Here Comes the Mouth Episode 5: A Forgotten Battle
You head South.
The hallway is lined with images of battles - human vs human, human vs lizard man, human vs goblin, human vs snake man, humans vs flying brains with tentacles and beaks. Mike has reconnected
DaR From Another Place exclaims, "GRELL ALERT!"
Niamh examines all of these with interest. "Mm."
Everyone roll a Wisdom check, DC 15; Any backgrounds related ot noticing things in tombs apply (like Dungeoneering or Thievery). Don't forget to also add your level
Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+8"
Result is: (1d20+8) 13 for Harrowhark
Vendrik says, "roll d20+2"
Result is: (d20+2) 3 for Vendrik
DaR From Another Place exclaims, "Vendrik is enthralled by the great grell conspiracy!"
Kiara says, "roll 1d20+1+5"
Result is: (1d20+1+5) 11 for Kiara
Mike says, "roll 1d20+1"
Result is: (1d20+1) 2 for Mike
Frito says, "...wow."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+2"
Result is: (1d20+2) 11 for Manny Mo'Jac
DaR From Another Place says, "THE GRELL ARE AMONG US."
Manny Mo'Jac asks, "OOC Rod?"
Samantha says, "roll 1d20+3"
Result is: (1d20+3) 13 for Samantha
The party is busy studying interesting things on the walls, when... SWINGING BLADE TRAP TIME
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+5x6"
Result is: (1d20+5) 22 (1d20+5) 8 (1d20+5) 7 (1d20+5) 20 (1d20+5) 12 (1d20+5) 20 for Manny Mo'Jac
Akio says, "A bunch of us just got WRECKED."
Akio says, "Unless those were to-hit and not damage rolls."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d12x3"
Result is: (1d12) 5 (1d12) 11 (1d12) 9 for Manny Mo'Jac
Voice of John Biles says, "Those were hit"
Frito says, "And two out of three were still wrecked. ^^;;"
Vendrik is struck by a blade, dropping to 20 HP. Harrowhark is nailed in the side and drops to 16 HP. Luke's armor gets dented, dropping him to 18 HP. Do any of you want to spend a recovery?
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d10+2"
Result is: (1d10+2) 10 for Manny Mo'Jac
You are now past the blade trap but it may go off on your return unless someone disables it now. (That requires a Dex or Int check, DC 15 with relevant background.)
Akio says, "Wait wait, hold on."
Akio asks, "John, how does this result in my being at 16?"
Voice of John Biles says, "You were at 25 from last time."
DaR From Another Place ponders.
Akio says, "... okay, I'll take your word for that."
Voice of John Biles says, "I have paper records of everyone's HP"
Harrowhark says, "roll 1d8+2"
Result is: (1d8+2) 10 for Harrowhark
Akio says, "I've been keeping track on my sheet and somehow I missed that."
Manny Mo'Jac asks, "OOC Vendrik, you going to do a recovery? Does someone want to try to disarm the trap?"
Kiara takes a shot at disabling the trap.
Manny Mo'Jac exclaims, "OOC Okay!"
Vendrik says, "roll d10+3"
Result is: (d10+3) 13 for Vendrik
Kiara says, "roll 1d20+5+5"
Result is: (1d20+5+5) 26 for Kiara
Frito says, "That's more like it."
Kiara super-skillfully disables the pressure plate and blocks up the places the blades come out.
This trap is very disabled.
Niamh, looking unfazed by the blade that just scythed past her nose, just looks at Kiara. "You had one job," she says in a testy murmur.
DaR From Another Place says, "I guess in the end it doesn't much matter if I take it now or in combat. I might technically squeak out a few more off Harrow's bonuses, but probably better to not risk a lucky one shot."
Niamh says, "Next time do it BEFORE I am nearly bisected."
You pass down the hallway into a chamber illustrated with scenes of a mighty battle between the Barbarian King's forces and some evil wizard's army of golems.
Inside the chamber, there are six... basically, take iron golems, beat them to death, then sort of stich them together with wire and pose them threatening with blades on one side of the room. On the other side stand twelve leather-clad barbarians armed with spears and one chainarmored barbarian with an axe. They are all zombies, you think, as they're a bit rotten and twitch a little; they don't immediately trigger when you reach the room; on the far side of the room is a mist-filled archway with barbarian runes around the edge.
Samantha asks, "anybody pack holy magic?"
Harrowhark starts scanning the room immediately for anything that looks like control platforms or sigils.
Harrowhark says, "Niamh, this could be a Wizard's Chess scenario."
Harrowhark says, "... Sam, I am a walking wellspring of the holy power of the Raven Queen, a portal to her desmesnes of the dead."
Harrowhark says, "So yes."
Vendrik lets the magicy types do their thing, warily watching both golems and zombies for actions.
Niamh says, "A misnomer. It was more popular among Necromancers and sex-golem artificers."
Harrowhark says, "Yes, but the most well-known example in the literature is the set that Archmage Medivh built."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Roll a Dungeoneering check, DC 15, Harrowhark"
Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+8"
Result is: (1d20+8) 23 for Harrowhark
Kiara shrugs and just keeps an eye peeled for trouble.
Niamh examines the room, trying to figure out a control or trigger scheme, or at least what magical workings have been set up.
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Make a DC 15 Monastic Sage check, Mike"
Mike says, "roll 1d20+9"
Result is: (1d20+9) 16 for Mike
Harrowhark says, "Hmm. I -may- have been mistaken."
Niamh purses her lips, and frowns deeply. "This set of facts is disturbing."
Harrowhark asks, "Niamh, can you decipher the mystery of the portal without physically disturbing anything else in the room?"
Luke says, "So is everything going to try to kill ur, or do they fight each other?"
Harrowhark says, "Neither."
Harrowhark says, "The golems are pure ornamentation."
Niamh says, "I believe that if the portal is mishandled... a wrong password, or the like... it activates the zombies while sending the user somewhere dire. Where that might be, I do not know, but it is worth noting the the mage in the picture wears the robes of the RED College.
Harrowhark says, "The zombies will only trigger if we disturb anything in the room."
Luke says, "Oh good. I'd feel kind of bad beating up anything that shoddy."
Akio asks, "Mike, question. Can you levitate stuff? Or like... move it around remotely with mage hand or whatnot?"
Kiara says, "So keep your hands to yourselves?" She grins.
Tobias says, "Sure, as long as it's not too heavy."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d6+1"
Result is: (1d6+1) 6 for Manny Mo'Jac
Akio says, "Okay. I have an idea."
Akio says, "I think we might want to deliberately trigger the zombies, just to be safe... but on our own terms."
Akio says, "So my idea is this:"
Niamh says, lips pursing, "I can attempt to deduce the command words from the carvings and the common arcane power word principles of this era. However, this is a difficult and chancy matter which I cannot guarantee success on, and we will not know whether I have succeeded or failed until we use the words."
Akio says, "Niamh and I arrange ourselves behind the line of Iron Golems, using them as cover to block their approach."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC I will note, for your plans, that the golems are closer to the entrance and the zombies closer to the portal, in case it matters"
Akio says, "Luke and Vendrik arrange themselves in the gaps between golems in order to protect us and to force the zombies to funnel towards them. The rogues can maintain mobility or fight on the line, whichever."
Akio says, "But we should START the fight by having Niamh levitate a whole bunch of our lamp oil over to the zombies and drop it on them."
Akio says, "While one of the rogues has a fire arrow ready."
Tobias says, "I can carry -a- lantern at a time."
Tobias says, "Basically, I can do things that weak, puny Niamh can manage with one hand."
Frito asks, "I foresee a problem. What happens if triggering the zombies also triggers the golems?"
Tobias says, "With her mighty Strength 8."
Akio says, "The golems are decorative, Travis."
Voice of John Biles says, "I will say that Niamh basically can splash three zombies at a time with an oil skin. They will then trigger."
Akio says, "At least as far as Harrow and Niamh can tell."
Frito says, "Ah, I missed that line."
Voice of John Biles says, "Several people could all hurl oil, though."
Voice of John Biles says, "At the same time Niamh is doign her thing."
Akio says, "If Niamh can cover three, the rogues, Vendrik, and Niamh can probably all cover hurling MORE oil and somethng to start them on fire."
Akio asks, "Does this sound like a decent plan?"
Voice of John Biles says, "Sounds reasonable to me."
Tobias asks, "John, the 'transport people places' thing only activates if the PORTAL is messed with, not the Zombies, yes?"
Akio asks, "I am open to alternatives. Or maybe we just want to see if we can stunt our way through?"
Voice of John Biles says, "Yes."
Voice of John Biles says, "The portal can only affect people who pass through it."
Voice of John Biles says, "OR touch it wrong"
Tobias says, "Whatever we do I agree that clearing out the zombies is a wise move before we mess with anything else."
Voice of John Biles says, "IE, burning the zombies won't do anything to the portal."
DaR From Another Place says, "No bad touch on the portal! Portal no means no."
Tobias says, "As that way if things go pear-shaped we won't also be fighting a horde of zombies at the same time."
Frito says, "Yeah, it makes sense to zonk the zombies before we try to Arthur the portal. :)"
Tobias says, "Sounds like a plan then."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Okay, Dan, roll me a d10"
DaR From Another Place says, "I can't think of anything better, unless we want to try to make the glue box even stronger by piling kindling near/around them without triggering."
Akio says, "I don't have much kindling beyond a tiny amount needed to start a prepared campfire."
Vendrik says, "roll d10"
Result is: (d10) 7 for Vendrik
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Okay, you hurl a bunch of oil and flamey stuff. The zombies go up in flames and all take 7 damage each and are on fire and will take 1d10 each round until they make a save."
Everyone roll initiative! (Dex + level + d20_)
Vendrik says, "roll d20"
Result is: (d20) 1 for Vendrik
Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+1x2"
Result is: (1d20+1) 14 (1d20+1) 9 for Harrowhark
Samantha says, "roll d20"
Result is: (d20) 3 for Samantha
Samantha says, "roll d20"
Result is: (d20) 11 for Samantha
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20"
Result is: (1d20) 19 for Manny Mo'Jac
Mike says, "roll 1d20+3"
Result is: (1d20+3) 11 for Mike
Akio says, "Don't forget our positioning, John."
Kiara says, "roll 1d20+5"
Result is: (1d20+5) 16 for Kiara
Akio says, "The zombies shouldn't be able to get to anything but Luke and Vendrik at first."
Sniper Ox says, "oh, i forgot the maths. so that's a 15 for me"
Akio says, "In fact, to elaborate:"
Akio says, "I think the rogues should start out inside the cordon created by the golems and Luke and Vendrik at first, so when the zombies engage the two tanks, they can spill out along the edges and get flanking bonuses."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20"
Result is: (1d20) 1 for Manny Mo'Jac
Luke spits lightning at the leader, then holds his action because he can't reach the foes. Kiara is on deck.
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+5 1d6+5"
Result is: (1d20+5) 11 (1d6+5) 9 for Manny Mo'Jac
He misses.
Kiara is first, then Harrowhark.
Kiara takes a crossbow shot at the closest zombie until she can move into melee.
Kiara says, "roll 1d20+5"
Result is: (1d20+5) 10 for Kiara
SWISH
Harrowhark, with Samantha on deck and Niamh RIGHT after her.
Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+5 1d6+4"
Result is: (1d20+5) 15 (1d6+4) 9 for Harrowhark
Harrowhark attempts to fold a Javelin of Faith into the nearest zombie!
Akio says, "I legit don't know if that hit or not."
The shot takes out three zombies as they are mooks save the leader.
Akio says, "I hope it did, that was a good damage roll."
Akio says, "CLERIC POWER"
Samantha on deck, then Niamh
Sniper Ox asks, "the zombies, are any of them technically 'engaged' on a teammate?"
Voice of John Biles says, "Nope, they haven't gotten to do squat yet"
Voice of John Biles says, "They will go last, even after Vendrik"
Voice of John Biles says, "They're burning and just starting to move"
Samantha takes a crossbow shot at the zombies
Akio says, "C'mon guys, lets Flawless Victoly this."
Samantha says, "roll 1d20+4"
Result is: (1d20+4) 11 for Samantha
Swish
Niamh, then Vendrik, then ZOMBIE TIME
Niamh aims at a zombie with her staff. "Garbanzo Sepulveda's Ray of Frozen Flame," she says flatly.
Mike says, "roll 1d20+5"
Result is: (1d20+5) 24 for Mike
Mike says, "roll 3d6"
Result is: (3d6) 5 for Mike
Where the ray strikes the fire on the burning zombies, it turns into some sort of weird burning ice. Two zombies collapse, leaving 7 zombies + Boss alive as Vendrik comes on deck.
Vendrik readies his action, prepping to engage and crack the bones of as many mooks as possible.
Voice of John Biles says, "Technically, one of those zombies survived with one HP but I bumped him off due to the funky ice-fire"
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d10"
Result is: (1d10) 9 for Manny Mo'Jac
All the remaining zombies die as icy fire rips through them. Only the leader remains to charge at Vendrik.
Vendrik, you can use your held action and Luke uses his once you do.
Vendrik steps up into the gap and attempts to behead the zombie leader d20+5 d8+4
Result is: (d20+5) 7 (d8+4) 5
SWISH
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+5 1d8+5"
Result is: (1d20+5) 24 (1d8+5) 8 for Manny Mo'Jac
Luke strikes but does not slay the boss.
The boss attempts to impale Vendrik
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+7"
Result is: (1d20+7) 16 for Manny Mo'Jac
But the blow bounces off Vendrik's shield.
Round 2: Escalation Die of 1. Luke, then Kiara!
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+6 d8+5"
Result is: (1d20+6) 26, crit (d8+5) 12 for Manny Mo'Jac
DaR From Another Place says, "Kerrrunch."
Luke's blade flashes and chops off the head of the unfortunate Zombie leader, who dies
Akio exclaims, "Flawless win!"
Silence now resumes as the zombie bits quickly molder to dust, along with their armor and weapons
Kiara says to Luke, "Nice swing."
Niamh says, "Undead. So manky." She makes a quiet noise of distaste.
Vendrik pokes cautiously at the dust with the tip of his blade. "Weak. More than expected even for brainless zombies."
Luke poses. "My first headshot!"
Luke says, "Well, setting your foes on fire does cramp their style."
Kiara says, "Juust a little bit."
Harrowhark asks, "Niamh, do you need any help with the portal?"
Harrowhark says, "I confess I'm unversed in such things."
Niamh says, "If you are unversed, then I am not certain what help you can be. If it is what you so wish, I will attempt to divine the command words, and then Kiara will activate it while the rest of us stand back a safe distance."
Kiara makes a face. "Didn't we agree that you'd buy me a drink if you ever made me do that again?"
Niamh says, "Maybe."
Kiara says, "If it goes off on me, it better be a steak dinner this time."
Niamh says, "I will be honest. The odds of success are chancy enough that I would advise we try and find another route before we hazard it."
Vendrik says, "I am thinking maybe checking other routes first makes plenty sense to me, too."
Kiara shrugs. "I won't argue."
Harrowhark says, "This also seems sensible."
Okay, you go north, then back west. From here, there is a hallway south with dripping noises and a north hallway without sounds. You know from tracks that the skeleltons you fought came from the north and that the Company of the Golden Spear went south, then turned around and came back to here.
Tobias asks, "Wait, hold up. They went south the way we came, then back here?"
Voice of John Biles says, "You went north, then west. From where you are now, there are tunnels north and south you didn't take when you came through here before"
Voice of John Biles says, "So they went south, down a tunnel you didn't take with dripping water, then doubled back and went east, then apparently went north there to the collapsed hallway there"
Tobias says, "I guess north then is the way to go."
Frito says, "Sounds good."
DaR From Another Place says, "This is where I kinda wish we had a map tool. North sounds fine to me, though."
Akio says, "Same."
You head north, passing scenes of the working of metal.
Wisdom check, DC 15, to notice a trap!
Vendrik says, "d20+2"
Vendrik says, "roll d20+2"
Result is: (d20+2) 19 for Vendrik
Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+8"
Result is: (1d20+8) 22 for Harrowhark
Tobias says, "Wait, hold on."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll d20+2"
Result is: (d20+2) 17 for Manny Mo'Jac
Voice of John Biles asks, "?"
Kiara says, "roll 1d20+5+1"
Result is: (1d20+5+1) 7 for Kiara
Vendrik spots a pressure plate and dart holes before he can step on them, fortunately for you all.
Tobias says, "Ah, never mind."
Mike says, "roll 1d20+1"
Result is: (1d20+1) 10 for Mike
Samantha says, "roll 1d20+3"
Harrowhark has a sudden thought and places a hand on the walls.
Result is: (1d20+3) 10 for Samantha
Vendrik gets out the chalk, makes more markings for the traps, then steps back to let the rogues disable them if desired.
Kiara steps in and starts tinkering.
Kiara says, "roll 1d20+5+5"
Result is: (1d20+5+5) 12 for Kiara
Frito says, "...wow, what a crappy roll."
Harrowhark says, "roll 1d20+8"
Result is: (1d20+8) 13 for Harrowhark
Kiara set off the darts on herself.
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+5 2d6"
Result is: (2d6) 7 (1d20+5) 22 for Manny Mo'Jac
Kiara sticks out her tongue at the trap trigger. "Darts. Hate darts."
Niamh seems to take this result in stride as being what Kiara is there for.
Samantha, do you want to try? Y'all can get past this without setting it off now with some effort but if you have to hastily retreat, you'd risk setting it off on yourself on the way back
Harrowhark, while the Rogues are doing their thing, says, "Vendrik, can I get your assistance with something?"
Samantha tries
Samantha says, "roll 1d20+3"
Result is: (1d20+3) 9 for Samantha
Vendrik raises an eyebrow at Harrow, while watching the rogues to see if they begin showing signs of any sort of tainted or tentacles or the like.
Harrowhark pulls an ugly-looking crowbar from her pack. "Can you dig into the wall with this, please? It doesn't have to be very deep."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20+5 2d6"
Result is: (2d6) 6 (1d20+5) 7 for Manny Mo'Jac
Harrowhark says, "I have a suspicion about this place."
Samantha dodges the dart she sets off on herself.
Manny Mo'Jac says, "roll 1d20"
Result is: (1d20) 19 for Manny Mo'Jac
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOOC Strength check, DC 15, Vendrik; you get +5 because a crowbar is really good for what you're trying to do."
Vendrik laughs and takes the crowbar, before turning to the wall. "Yes, many have asked to see the strength of the Kugenmarchers! You say when." He wedges the crowbar in, and begins applying his very great size , mass and strength to the task. d20+10
Result is: (d20+10) 22
This has two effects
Vendrik accidentally trashes the trap mechanism.l
Akio says, "Always bring a crowbar."
And it reveals there is about a six inch gap between the walls of the tomb and rough, unworked stone that mixes basaalt and granite in streaks; this gap is probably where all the trap mechanisms for this place operate. This is a real dungeon but the walls were clearly imported from somewhere else as the stone doesn't match, though the pure granite... well, it's very common all over the empire.
Harrowhark says, "... huh."
Harrowhark says, "Thank you, Vendrik."
Vendrik shakes his head. "No pride in local materials."
Harrowhark says, "This is a curious complex."
Harrowhark says, "I don't think we've even hit the original tomb yet."
Niamh says, "The stone in this region is not exceptional."
Akio says, "I thought this was a living dungeon for a bit."
As you head north, you begin hearing hammering noises and the air has the tang of a working forge.
Niamh sways impatiently on her feet, large bust bobbing under the black silk robe.
And there is a distant red glow.
Akio says, "I hate you so much, Mike."
Tobias says, "Just establishing that since I clearly didn't reference Min's tits enough in our early days."
You draw closer and now you see four metal dwarves busy making weapons and melting down old weapons. There are six flying skulls flying around the room like watchdogs. They turn and look at you all but don't immediately attack.
Mike asks, "OOC: As in dwarves made of metal, or?"
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Yes"
It looks like the dwarves have been making and unmaking the same weapons for probably a very, very long time.
Mike asks, "OOC: Do they bear the same carftsmanship as the previous rooms we've been in, or do they look more like the first age work on the outside skeletons?"
These guys are makign weapons in the style of the first age.
Vendrik says, "This whole place is like toymaker's masterwork. Will hear chime and wall open then dwarf with hammer come and whacks other dwarves."
Luke says, "Like a really fancy clock."
Kiara says, "Think of how much money we could make giving guided tours of the place!"
Mike says, "roll 1d20+9"
Result is: (1d20+9) 17 for Mike
Harrowhark examines the skulls curiously.
The Skulls watch Harrowhark curiously.
Harrowhark says, "Standard screaming skulls."
Niamh says, "I'm afraid the words for commanding such constructs of the First Age were recorded in Algonquin's Compendium of Automata, Vol. III, the last copy of which was lost in the 12th Age."
Niamh says, "It is possible, however, that they will not bother us if we do not bother them at their work."
Harrowhark says, "Possible."
One of the dwarves carefully etches a word onto the blade and puts it on a stack; another dwarf takes a blade off the pile and begins melting it down.
Harrowhark still makes sure Vendrik is in front of her.
DaR From Another Place imagines Vendrik trying to play pantomime with the skulls to ask if the other adventurers went through...
Voice of John Biles exclaims, "You could try that! "
This room is a dead-end, BTW, to be clear.
Akio asks, "How much you guys want to bet the sequence of words etched on the blades open the portal?"
Frito says, "Hm. Possible, I suppose."
Another dwarf bangs away on a blade, then bends it and heats it and bangs it into shape again.
Akio asks, "So are we going in or what?"
Sniper Ox says, "Hn"
Sniper Ox says, "what are the odds the skulls will converse"
Akio says, "I mean."
Akio asks, "Try talking to one?"
DaR From Another Place says, "Thus far the undead stuff seems all 1st age, and probably don't speak any common language (unless Niamh speaks fluent first age empire)."
DaR From Another Place says, "Which is why I was considering pantomime."
Akio says, "I don't think this is undead stuff."
Akio says, "there aren't a lot of creatures with metal skulls."
DaR From Another Place says, "Were the skulls metal? i thought just the dwarves."
Akio checks. "No, you are right."
Akio says, "My bad."
Voice of John Biles says, "Just the Dwarves; the skulls are undead, a fairly minor, common kind."
Akio says, "Well, I mean, I don't really have any ideas. If you want to try pantomime, Dan, go ahead."
Akio says, "My idea is "walk in, see what tries to murder us.""
Voice of John Biles says, "Niamh can use Monastic Sage + Int, DC 15, to try to talk to them, or someone could try to Pantomime, which would also be Int + relevant background, DC 15"
Frito says, "Let's go for pantomime first... or Niamh can try that. :)"
DaR From Another Place says, "I don't really want to engage them if it's unnecessary, nor do I have any relevant backgrounds at all."
Akio says, "I expect Mike and John are paging each other."
Voice of John Biles says, "I am actually waiting for someone to do something. "
Voice of John Biles says, "I assume Mike is slowly typing out a long pose or something."
Akio says, "I don't want to just Leeroy in there without the support of the group."
Frito says, "Yeah. If Niamh can't talk the talk, it might be worth first the pantomime, then just walking towards the swords to see if they trigger if we don't make aggressive actions."
Akio says, "I wouldn't mine Niamh trying to talk to them."
DaR From Another Place says, "This is the sort of thing I don't mind leaving at my back. They've been idle for 12 ages."
Akio says, "She's best suited."
Niamh digs deep into her memory of ancient First Age bodice rippers, the most common surviving texts of the period.
Akio says, "Right, Dan, I don't mind either, but I suspect these things might just be plain old "we trigger when you walk in" traps."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Try again the right way :)"
Mike says, "roll 1d20+9"
Result is: (1d20+9) 17 for Mike
Manny Mo'Jac asks, "OOC What do you say to them, Mike?"
DaR From Another Place says, "'Ravage this unworthy harlot!'"
Frito says, "I'd be tempted to leave them alone, but I would like to see what they're writing on the swords."
Niamh says, "<Avaunt there, gleaming well-formed construct, may a friendly group of companions saunter past your blazing forge, like two ships passing in the night?"
The skeletons chatter away; it's kind of disturbing as they basically take turn saying words.
Niamh asks, "<May they bring their retinue and/or concubines with them?>"
Samantha says flatly, "I think they like you."
Kiara says, "She's very likeable! To a certain kind of... person."
Niamh inquires, "<What does the Judgement of Fire consist of?>"
The skulls look at Niamh as she just asked if Cheese was Cheese. Then they reply.
Niamh turns to the rest of the group. "Most curious. They say only the 'Elf Queen's Envoy' or 'the King' may enter, and that they can only bring others if they think they may pass 'the judgement of fire,' which apparently means walking or passing through fire."
Luke says, "The King of what?"
Kiara blinks sloooowly. "Elf Queen's Envoy?"
Niamh says, "They did not say."
Luke says, "There's only one Elf here, unless I'm more confused about who I am than I think."
Niamh says, "Although I would assume the Dwarf King."
Luke says, "I'm pretty sure none of us is the Dwarf King."
Kiara says, "Well, I mean, I know Queenie, but I'm not so sure she'd like me calling her an envoy or anything..."
Harrowhark says, "This is easily tested."
Tobias asks, "Do any of you still have an Elf Queen favor from your icon rolls?"
Frito exclaims, "I believe I do, yes!"
Tobias says, "I'm guessing this concerns that."
Voice of John Biles says, "That's what they're thinking of; you can burn it to enter, though there is a cost since it's a 5."
Voice of John Biles exclaims, "But you'll get something if you do!"
Frito says, "What the heck. Why not? :)"
Kiara shakes her head, then snickers. "Guess I could try. Hey, Queenie? Mind if I borrow your name for a bit?" She then walks towards one of the skulls, and bows with a flourish worthy of a courtier.
Kiara enters the forge; the heat hits her but she is untouched by it. The lead forgeworker looks at Kiara, then points at the many knives she is carrying and holds a hand out.
Kiara hands the dwarf a knife.
He takes the knife and etches Kiara's name into it, then stabs her hand; the knife drinks soem of her blood, then the wound shuts when the blade comes out and he forges other runes on the back and hands it back. You're down two recoveries, but you have a +1 Dagger of Vengeance; if you are at 1/2 or less HP (staggered), you do +1d6 extra damage and it's +1 to hit and damage all the time.
He then goes back to his work after a glance at the party.
Kiara bows to the dwarf in thanks, then heads back and shows off her new knife.
Samantha says, "that was intense."
Harrowhark asks, "... it's very nice, Kiara. Do you think you could perhaps return to investigating the room for clues and other valuable sources of information?"
Tobias asks, "John, is there in fact another way out of this room?"
Akio says, "it's a dead end, Mike."
Akio says, "He said that before."
DaR From Another Place says, "No, we already know it's a dead end."
Tobias says, "Le sigh."
Tobias says, "So I asked completely useless questions. My bad."
DaR From Another Place says, "The only thing left of interest is if the skulls can tell us if the Golden Spear Company was here, or if we want to figure out what the blades say because it may or may not be a useful password or clue."
Manny Mo'Jac says, "OOC Roll Intelligence DC 15 to search the room, Kiara. "
Frito says, "I was hoping what we'd get was more info on what was being written on the blades, but... well, I guess we got that."
Kiara says, "Roll 1d20"
Kiara says, "roll 1d20"
Result is: (1d20) 16 for Kiara
Niamh asks the skulls, "<Do you know anything about the portal in the far chamber?>"
Studying the chamber does not reveal any secrets, unfortunately.
Niamh says, "They don't know anything, it seems."
Niamh says, "<Do your duties extend to keeping this complex in good repair, or just to guarding this room?>"
Vendrik asks, "Skulls not for crushing, so we go other way?"
Niamh says, "<I ask because part of a passage in your complex has collapsed. If you wish it repaired, we would be willing to escort and guard one of your craft dwarves to it, then bring them safely back.>"
Niamh nods. "<Farewell, then, and good luck with your long watch.>"
Niamh says, "Let us depart."
Harrowhark nods.
You go back and go south.,
Kiara says, "Right-ho."
This hallway shows the Barbarian King's men fishing and treating fish.
As you head along, you smell a fishy smell.
The southernmost end of the room contains an underground stream; skeletons are catching fish, cooking them into jerky and putting the jerky into a box which ought to be overflowing by now, but is only half-full; you could probably swim down the stream, though it would require holding your breath.
The room's south wall is natural stone, where the slabs of granite cover the other three; the floor and ceiling are also the mixed granite/basault.
The skeletons seem totally uninterested in anything except fishing.
Akio says, "HELL no."
Akio says, "I'm not blindly swimming an underground river in the dark."
Samantha says, "this place is strange."
Harrowhark says, "It is, Samantha."
Harrowhark says, "I thought it was a living dungeon."
DaR From Another Place says, "If this were a pulp game, I'd totally dive in. Fantasy? Yeah, pretty much pass."
Harrowhark says, "It had all the signs."
Akio says, "If we had potions of water breathing or summat maybe."
Okay, at this point, there's the collapsed hallway and the portal.
Tobias says, "I could cast water breathing on us... if I was 5th level."
Akio says, "You better roll like a master, Mike."
Frito asks, "Don't suppose any of your spells could be used for shifting earth?"
Niamh says, "It would seem that our choices are now to risk the portal, or..." She frowns. "There is... one thing I could do."
Luke says, "I can spit lightning at something if it helps!" He sounds hopeful.
Niamh says, "It would be complex, but... give me a second to think this out."
Samantha says, "take your time. i'll watch the.... fishing."
Niamh scratches in the dust with the tip of her staff, mumbling to herself.
Vendrik says, "Patience, little lizard. This is not hell hole, but process is same, yes? Let mystic types do mystic things, then there will be things to hit until they fall down."
Vendrik says, "Officers, nobles, wizards, priests. Process is always same in the end."
Niamh says, "Ah. Yes. This OUGHT to work."
Niamh says, "Vendrik, I have work for a burly man with a strong back."
Niamh says, "I require a number of timbers cut like so..." She gives him some lengths. "You can salvage them from wood in here, or go outside briefly and cut them."
Kiara asks, "Anything fancy needed with the cuts?"
Niamh says, "I intend to conduct a working that will both dissolve the rockfall while holding up the ceiling for a time. We will need to quickly brace the cleared passage with the timbers to ensure there is not another collapse."
Kiara nods.
Vendrik elbows Luke. "See, eh? Now there is plan and soliders with strong backs are for doing grunt work."
Vendrik heads off to find appropriate timbering.
Luke goes and helps Vendrik with this.
Tobias says, "So, Merc, basically if you burn a power that's relevant to this, you can assist and give me an extra +5 to the roll which will make it basically impossible to fail. Otherwise, we're good as long as I don't roll a 5 or lower."
Frito says, "Kiara's got some Underground background that might be able to help; asking John now." page> Akemi [to you]: It is now night outside; the stars shine and there is a gentle breeze as you do your work; very faintly, you hear cows in the distance. The flashing star is going overhead again, winking on and off; it spits out another meteor as you do your work without any trouble..
Voice of John Biles says, "You can add your Background level to Mike's roll by advising him, Travis."
Frito says, "I do so, then."
Voice of John Biles says, "That's a +1 Mike" page> Akemi [to you]: Ralph shouts from the ridge, "Is everything going okay?"
Akio says, "I don't think I have anything relevant, Mike."
Akio says, "And I'm already down a spell slot." page> DaR [to Akemi]: Vendrik waves with one hand while chopping with the other. "Strange little dungeon. But nothing so horrible yet."
Tobias says, "All right, well, we'll just have to hope that the dicebot doesn't mistake this for a sense check."
Akio says, "I would have to give up a core healing ability or Turn Undead." page> Akemi [to you]: Ralph shouts, "Okay, good, I guess I'll just camp up here and see you tomorrow, then!"
Akio says, "Or Javelin of Faith."
Luke and Vendrik return with the timber.
Vendrik says, "Is now mid evening, outside. Twinkling star still spitting meteors like fruit seeds."
Harrowhark says, "Someone will need to do something about that."
Niamh sets up the ritual outside the deadfall, carefully scribing the chalk lines, double-checking them, marking runes in ink mixed with ground stone from the rockfall, and carefully engraving sigils with a vial of acid into the walls and floor. Then she pauses to say her evening Rosary before attempting the ritual.
Harrowhark says, "But that is well beyond our resources and capabilities, and probably of those of the entire valley. I hope word has been sent to Santa Cora."
Manny Mo'Jac exclaims, "OOC Okay, you have a total of +9!"
Vendrik says, "You give me wings, I fly up and smash it down. Until then, I have not seen so big a ladder in Moon Valley."
Mike says, "OOC: +10, you mean."
Manny Mo'Jac exclaims, "OOC Oh yeah, your level, yes!"
Kiara ponders. "Wonder how much hang time I could get by swinging 'round off a tree branch?"
Niamh seats herself and gets ready to begin. "Be ready to rush in and brace when I signal."
Kiara says, "Gotcha."
Mike says, "roll 1d20+10"
Result is: (1d20+10) 20 for Mike
Niamh begins chanting in a soft, whispering, spidery voice
Vendrik gathers the largest timbers, and prepares to prop open the tunnel.
Kiara gets nails and fasteners ready to join the timbers together as Vendrik puts them up.
Niamh incants for several minutes, then shouts a single word. The top of the passage turns a sickly green, and then acid pours down from it. There's a truly horrible noise as the deadfall sizzles and dissolves, and for a second the corridor is a shower of caustic death. Then abruptly the whole mess vanishes except for some acid-seared pebbles and a softly glowing field along the top of the now clear corridor.
Niamh says, "Move in. Brace. Now."
Vendrik rushes in and starts jamming timbers into the breach. He's done enough sieges to be familiar with the procedure.
Kiara moves in after him with the hammer and tongs! Or something like that.
You soon have the ceiling propped up; as you do this, you are hit by a wave of stale air, not so bad that you can't still breathe, but it smells terrible and is not a pleasant experience; you hear distant moaning down the hallway.
You also make out flickering lights down the hallway.
Probably the light of torches.
Harrowhark sighs.
Vendrik checks the bracings and then quickly chalks more symbols and warning signs, before unlimbering his sheild and blade. "Maybe more like hell hole than was thinking."
You soon find the five members of the Company of the Golden Spear and their Frog trying to stumble to their feet in a room which is scattered with broken bones; there are pictures of the Barbarian Gods on the walls and an altar in the middle. https://keep-wiki.duckdns.org/13A/Company%20of%20the%20Golden%20Spear.md
Kiara makes a face, waving the air away from her face. "Ugh. I mean, I probably don't smell any great shakes after getting stuck for a long time, but that's friggin' awful."
The leader, Ian McCready, leans on the walls and says, "Hey, guys. Thanks a ton for helping us out!"
Harrowhark asks, "What in the nine hells is going on here?"
His sister Jean says, "This place plays for keeps!"
Niamh says, "You will of course compensate us for the spell components."
Jean says, "We tried to disarm a trap and somehow collapsed the corridor, trapping us in the dark with a bunch of undead.
Jean continues, "We killed them all but then we were stuck and we couldn't figure out how to get the ceiling from crumbling more the more we tried to dig out. I thought we were goners for sure."
Vendrik watches warily, blade down, but not yet away.
Kiara waves at the bones. "Looks like you got 'em pretty good, anyway."
Antonius the Mighty says, "And it was too thick for me to teleport past it."
Harrowhark asks, "This is a dead end, then?"
Antonius nods. "It's a dead end."
Harrowhark says, "Ugggggggggh."
Vendrik says, "That is leaving portal, yes."
Niamh inspects the altar.
Kiara sighs. "Well, ain't that just wunderful."
Andrea digs in her bag and pulls out a bunch of opals. "Look, thanks for saving us. Y'all can split this up however you want." She hands you all 30 10 GP Opals. That's enough for everyone to have five.
Niamh brightens at this.
Kiara looks sidelong at Niamh. "Tell you what, you fix up the portal and have her walk through it this time," she murmurs.
Ian says, "That stupid halfling clearly ripped us off. We're just going to go outside, get some sleep in fresh air, and go back to the city. Fuck this place."
Harrowhark asks, "I take it you decided not to press your luck with the portal room?"
Ian says, "This is just some old king's tomb and we couldn't even find his body!"
Ian says, "Portal room?"
Harrowhark sighs. "You never made it to the portal room."
Niamh says, "Indeed."
Ian says, "Is that down south of here?" (YEs, it is)
Akio says, "These guys aren't impressing me with their intelligence or dedication."
Harrowhark nods.
Voice of John Biles says, "They're good at hitting things until they fall down but they're not... well, they are mostly barbarians and people of barbarian background."
Niamh says, "I can attempt to divine the command word to activate it, if you wish to give it a try."
Ian says, "Hell, might as well try." He looks at the others, who nod, save Antonius who says, "I'd rather leave but if everyone else stays, I will."
Kiara asks, "So who was this halfling?"
Tobias says, "Ahhhh, disposable test subjects. Good idea, Travis."
Ian says, "His name was Bungo and he sold us a map to this place, but the map was totally fraudulent." He sighed.
Kiara asks, "What'd he say was here? And what was wrong with the map?"
Harrowhark says, "... it can't have been that bad."
Harrowhark says, "You made it here."
Harrowhark says, "Which means the map did what you say you paid for."
Niamh suddenly starts to quietly, mockingly laugh.
Niamh says, "May I see this map?"
Niamh says, "I think I may know your problem."
Ian hands over the map, which shows the valley and has this hill marked with an X on it.
It also indicates 'big treasure' and 'first age items' by the X
Ian said, "He said an Archmage's apprentice was buried here but this looks like some old king was buried here."
Harrowhark says, "I cannot speak to the largeness of the treasure, Mister McCready, but this map is otherwise absolutely accurate in all respects."
Harrowhark says, "You got your moneys worth from a halfling."
Harrowhark says, "You are to be commended."
Ian says, "I guess, but mostly what we've done is beat up skeletons and get hit by traps."
Niamh makes a sniff and hands it back. "It's a local map with an X drawn on it."
Ian says, "And whatever exactly we killed in the dark, but I think it was skeletons."
Ian says, "Anyway, let's check out the portal. Maybe Antonius can figure it out."
Antonius grumbles, but nods.
Niamh, when they reach the portal, puts her head together with Antonius to try and figure the portal words out.
Kiara says, "Oh. And if you can figure out the right way to cajole 'em, those metal dwarves up to the north can customize weapons for you."
Ian says, "Metal Dwarves?"
Jean says, "Casting lots at each intersection didn't work too well." She looks right at Andrea, who sighs.
Corgin gets out a piece of fish jerky, just like the skeleons make. "At least this stuff's pretty good."
Frito asks, "Do I remember right that we saw their tracks going up to the dwarven room?"
Voice of John Biles says, "You remember wrongly, I believe."
Niamh says, "We think we may have the word. I would be more comfortable, though, if I could put a date on these barbarians."
Voice of John Biles says, "Rather, you saw skelton tracks coming from there"
Antonius says, "Well, I'm not much of a historian, unfortunately, except Elven history and this isn't Elven."
Niamh says, "Alas. Well, good luck to whoever is trying it. We shall be standing well back."
Ian says, "Well, after all we've been through, let's give it a try."
His group goes up, Antonius recites the password; the mist turns yellow, which could mean anything, and they pass into the mist and vanish.
Nothing happens, then nothing happens more, save the mist turns back to normal.
Frito says, "Ah, right."
So they made it to a good place or maybe a bad, but whatever the case, that word did something.
Vendrik asks, "Well. No screaming. No bloody tears in reality. No tentacles. Maybe is safe after all?"
Kiara says, "Could be. I know I don't want to let them hog all the good stuff."
Niamh frowns, and attempts to acertain if that was good or bad.
Manny Mo'Jac asks, "OOC How?"
Mike says, "OOC: By checking to see if a magical command surge was sent to the now-smoking bodies of the zombies."
Mike says, "OOC: On a fail it would try to activate them."
Mike says, "OOC: But if that was the right word no such command would be sent."
Okay, that's going to be hard to do since they are now ash. DC 20 with Intelligence + Monastic Sage + Level
Mike says, "roll 1d20+9"
Result is: (1d20+9) 24 for Mike
You think that the Zombies didn't get an activation signal.
Niamh reports to the group, "It appears that the word was correct, and we may follow."
Next time, the Portal!