Re: Adventure #2 - The Shadow Man

[Glitz]

Elodie considers Talmut’s question and the powers of the items that he has described. “I wouldn’t mind that ring if no one else minds, and I personally feel that Maius would benefit most greatly from the headpiece if he is willing to claim it. The scepter probably holds great power, though, so why don’t you keep it until we are able to determine exactly what it does?” Elodie gestures towards Talmut.

In response to Jeremiah’s question,  Elodie says, “Unless anyone objects, I’m okay with leaving these mean bugs right here and moving on.”

[Malazek]

OOC: How big is the chest...is it backpackable, or floating diskable?

The two chests weigh 25 pounds each ... well within the limits of Talmut's Floating Disk spell, but way too big to fit inside a pair of backpacks.
  

OOC: Engineering check to see if there are any false bottoms in the chests and sarcophagus.

Talmut finds no evidence of a false bottom or hidden compartment, in either of the chests. Or the sarcophagus.

[Alpha Omega]

After collecting himself, Jeremiah will keep both axes drawn and proceed to press on through the catacombs.

[Malazek]

After Gumphrey gets another torch lit ... the party presses on, wading through the water and the muck, as they travel further down the hall. There is no sign of any more "plant people." About halfway down the hall, they pass a side passage with heavy stone door. Upon the door is the graven image of a ram's head and the phrase "Defluo est Cado" (which Maius and Talmut recognize as Augustine, but the translation is ambiguous, because "defluo" and "cado" have multiple meanings).

The phrase on the door can be translated simply as "to fall is to fall" ... but it could also be translated as "to pass is to fail" or "to descend is to die" or something similar. The lack of context makes it difficult to be more precise, but the symbol of the ram's head is often associated with the underworld.

OOC: If anyone took any of the treasure from that last room, be sure to indicate it on your character sheet.

[Alpha Omega]

After hearing this translation Jeremiah speaks up...

"Hmm. Gumphrey maybe you should be going first..."

[Glitz]

Elodie will slip the ring on one of her fingers and activate the power, unless someone else wants to claim it. She will follow the group in line, seconding Jeremiah's suggestion that Gumphrey lead.

OOC: Elodie will also grab the crown and the scepter and throw them in her bag, unless someone wants to claim them. 

[Swifthand]

At Elodie's gesture, Talmut will put the scepter in his backpack.  " I agree,  I do not usually truck with figments and illusions myself."

At the doorway, the conjuror will cast Detect Magic, very wary of the inscription.

[Malazek]

Talmut's spell reveals no signs of magic. After Maius translates the message for the rest of the party, Gumphrey takes Jeremiah's suggestion and moves to the head of the line. He turns toward the door and begins inspecting it with his tools, just like he did at the secret door in the last room. After a minute or two, he announces "I see no evidence of traps ... and it doesn't appear to be locked, either. Should I open it?"

[Glitz]

"Open it," Elodie urges Gumphrey, holding her hands out in front of her as she prepares to strike any foes on the other side of the door with a blast of fire.

Ready an action: if there's an enemy on the other side of the door, Elodie casts Fire Bolt.
Attack Roll = 6 (4 + 2)  

[Malazek]

Gumphrey easily pops the door ajar ... water from the hall you are in suddenly slams the door open as it rushes past you and through the open doorway. The force of the current washes Talmut and Elodie off their feet, pushing them under Jeremiah and toward the door way, where they slam into Gumphrey, as well. Fortunately, the clever woodsman is able to regain his balance and the advance of those behind him. Poor Gumphrey wasn't so lucky ... when the others bowled into him from behind, he lost his balance and was washed into the next room, where he appeared to drop out of sight. Only Maius managed to keep his footing entirely.

- Gumphrey's Acrobatics (Balance) check = 12 (3 on the die)
- Jeremiah's 1st Acrobatics (Balance) check = 19 (16 on the die)
- Elodie's Acrobatics (Balance) check = 6 (5 on the die)
- Talmut's Acrobatics (Balance) check = 8 (6 on the die)
- Maius's Acrobatics (Balance) check = 27 (19 on the die)

- Jeremiah's Reflex Save = 13 (10 on the die -4 circumstance penalty)
- Gumphrey's Reflex Save = 12 (6 on the die -4 circumstance penalty)

As the murky dank water washes over you, rushing into the next room, you manage to regain your bearings (and get back to your feet). A deep chasm seems to dominate the next room, ringed by the remains of whatever floor once stood over it. Another door can be seen across void.

[Glitz]

Standing next to Jeremiah, Elodie attempts to see Gumphrey in the darkness below. "Gumphrey?" she calls. She starts to unwind her rope and looks for something to fasten it to, so that Gumphrey might be able to climb out of the pit.

[Swifthand]

As we slide, Talmut uses the Staff of Nu'ul to call the spirits of air to make his closest companions light as a feather.

OOC: Cast Featherfall as an immediate action on myself, Gumphrey, and whoever else is closest to the edge (1 other person).

OOC: Sorry 'bout the late reaction, I have been working under the 3rd edition assumption that I could only cast Featherfall on myself.  Reading is FUNdemental.


- Concentration Check = 22 (14 on the die +3 level +5 INT mod)

[Malazek]

As we slide, Talmut uses the Staff of Nu'ul to call the spirits of air to make his closest companions light as a feather.
OOC: Cast Featherfall as an immediate action on myself, Gumphrey, and whoever else is closest to the edge (1 other person).

Even as he falls and gets jostled around, Talmut manages to cast a vital spell. In all the commotion, nobody else seems to notice; to every one but Talmut, it looks as if Gumphrey has simply fallen out of sight ... possibly to very grave ending.

- OOC: Also, Jeremiah is closest to the edge ... so I assume he is the third target?

Standing next to Jeremiah, Elodie attempts to see Gumphrey in the darkness below. "Gumphrey?" she calls. She starts to unwind her rope and looks for something to fasten it to, so that Gumphrey might be able to climb out of the pit.

As Elodie peers over the edge, rope in hand, she sees Gumphrey swimming frantically below ... and trying with all his might to keep his torch above water. It looks like he fell almost 40 yards, but amazingly, he appears uninjured! The murky pool, however, is becoming more and more turbulent, as the water level quickly rises around him. Elodie looks for something to fasten her rope to, but aside from the stone door (swinging freely above the chasm), there doesn't appear to be much available ... whatever sconces or rails may (or may not) have stood here, once upon a time, they have long since rusted or rotted away. The only thing the stone walls seem to offer now is fungus and mildew.

[Glitz]

OOC: Does Elodie spot any debris in the water that might belong to part of the railings or sconces? If so, is she able to grab a piece before they are washed down into the hole with Gumphrey, so that she might be able to cast Mending?

[Malazek]

The debris includes pieces of rotten wood, dead bugs, animal waste, leaves, plant matter, mold, and other unidentifiable things. It is possible that some of it used to be part of a railing, or something similar, but it's impossible to tell. Certainly, Elodie could grab a few pieces before they float by, in order to cast a Mending spell on them ... the only way to be sure whether or not it would work is to actually try it out. Sconces, on the other hand, are typically made of metal. If they rusted away, any remaining pieces would have sunk to the bottom (that is, they wouldn't float).

- OOC: At this level, Elodie can only affect objects that were 3 pounds or less ... and the pieces of the object have to be within 10 feet of her. A short railing might only weigh 3 or 4 pounds, but most railings would weigh close to double that; a sconce might only weigh a pound or two.

With that plan in mind, Elodie quickly gathers up a few pieces of ancient wood and locates a chunk of rusted metal on the floor beside her. After casting a few Mending spells on different pieces of wood, she finds herself holding what looks like the handle of a hafted tool (maybe a hatchet or a mallet). After casting it on the rusted metal, she now has a metal bracket of some sort ... possibly a sconce, but more likely the railing bracket.

[Alpha Omega]

OOC: Who all has rope and is it long enough for 40 yards? Also, is there somewhere that i can hook the grappling hook onto?
OOC: I don't have my rope on me, its on the horse, which we could run back and get..

[Glitz]

OOC: 40 yards is 120 feet. I have 50 feet of rope with me, so assuming that everyone has similar lengths, we would need three lengths to reach our poor friend Gumphrey...

[Swifthand]

"I have no rope, but I believe we have enough on the horses. We should go back and get it - quickly."

Talmut will run back and get ropes.

O.O.C. - Headed up north tonight of the holiday, will post when able.

[Malazek]

Jeremiah's rope was used to climb down into these ruins when the part first arrived. It was secured with a knot (OOC: see Page 3) and is therefore still back at the entrance. Elodie has one rope on her person and another on her horse ... but her horse is the only horse with an extra rope on it. (Randall's horses had ropes on them, but they were all taken an by hungry giants). Also, Maius has a rope.

So, for now, the party has two ropes. Talmut is running back to fetch a third. Maius will go with him.

- (OOC: Since Mack hasn't posted in awhile, I am just deciding that Maius goes with him ... exercising the buddy system, and all that). Are Jeremiah and Elodie doing anything while those two are gone?

For now, Gumphrey seems to be staying afloat ... but who knows how long he can keep it up?

[Alpha Omega]

Jeremiah will stay behind and look for debris that floats, that he can safely toss down for Gumphrey to use for a floatation device.

[Malazek]

There is lots of floating debris drifting by ... most of it is washing over the ledge and into the chasm with Gumphrey, but Jeremiah is able to speed along some of the bigger pieces as they get hung up near the corner and walls. None of the pieces are really all that big, but every bit helps.

[Glitz]

Elodie tries to close the door behind Talmut and Maius, hoping to slow the flow of water down into the chasm and make it easier for Gumphrey to stay afloat until Talmut and Maius return with the rope.

- GM Edit: What door? Talmut and Maius are not running through a door, they are running back the way you came. The stone door that Gumphrey opened is between the party and the chasm, currently swinging (open) above the chasm. There is another stone door across the chasm, but Talmut and Maius have no way to get to it. You can try to close the door Gumphrey opened, but it will not be "behind" Talmut and Maius. You can see it on the map.

[Malazek]

As Talmut and Maius slosh their way back toward the entrance of the ruins, they move quickly from one room to the next, until they are surprised by another crocodile attack! The smell of its deceased kin and the sudden drop in water level must have brought it out of its den ... regardless of that realization, however, they are caught totally off-guard.

- OOC: With Maius MIA and Talmut up north, I'll just post through the entire combat.
- Gator's Stealth Roll = 30 (17 on the die)

Surprise Round
The gator erupts from the water, clamping its jaws onto Talmut and dragging him under, as it begins to twist and turn in the water. Maius stares in shock as his companion's blood begins to cloud the already murky water.

- Attack Roll = 23 (17 on the die); 12 Damage plus Grab
- Grapple Check = 30 (vs. Talmut's 11 CMD). Death Roll = 13 Damage
- Talmut is Prone and Dying.

Initiative
- Maius's Initiative = 13 (11 on the die)
- Gator's Initiative = 8 (7 on the die)
- Talmut's Initiative = 4 (2 on the die)

Round 1
Regaining his composure, Maius immediately begins casting a spell that should coax the creature into a slumber. As he does, his hand drifts to his pouch, producing the fine sand, rose petals, and live cricket needed for the spell. When he finishes, the beast is sound asleep.

- Cast SLEEP.
- Gator's Will Save = 5 (3 on the die)
- Talmut's Death Save = 5 (3 on the die) Suffer 1 Damage (-7 now)

Round 2
Maius pries Talmut's limp form from the Gator's maw and drags him a short distance toward the exit.

- Talmut's Death Save = 21 (19 on the die) Stabilized.

Round 3
Maius uses the last of his magic to tend to Talmut's wounds.

- Cast Cure Light Wounds. Talmut regains 10 Hit Points (7 on the die), bringing him to 3 Hit Points.

Round 4
With Talmut once again conscious, Maius helps him to his feet. Before continuing on, they decide to "finish off" the monster, so it won't be waiting for them when they return. They move to opposite sides of the beast and prepare for the attack.

- Move & Ready Actions.

Round 5
Simultaneously, they strike ... and kill the beast.

- Coup de Grace. Talmut deals 4 Damage.
- Gator's Fort Save = 14 (6 on the die) vs. DC 14.
- Coup de Grace. Maius deals 9 Damage.
- Gator's Fort Save = 17 (11 on the die) vs. DC 19. It dies.

End Combat
With their adversary defeated, they move quickly to the rope Jeremiah left behind. Bracing their feet against the wall, they climb to the surface and retrieve the spare rope from Elodie's horse. Still in a rush to save Gumphrey, they climb back down the rope and make haste toward the rest of the party. Weary of another ambush, they move cautiously past the "Gator Room" but once clear of it, they return to their previous breakneck pace, racing through the halls.

__________

- OOC: Does Elodie still close the door? It won't be "behind" Talmut and Maius, the way you posted it ... the door is between the party and the chasm, hanging above the chasm itself. Maius and Talmut ran the other way.

[Glitz]

OOC: I meant the door that Gumphrey opened. I thought that we were all slightly inside the room but I see on the map that we are still in the hallway. So once Talmut and Maius depart to go get the ropes, Elodie will close the door to slow down the water pouring into the chasm.

GM Edit: Ok.

[Malazek]

When Talmut and Maius leave, Jeremiah and Elodie are left in darkness. The only light they have  is the distant glow of Gumphrey's torch, at the bottom of the chasm. Nonetheless, Jeremiah is able to float some debris down to his companion while Elodie uses her magic recreate a metal bracket and a wooden handle. Hoping to calm the water Gumphrey must tread, Elodie reaches out over the chasm and pulls the stone doors shut ... as they close, they click into place, leaving Elodie and Jeremiah in total darkness.


A minute or two later, Talmut and Maius return, with the spare rope ... and some light. Talmut is badly injured.

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