The descending passage leads about 1,000 feet deeper into the earth before the roughly hewn tunnel widens to a terrace, at least 20 feet wide and long, with a ceiling rising 8 or 10 feet. The porch has no far wall, instead opening into a great, echoing hollow. This close to the cavernous rift, the air seems charged as if a great storm is imminent. The walls of the opening ascend and descend, moving closer together as they rise into darkness, forming a wider space as the go downward. Two humanoid form lie unmoving near where the terrace drops off into the hollow.
One of the corpses is a male Halfling in violet robes. The other is a toppled statue of a wide-eyed female goblin.
What do you do next?
Starting positions for Turn 4 are displayed on the Combat Map.
Please submit your turn instructions using the Player Action Response - Turn Post Template
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Party Health:
Thurstan 62/62, Mr. Wolfe 43/43, Banjo 52/52, Clint 57/57, Dargoth 72/72,
Kirlic 69/69, Turok 67/67, N'Kima 63/63
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Map Key
Brown is floor.
Black is an opening shrouded in darkness above and below.
Banjo casts Mage Armor.
ReplyDelete"Well, there's the last two graverobbing thugs. Kinda disturbing that one of em got herself turned to stone, don'tcha think?"
I assume Clint will want to roll the bodies. Detect Magic is still up.
Thurstan inspects the bodies for cause of deatH.
ReplyDeleteMr. Wolfe scents/looks around.
[12] [10] [6] [14] [10] [7]
Kirlic –
ReplyDeleteGets nervous -
GM Turn Post #4
Talk- "Careful. Thurstan. If whatever killed them went down that hole, it can probably come back up."
Move – Squeeze by to B9, or some other open square along the back wall, draw my bow and nock an arrow.
Use Ability/Item/Skill – Trying to figure out what this room is- was it built this way? Is the hole natural? Did someone run into this hole on accident while LARPing Minecraft??
Perception - [3] +12 = 15
Misc - 16,3,14,19,5,11,3,1,5,20
Turok GM Turn Post #4
ReplyDeleteTurok assists Thurstan by 'aiding another' to give him a bonus to his roll.
ooc: Roll(1d20)+7:
4,+7
Total:11
Turok takes a rock out of his medicine bundle and smiles. He says some strange words and tosses it up a bit. It hovers near his head and then begins to orbit about the druid.
"Turok will have N'Kima carry body of Banjo when Banjo turned to stone. Pigeons will like Banjo."
Banjo looks from N'Kima to Turok to N'Kima again. "Well all right, but if N'KIMA gets turned to stone, there's NO WAY I can carry HIM."
ReplyDelete"What?, Hast thou no Ant Haul spell?"
ReplyDelete"I am but a small Chelaxian outcast, fleeing from devil-worshiping overlords, trying to make my humble way in the vast world with just a meager selection of minor magicks. I must leave the wonders of Ant Haul to wiser casters."
ReplyDeleteThurstan and Turok examine the bodies.
ReplyDeleteThe goblin appears to be a statue. There are no signs of trauma.
The halfling was shot with several arrows which have all been removed. There are also bite marks on his face made by a tiny fanged creature.
There is a note clutched in the halfling's hand. Two empty bags lay near the bodies.
Kirlic believes the edge and the dark opening to be natural formations.
Banjo gets a background count of magic coming from the open area. He is pretty sure that the party has discovered an earth node, a pocket of naturally occurring magical power.
Mr. Wolfe finds a faint set of tracks left by a medium-sized humanoid wearing boots. The tracks lead to the edge of the terrace and it appears that the creature walked off the edge.
My thoughts look at the fangs to see if they are bat, snake or spider bites.
ReplyDeleteTake the note that is clutched in the halfling's hand and read it.
Look at the base of the Statue to see if it has a name or plaque telling it of there exploits.
[9] [8] [3] [11] [7]
Clint gives the note a look, as well... he also searches along the edge of the chasm, looking for and signs of a ladder... narrow path... check to see how suitable it is for climbing... keeping bow out, and ready in case something flies up at us.
ReplyDeleteRolls:
[15] [3] [19] [7] [3]
"Perhaps someone could drop a torch down there and see if you can spy anything on the way down, or detect where the bottom might be?"
ReplyDeleteKirlic is keeping himself near the back wall, watching for movement. Dead bodies next to a massive magical hole unsettle him. Actually, he was fine with the bodies. More specifically, magical holes big enough for a dragon to fly out of unsettle him.
Does the chasm have a tall ceiling, or does it match the 6-8' porch ceiling we're standing in?
"Dropping things down shafts can be 'bad'. I heard about a halfling. that touched a DB on the edge of a well in some old dwarven mines, sending it down the hole. it lead to opening a portal to the elemental plane of ORCS."
ReplyDeleteBanjo nods. "Something about 'throw yourself in next time and spare us the trouble' is how that story goes. Throwing a torch into the darkness... alerts whatever lurks in the darkness that someone is here."
ReplyDeletePoint taken then. Throw Clint down? He's quieter. ;)
ReplyDeleteto bad Randy's witch isn't here, she floats.
ReplyDeleteIs there any practical use we can make of an Earth Node?
ReplyDeleteOr should we just be on the lookout for underground druids and Earth bloodline sorcerers?
On behalf of Hans:
ReplyDeleteGM Turn Post #4
Turok
“Turok and N’Kima will climb down. That way Turok get first choice of treasure and N’Kima get second choice.” To send this point home, Turok takes the empty bags on the corpse and puts them in his pack. Turok then unhooks his rope from his pack. He hooks the grappling hook onto the statue and the ground and tests to see if it will hold his weight. If it does, he will lower the coil down the hold first (unless the party objects). He speaks to N’Kima, “Unk Mongoni!” N’Kima hauls himself over the side and climbs down along the rope to catch Turok if he falls. The glowing stone orbiting Turok lights they way as he goes down.
Lots of questions and now answers ...
ReplyDeleteMatt H,
The note is in a language that Clint does not recognize (or any other member of the party) but he believes that he has puzzled it out:
Fadheela,
I have been delayed. My servants carry the king's bones and all of the items of his champions that I could find. Merthύvial I cannot locate. I shall spend a bit more time trying to find it, but I am sending these on so our rendezvous is not compromised. Please give the Vanguard my regards. I shall be along shortly.
- Xeron
Matt F,
The bites appear to be snake but you cannot tell what type. The statue does not have a base and as such does not have a name or any other identifying marks. It is remarkably life-like.
Brad,
Beyond the tunnel, no ceiling can be seen given current lighting and elevation for the terrace and the open space. Generally the walls appear to slope inward as they ascend and outward as they descend.
Dave,
Yes there are practical uses of earth nodes. It normally requires a specialized study of magic (something that wizards that live on a coast cooked up) but there are often other effects that can be harnessed by the skilled yet untrained. You will have to investigate further to determine more.
Hans,
Turok and N'Kima only have 100 feet of rope between them. Do you plan to share one line or each climb on their own line? You are not certain of the depth of the climb and the walls appear to slope away deeper down.
On behalf of Hans:
ReplyDeleteSince the Ape has a Climb movement, he doesn’t need a rope. The 50’ from N’Kima will be added to Turok’s rope.
Are you done investigating the terrace? Is the plan to climb down on ropes as a group or wait for the frontguard to say it is safe?
ReplyDeleteFor anyone climbing, I will need rolls for the climb checks. 10 rolls should cover it.
Just in case someone missed it: one victim turned to stone, and another victim snakebit to death. The only other thing they could do is post a sign saying: MEDUSA CROSSING NEXT 5 MILES.
ReplyDeleteI would guess the rest of us would climb down when the big monkey disappears from sight or when Turok signals us down.
ReplyDeleteBanjo makes sure his potion of Levitate is handy, since he has no Climb skill to speak of. I realize I will only be able to use it if the fall is longer than one round.
Climb rolls:
11, 19, 7, 9, 5, 16, 3--WHUAAAhoohoohooey!!!
Does a miss by 2=fall, or no progress for that round? Either way, moar rollz:
7, 13, 1, 20, 9
not medusa, basilisk.
ReplyDeleteI'll wait to go down last, drawing my elven blade to guard the corridor as people climb down. When the last person disappears from view/reaches bottom (whichever happens first) I'll sheathe the blade and climb down myself. I want to be sure no one cuts the rope as people descend.
ReplyDeleteClimb rolls: 13,9,17,11,5,15,20,1,10,3
(all rolls are +9, yes there's goddamn 1 in there, lol. Maybe the 20 in front of it is me showboating right before I fall.)
"Since when do Basilisks shoot arrows? Clearly it was a Medusa, RIDING a basilisk" Clint disgustedly spits off the side of the ledge, and waits to see if he hears a splat... Assuming he does not (probably more than 80ft down)he puts away his weaponry, and begins to descend...
ReplyDeleteRolling:
[11] [19] [15] [8] [19] [15] [1] [5] [8] [18]
Per the rulebook:
ReplyDeleteA Climb check that fails by 4 or less means that
you make no progress, and one that fails by 5 or more means that you fall from whatever height you have already attained.
If the ropes are knotted, the DC is 5. If they are not the DC is 15. A knotted rope will have its effective length shortened to about 40 feet.
The only ones I see having any difficulties with a knotted rope are Banjo and Dargoth. They fall on a roll of 1. Almost evryone could have issues with an unknotted rope. Mr. Wolfe will need assistance either way. It is automatic for a strong character to lower another up to twice their normal load.
For N'Kima, also from the rulebook:
A creature with a climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened
while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb, it moves at double its climb speed (or at its land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a –5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing,
and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.
This climb is no problem but some climbs might be one.
Decent to the Bottom of the world.
ReplyDeleteooc: Too bad this is not Hex then we could kill Nazi's!
Top 10 Rolls on the Board.
[18] [16] [9] [21] [15] [10] [18] [24] [14] [14]
The party has 200 feet of silk rope and 100 feet of hemp rope. That will allow for 240 feet of knotted rope. When you get to the bottom, do you plan to leave a rope behind you? It might be difficult to climb out without it even for N'Kima as the walls slant toward the center of the cavern.
ReplyDeleteooc: I carry a grappling hook, but I have a feeling you're going to choke laughing when I ask what the DC to throw a hook and 300' of knotted rope up to that ledge is. :) (anyone bring a catapult?)
ReplyDeleteI think the rope will have to be left behind.
Clint gently pokes Turok... "Hey... I don't suppose Mighty N'Kima could scamper back up there and grab our rope, could he? I mean... *HE* doesnt need the rope, does he?"
ReplyDeleteLooking at grappling hook rules... I need to hit AC5 at 10', with a 10' range increment. My best roll would be [20]+9= 29, meaning I could eventually make a 250' throw and get the rope back up there.
ReplyDeleteI have an answer to the rope problem. if someone can carry mr Wolfe down, I can bring the rope. and later I can get the rope back up. I'll post soon. I'm at the dr office now.
ReplyDelete..ta da..
ReplyDeleteThe big reveal..
Thurstan waits till last (and for someone to carry Mr.Wolfe, who has buckles and straps for carrying) then hauls up the rope, stores it, casts GASEOUS FORM on himself.
It'll last 10 minutes, with a flying speed of 10'/rnd I should have time to scout around a bit once I'm at the bottom.
[6] [4] [20] [8] [4] [1] [6] [10]
(stupid roller)
.
Elegant solution. Thurstan's plan should work.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, N'Kima is one off of being able to take 10 and climb the wall without a roll. The DC is 25 and his Climb skill is only 14. It will take a single d20 roll of 11+ for the ape to make the climb without a rope.
Man, I thought Mr Wolfe was kidding about Thurstan being a bit farty.
ReplyDeleteI can handle Mr.Wolfe. (current weight is at 73/260) Let's keep Dargoth unencumbered at the bottom.