151prooftattoos]

"Undoubtably that would take time we do not have. First to perform the ritual, and then to read. I'd prefer, perhaps, to wait until our circumstances change before we squandered our precious time. Say we meet another riddle on a door perhaps."

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