(Sorry for the delay guys. Work got nuts.)

Potter's Field is a charming little piece of real estate. The City uses it to bury the poor and homeless, usually in mass unmarked graves, of which there are several nearby. A low brick wall surronds the area and old, sagging masoleums hug it. Leftovers from a time when this was the preminent place to lay one's wealthy deceased to rest. In the light of the afternoon sun, Potter's Field looks almost peaceful in a resigned sort of way. Like an old man who knows it's his time to go and is now just waiting for his friends and family to come by and say their farewells.

"Supposedly," Kroft had told you before you left, "the corpse thief drops his bodies in a masoleum bearing a carving of two angels with one wing between them. He comes back the following day and collects his money. You should be able to recognize the Cinderlander's body by it's tattoos. They won't like like the run of the mill tattoos. We need the body. As much of it as we can get. Protect yourselves first and foremost though. I imagine I'll have need of you still." She gave you a small bag with five purple potions before you left.

You find the masoleum with the angel carving fairly quickly. There's more than enough evidence to indicate that this is the place. Fresh tracks litter the ground. One man with a wheelbarrow and...several smaller sized prints. Human like. Or perhaps halfling like or gnome like. Except these have only four toes.

The tracks head inside the masoleum. The door is ajar and the interior seems clear of any remains or obvious traps. You see marks like something heavy was drug over to one corner. The floor in that corner is clear of any debris. It's fairly obvious it's a trapdoor. You see no lines or nails or anything else indocating the trapdoor is alarmed. Lifting it up shows a staircase, about ten feet wide, heading down into the depths of the earth.

Since the Marshall said they were going to a mausoleum, Vaddis visited a shop on the way and purchased an everburning torch for light and rigged it so he could affix it to his pack so the light would shine over his shoulder. Upon entering the crypt and before heading down the stairs, he set the light source in place for the decent and opened the trap door.

HP: 26/36

Selvin knew that this was likely going to be dangerous so he took the time once they reached Potter's Field to summon his ally. He also offered his lamp as a lightsource as well if someone wanted to carry it and promised not to break it. He looked a little bit like a cat as he prowled back and forth when they found the right masoleum. He gave the air a sniff and shook his head. He helped with the trap door and then looked back at his companions.

"Me first?"

"That works for me. You're a little more agile than I am, so I'll follow behind you so my sword is there to help if needed."

Toke took his place in the rear of the group and happily took Selvin's lamp. He figured that he would be the one least likely to get it broken through combat so he would be the one best suited to carry it. He looked down the staircase worriedly, "Hope it isn't trapped." he muttered. He noticed Vaddis was a little more roughed up than usual. He handed him a shard of bright colored taffy, "Here, this'll maybe help ya feel better." He said in a low voice.


Hands Vaddis Cure light wounds (Caster level 3)

Prepared:

Keen Senses
Shield
Cure Light Wounds
Expeditious Retreat
Cognatogen

Today: Toke rolled 4 using 1d8+3. Cure Light wounds.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Sat 17 May 2014.

OOC - I'll let you roll Toke ;)

Delvers ho! Uploaded map to group 0. One square equals 5'

The stairs stretch down into the earth, descending steeply. The steps on the stairs are stained in places with odd rust or black streaks. Someone has drug bodies down here, some still fresh. Ahead, the stairs empty in a large room supported by four stout pillars. Skeletons are caked to the walls with mud. Most appear human though the small bones pf halflings or perhaps children are evident as well. To the east and west, stairs descend into smaller pits. These pits are filled with bones also, though these seem to have been tossed aside into these pits carelessly. To the south, a large opening seems to have been excavated into the wall, leading to a crude passage that continues south.

As your light flickers into the gloom of these room, you hear what you expect to hear. The clatter of bones in the pits. The sounds come from both east and west. To the west, you see several intact skeletons rising up and beginning to fumble towards the stairs into the main room. To the east is a mor alarming sight. Another skeleton, but this one much larger. A bear's remains perhaps. Though it's skull is oddly shaped and instead of a maw it has the remains of a rather nasty looking beak. This skeleton isn't fumbling. The bear thing's skeleton is moving with a much greater grace than the human bones to the west.

One owl bear skelie coming from the east. At least four human skelies from the west, though there may be more. You can't tell from your vantage point.

00:59, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 2 using 1d20. Initiative.

HP: 30/36

Selvin sniffed the air a few times and spat. Undead. He really disliked undead even though he wasn't really familiar with them. Just the stories he'd heard had been more than enough.

He looked one way and then the other before growling and charging towards the bear skeleton.

OOC: Will be charging the owlbear skeleton or heading towards it.
To hit/damage on a power attack charge, 14, 21, and 15 for 8,10, and 5 (claw,claw,bite).

12:06, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 18 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
20:42, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 14,21,15 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Charging power attack pounce.
20:43, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8,10,5 using d6+4,d6+4,d6+4. Claw,claw,bite if they hit.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Sun 18 May 2014.

---

---

Tarrov contemplated the trap door with a sour look on his face.  He wasn’t that comfortable with the entire mausoleum experience, to tell you the truth.  He never liked being reminded of his own mortality, and this place did anything it conveyed the message that so many people left this life friendless, alone, and unremembered,

Possibly the bard’s greatest fear.

But they weren’t there so that he could engage in existential angst about humanity’s transience.  He tried not to think about the fact that spelunking into a necromancer’s secret lair might speed the transience of his own life more quickly than he would like.

The young man gestured grandly as Selvin and Vaddis offered to go first.  He certainly had no desire to be at the forefront of the group when they ran into whatever might be lurking down here; he was much better working behind the lines.

He followed the men down the stairs . . . straight into something from a tale one might read in a book of horror.  Skeletons animating and following the dark will of whatever master used his necromantic skill to imbue them with the foul energy of unlife.  They seemed to be ignoring their presence for the time being.

Except for the Owlbear skeleton.  It was huge!  Tarrov blanched slightly as it lumbered towards them, raising his whip in the air and lashing it out towards the bear-skeleton’s legs.  Looked like they were going to be mixing it up down here sooner rather than later . . .

OOC:

11:58, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 9 using 1d20+1. Initiative.

Standard Action - Trip Owlbear Skeleton with Whip

12:00, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 13 using 1d20+5. Trip Attack on Bear Skeleton.

---

---

The dark crypt was giving Toke the willies. Everything from the choice of wall decoration to the general silence of the walk reminded Toke of a nightmare or two. (not to mention quite a few of his bad trips.) He wasn't necessarily off-put by necromancers, there was always at least one or two self appointed "psychopomps" back at the academy so it wasn't like necromancy was new to him, just the people who did it were generally freaks.

As they traveled, Toke noticed that Tarrov was remarkably taciturn. He would have said something, but his internal musings were interrupted by the appearance of the undead. He noticed that his group seemed focus on the giant abomination so he chose to focus on the skeletons walking from the west. He lobbed a bomb in their direction, hoping to catch as much in the blast as possible.

Today: Toke rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
Move: West: to get as close to 20ft of the targets.

Standard: Lob bomb at skeleton group.
Today: Toke rolled 18 using 1d20+6. Bomb to hit.
Toke rolled 9 using 2d4+6. Bomb damage (7 splash).

You can go ahead and state an action when you post your init Vaddis. It will help speed up PbP combats. Thanks.

The bear skeleton rocks back on it's feet as Selvin smashes into it. Etheral claws and fangs rake against the bear thing's bones but seem to have little effect. Selvin, you see a flash of something shoot past your feet as Tarrov's whip lashes around the bear's calf bone...wait. Do bears have calfs? Anyway, the line draws taunt. The bear rocks but anchors itself by gripping your friend's neck with it's beak thing 9 pts dam. That's going to leave a mark.

There are four skeletons groping their way up the stairs Toke , with another three rising up in the pit behind them. You toss your vial at the first group on the stairs...

A very satisfying KA-BOOM sound echoes through the chambers. Three of the skelies on the stairs come almost apart as they fall. The fourth one falls sideways and bounces back down the stairwell.

Vaddis, as you draw your weapon to charge, you see some kind of movement in the dark at the south end of the chamber. Something near to the ground glints in the torchlight. You think it's the tip of a crossbow bolt. You think it's being held by a small blue man. Nah. That's just crazy.

Crazy or not, the light shining from his everburning torch, Vaddis advances at the blue thing and swings his sword!


23:19, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 22 using 1d20+7. to hit.
23:20, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 10 using 1d8+3. damage.

I figured with a 2 for initiative, I'm going last, so I wait to see what transpires.

"Argh!" Tarrov said, gritting his teeth in frustration as the undead owlbear clawed Selvin to stay upright.  He drew back his whip and began to sing:

"Bears should be furry,
and not in a hurry
to make up their home
in a deep catacomb.
While we make look like dinner
(and you're looking much thinner
than Owlbears really should
even outside their woods),
it's us hunting you
in this strange undead zoo.
So get ready to die
at the hands of us guys."

OOC:  Tarrov begins to Inspire Courage (+1 to hit and damage)

---

---

Given a new fervor through Tarrov's song, Toke lobbed another explosive down the stairs at the group of skeletons.



Move: Get within 20ft of the skeletons
Standard: Lob bomb.
Toke rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Bomb to hit.
Toke rolled 13 using 2d4+7. Damage: (8 Splash [DC 16 Ref for half]).

Selvin grimaced as his ally let out a howl but both of their voices joined in it together. That had hurt his friend. He let out a growl as he swiped at the owlbear skeleton again twice and snapped his ally's teeth at it once.

OOCL Guessing the 11 misses so 2 hits at 9 damage each maybe.
21:49, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 17,11,19 using d20+5,d20+5,d20+5. Triple power attack vs skeleton.
21:50, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9,11,9 using d6+5,d6+5,d6+5. Damage if hit (claw,claw,bite in order).

Make sure to add in Tarrov's bonuses going forward guys. Only Vaddis would get them this go round. I'm adding them in for you Vaddy.

As Tarrov's dulcet tones work their way into your ears and hearts, the owlbear skelie stumbles backwards as Selvin and Friend make two solid hits on him. The bear swings wildly back and manages a scrape across the Eilidon's chest 5 pts dam

The little-alchemist-that-could snaps another vial at the boneyard below him. Two more go down and a third sizzles as the causitc goo cracks his rib cage. But this one little soldier keeps coming.

Vaddis watches the crossbow swivel in his direction. The blue child thing squeezes the trigger and jerks his shoulder at the same time. The bolt flies wildly, smashing against the roof and falling in a clatter at Tarrov's feet. The blue thing's solid yellow eyes open in amazement. Even he seems surprised at how badly he missed that shot. But in a moment he has other things on his mind. That is... Vaddis' sword. He screams as the blade cleaves him open from shoulder to neck. "What is wrong with you?" the blue man demands in a high pitched though somehow still rubbery voice.

One human skelie left. Owlbear is still up. The blue guy is still up, though he's seen better days

"What is wrong with me? Do you surrender?" Detect Evil

Readies action to end the little blue thing if it makes any aggressive move again.

Selvin knew that his ally couldn't take too much more. He need to end this and heal his ally. He swiped a bit more carefully this round, less powerful but less wild in his attacks.

22:57, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 16,12,14 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Claw,claw,bite (no power attack).
22:58, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9,8,6 using d6+5,d6+5,d6+5. Claw,Claw,Bite damage if they hit.

---

---

Continuing to sing, Tarrov lashed out with his whip again, once more trying to entangle the undead Owlbear and bring him down.

OOC:

13:00, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 19 using 1d20+6. Trip Attack on Bear Skeleton.

Continuous Effect:  Inspire Courage - All party members gain +1 morale bonus on saves v. charm/fear effects, +1 “to hit,” +1 damage

---

---

Toke lobbed a bomb to finish off the walking skeleton. He was sure to keep his back to the rest of the fighting; it sounded positively terrifying. Did Vaddis just ask the undead to surrender? I have to get whatever he's having.

Today: Toke rolled 19 using 1d20+7. Bomb to hit.
Toke rolled 11 using 2d4+7. Bomb damage (8 splash).
Bombs: 5/8

Vaddis stares into the abyss that is the little blue guy. Is the blue guy evil? If evil were the sky, he'd be the sun. If evil were a tray of pastries, he'd be the single prune danish at the bottom of the stack. If evil were a vegetable garden, he'd be okra. He's. That. Evil.

He puckers his lips and whistles. The air around you Vaddis erupts in a cacophony of noise. It sounds like elephants being hurled by catapult through a glassworks. You wince as your eardrums threaten to leap out of your skull 3 pts dam Vaddis

The bear steps back to swing and stumbles as Tarrov's
whip curls about it's leg. Then Selvin and Friend smash down, bursting it's rib cage apart and pushing down on it's spine. It shatters into the 206... or however many in an owlbear...individual bones that make it up as it hits the floor.

The last human skeleton doesn't come apart in so nice a display. But it sags as Toke's last bomb smshes against it's skull.

Outside of the little blue guy, you seem to be out of playmates.

Vaddis...you're up
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:11, Wed 21 May 2014.

Vaddis winces in pain and brings a mighty swing down on the little blue freak!


23:21, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 16 using 1d20+10. smite evil.
23:22, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 7 using 1d8+6. damage, if outsider, add +3. Sadly, I think I might have missed!!

In reply to Vaddis Sonaden (msg # 23):

You didn't

The blue man comes apart. Even his blood smells evil...

"Anyone know what that blue thing was? I never saw or heard of anything like it before."

---

---

Tarrov speculatively nudged Vaddis' former opponent with the toe of his boot.  "I don't know.  I'm guessing he was evil?"  He raised an eyebrow at the holy warrior.  "I heard about a group of guys whose descriptions were similar to this one," he pointed at the blue man on the ground, "performing down near the gambling establishments, but I doubt our friend here was one of them."  Tarrov racked his brain to think of where else he might have heard about such a creature.

The bard looked around, dusting debris off his tunic.  "Well, that was quite the welcome.  Good work, gentlemen."  He grinned.  "Selvin, that was some amazing fighting.  And Toke, what is IN those bombs of yours?"  He gestured around the room.  "They seem to have done quite a number on our skeletal opponents."

"Shall we move on?  It looks like we can move south, east, or west."  Tarrov pointed to each cardinal direction as he spoke its name.  "Any preference?"

OOC:

Knowledge checks to see if Tarrov knows anything about the blue man.  Feel free to make a different knowledge check for me if that would be more appropriate.

12:38, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 26 using 1d20+6. Knowledge (Religion) Check.
12:38, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Knowledge (Arcana) Check.
12:37, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Knowledge (Nature) Check.

---

---

This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Wed 21 May 2014.

"He was very evil, his aura almost stunned me!"

Selvin nodded to the praise. "Thank you. I need a moment, however. I must heal my friend." He cast a spell, murmuring words of power. Some of the 'tears' in the alien cat-like 'skin' that Selvin was wearing healed up but there was still some damage.

OOC: Cast Rejuvenate Eidolon Lesser.
17:44, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8 using 1d10+3. Rejuvenate Eidolon Lesser.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:45, Wed 21 May 2014.

Toke waited until his breath caught up with him before turning and addressing his group. They seemed like they handled their situation fairly well.

At the mention of evil Toke suppressed a cringe. He was reminded that he was indeed accompanied by one of those "holier than thou" folks. He reminded himself to make sure to have his personal fun away from the paladin's prying eyes.

Upon being the object of the Bard's attention, Toke stuttered out an answer as his eyes looked at a particularly fascinating rock on the floor. "I, uh, m-mentioned it earlier, uh, in the, uh, Gaming House. T-trinitrotoluene and, uh, high grade Nitroglycerin." He shrugged, as he believed that all of the party members were rather extraordinary in their own way. Hell even Vaddis left Toke in awe with his smooth talking, though why a Wizard would ever choose to sing so much was beyond him. He would think that all that singing and movement would throw off the caster's concentration, but hey, he flunked out of the Academy.

Toke also wondered what the blue man could have been, but he wasn't too sure his experiences encompassed this sort of thing.


21:51, Today: Toke rolled 17 using 1d20+13. Knowledge Local.

21:51, Today: Toke rolled 24 using 1d20+16. Knowledge Arcana.

"Let's search the blue ones remains, perhaps it will reveal a clue."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Thu 22 May 2014.

---

---

Tarrov bent down and rifled through the blue creature's corpse, looking for anything it might have possessed or any clue to its purpose.  He then assisted the rest of the group with methodically searching the large room for anything that might give them a clue to the location of the dead Cinderlander's remains.

When the task was complete, he pointed west.  "I say we start out that way.  Assuming it doesn't loop around somehow, we can come back and head down the south passage, then the eastern one."  He paused.  "Any objections?"

---

---

This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:22, Fri 23 May 2014.

"None from me. One way is as good as another, they all need explored."

Toke, you've heard some stories over the years of junkies claiming to hve been abducted by little blue men. Usually these addicts are fairly crazed. It's usually chalked up to the Venom or the Smoke. But some do whisper about the little blue men as if they were real. You've heard a name float around once or twice. Derro. Anyone who meets one is supposed to be up for a long, bad trip. The stories are usually the same. 'The Blues' as they are called drag the poor junkie down under the street and do things to them. Make them lick toads. Insert things that weren't meant to be inserted into places those things weren't meant to fit. All sorts of odd, terrible things that leave the junkie scabberheaded and less useful than they were to begin with. That is about the extent of your knowledge.

Tarrov, you know a trifle bit about the Derro. Well. You know what Hans Zerbach wrote. Zerbach was a playwright who claimed to have spent years in the world below this one. He supposedly survived his time in the endless caverns and wrote a series of awful operettas about it. Your mentor made you study his work so you would know how not to write a play. Anyway, in How Dark is My Love, a tawdry little dirge about a paladin who gets captured by some dark skinned elven woman who lives underground, the villain...or one of the villains. Zerbach's characters are all morally bankrupt...was a blue gnome who was said to come from this race. The character has a monolouge about going insane.

They're always in my head
The voices...
And they want to see everyone dead
The voices...
So drink up, drink up
Don't be shy
If I can knife my grandma
What do I care if you die?

Zerbach was nothing if not committed to bad verse.

Your search reveals the east and west bone pits to be small enclosed rooms. Vaddis  spies an odd patch of stone on one wall in the eastern pit. Pressing on it swings open a small concealed door. A small, tight passage runs behind it. A set of stairs leads downwards.

The southern passage forks after a few paces. One branch heads west and then south. You can make out a dim light in that direction and can hear the faint squeal of something, maybe a rat, in pain. The east branch also curves to the south. A stronger source of light bleeds out from around this bend. You can all smell something vaguely unsettling from that direction. Toke,
you recognize the smell. Stirges. Leather winged blood suckers that always seem to nest in the filthiest of alleys. There must be a nest of them in that direction.

Not much loot in the first room. The dead derro has a cheap crossbow, three bolts that look like a child put them together, and a small dull knife. There's nary a coin otherwise. Updating the map on group 0

"Tarrov...think you might use one o'the wand charges on my friend? He's still damaged an' I'd like t'be fresher since I think we got more combat comin'."

After seeing all the options, he frowned. Too many choices. "Stirges, rat or secret passage? I vote secret passage but then maybe we should clear out the other two ways so nothin' comes up behind us later."

"It doesn't matter what you clean out first, something can always come up behind you. Especially if you make a lot of noise, which we just did. I don't like stirges, can we burn them out somehow?"

---

---

Tarrov removed one of the healing wands from his pack and touched it to Selvin's . . . friend.  As he did, he looked contemplatively over at the secret passage.

"Can we close the passage's door behind us?  Or just leave it cracked?  Stirges don't have hands, so we won't have to worry about them following us if we can."  He paused.  "We really don't know what is anywhere down here.  So whatever way we go, some enemy might sneak up on us from behind.  So I think we should be prepared for that eventuality whatever we do."

OOC:

16:39, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 6 using 1d8+3. Use Wand of Cure Light Wounds.

---

---

It sounds like it's secret door time...

The false section of wall is not heavy. You find a skull in somewhat good condition that would make a good doorstop. A bit sacreligious perhaps. But then so is necromancy. Unless you're Chelish. In which case it's an art form.

The passage behind the door wends and winds. It's cramped going especially for the more robust members like Vaddis and Selvin and Friend. However no one gets stuck and the passages...at least what you explore...seem clear.

The passage branches into three paths. The far western one descends sharply. Standing at the top of the descent and looking down, you see a light and hear, once again, those sounds like a wounded rat. The middle passage ends in another concealed door, obvious from this side. Your best guess is it probably lets out near or at that stirge nest. The far eastern passage also ends in a door. You hear nothing beyond it.

I have assumed you have not opened either of the two doors. The information I provided is all you could glean from listening at them. Map in Group 0 is updated.

"Well gentlemen, shall we purge this place of foul stirges?"

Selvin was not too displeased by the enclosed environs, so long as he didn't get stuck...which he didn't thankfully. He felt like a cat going after mice. When they found the three 'exits' he glanced at each but didn't enter any of them.

When Vaddis spoke, he frowned but shrugged. He didn't really want to fight annoying bug things but he was up for it if that was the consensus.

Toke shook his head. "I thought we were hunting a necromancer, not going on a Stirge hunt. Wouldn't the stirges also attack the necromancer if he went through these ways? I think the signs of stirges indicate that the necromancer did not go this way."

To be honest, Toke had no idea if what he said was true, but he certainly wasn't in the mood to fight bloodthirsty flying freaks of nature. He was in the mood for getting in, getting the job done, and taking a well needed rest.

"Hmmm, you might have a point, maybe best to go where they aren't? Good thinking Toke."

So...the staircase to the west of mystery door #2 in the far east?

Where there is no sound or smell, yes, for now.

The only quiet area is the far eastern door. And so...

The concealed door opens easily. It makes a slight grating sound as you push it open but nothing stirs and no alarm is raised. So it must be safe.

Beyond the door is a long hallway. The walls are lined with skulls. The skulls are set in a row down each wall, with empty eyes and gaping mouths that open into holes in the wall.

There are two alcoves nearby. One to the eadt and one to the west. You can not see far into them from your current vantage. Down the hallway, it appears there is a tunnel that runs into the hall in the southwest. But again, it's hard to tell from here.

The skulls aren't talking. Everything in the hall is quiet. Deathly quiet.

Updating map in Group 0

Selvin looks down the hallway a moment. He keeps his voice very quiet when he speaks up. "well, this doesn't look ominous at all. i hope it's not trapped."

He steals down the hallway slowly, keeping out a watchful eye.

Vaddis grunts his agreement and follows behind Selvin.

---

---

Tarrov nodded as the group discussed which way to go.  "I agree," he affirmed, "we should go where the vermin aren't.  I can't imagine a necromancer would make his lair somewhere where he would have to negotiate stirges everytime he wanted to enter.  But I CAN see him making his lair in a place where someone who didn't know where they were going would run into stirges . . . or worse."

Tarrov grinned as they looked at the long, skull-lined hallway.  "Now THIS looks like the lair of a necromancer.  I kinda like this guy!  I mean," the bard coughed, "from a style standpoint."  The silver-haired main gestured down the cranium-crammed corridor.  "He's a traditionalist."

The bard began creeping down the hallway, keeping his eyes and ears peeled for anything out of the ordinary.

OOC:

12:21, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 9 using 1d20+4. Perception Check.
12:21, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 6 using 1d20+5. Stealth Check.

---

---

Vaddis begins detecting evil.

As you head down the hallway, you see the alcove in the western wall has a door set into it.

The hallway appears to be unused. The dust on the ground sits in thick layers, undisturned by footprints or any other sign of recent passage.

There's a sharp acrid smell in the air the further doen the hall you go.

Door in the western alcvoe or head down the hall to the south?

"Should we clear this out first or keep moving?"

Selvin moves up to the door in the alcove and listens to see if anything sounds like its in there. However, he doesn't hear anything and gives a shrug before stepping back.

22:39, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d20+8. Perecption at door.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:21, Wed 28 May 2014.

Vaddis looks at the floor to check for prints in the alcove and listens at the door too.


06:11, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 14 using 1d20. Perception.

Toke let the adventureres do their work. He leaned up against one of the walls and waited for further instructions. He had hesitated when Tarrov had spoken up, shocked by both the volume of his outbursts and the contents. He shook his head at the talkative man; everytime Tarrov opened his mouth, it seemed, the more of a disconnect Toke felt with the rest of his party.

---

---

"Huh," said Tarrov softly, pointing to the undisturbed dust on the ground.  "I'm no tracker, but it doesn't look like the corpse-thief we're tracking came this way."  He looked around at the group.  "So either we're stealing a march on him and using a shortcut he doesn't know about, or we're going the wrong way."

"Spelunking through crypts isn't exactly my area of expertise."  The bard looked over at Toke.  The man was leaning against the wall, a disturbed-seeming look on his face.  "Are you okay, Toke?  Any thoughts on where we should go?"

---

---

Toke may or may not start to say something   Tarrov. It's hard to see his face over the streams of acid.

Vaddis, you notice something as you look around the room. The area nearest the wall between the secret door and the alcove door is free of dust. Almost as if people entering here hug the wall as they walk into the room from the secret door and head to the alcove door, and vice versa. Almost as if they're hesitant about walking into the hall proper.

Oh yeah. The acid.

There's a soft click as Tarrov finishes asking his question. Then, almost all the skulls on the wall begin spitting streams of acid into the room. Toke, you can tell it's not a high grade acid. Rather weak actually. Probably the result of some spell laid upon the skulls. You jump away from the wall as Tarrov and Vaddis shimmy to get out of the paths of the various streams. Selvin, you managed to miss the dousing as you were in the alcove. Vaddis, you were headed to the alcove and so got a dribble. Toke and Tarrov, you unfortunately got a drab.

The skulls stop spitting acid, leaving long sizzling lines on the ground. Fortunately, the acid seems fairly heavy and is not pooling along the floor quickly. You should be able to step over it fairly easily. As long as you don't have to worry about moving around quickly. Like say if you were in combat.

But then again, nothing is ever easy, is it?

There's a sort of crunching noise. Three of the skulls begin to shake and then push themselves away from the wall. Trailing behind each is a long 'tail' made out of spinal bones and ribs. Each one resembles some odd bone worm of sorts, each standing about the height of a tall man.

The bone worms land on the floor and then beging to raise themselves up, their empty eye sockets swiveling in your direction...

Okay. The bone worms are attacking on rd. 8. Go ahead an roll an init and state an action if you beat me.

Vaddis, you took a whopping 2 hp from the acid. Toke and Tarrov, you guys got 3 hp each. The acid is already evaporaring off your tender skin. You won't take any further damage from it.

The acid on the floor also seems to be evaporating. But it will be a hazard for the next round. I would advise against charging.

Vaddis detects evil and prepares for combat.


19:46, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 18 using 1d20. Initiative.

HP: 34/36

Selvin was listening for sounds on the other side of the door, and doing a piss-poor job of it too. It certainly didn't help when things behind him starting making noise!! He slowly turned to tell his companions to stop making so much noise when he saw that they were being attacked...

OOC: 23:18, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 5 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

---

---

"Ah!" Tarrov grunted with surprise as he tried to dodge the sudden stream of acid but was not entirely successful.  Wiping the acid away with his ubiquitous handkerchief, the bard grimaced as he saw the skeletons pull away from the wall.  Not fantastic, he thought to himself.  He began to sing a well-known battle tune in hopes of inspiring his companions to feats of valor . . .


OOC:

23:41, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 14 using 1d20+1. Initiative.

Standard Action:  Tarrov begins to Inspire Courage (+1 morale bonus on saves v. charm/fear effects, +1 “to hit,” +1 damage for allies able to perceive performance)

---

---

Vaddis, these thins smell ambivilent. Like watchdogs or a locked door. They aren't good. Aren't evil. They just are.

Toke  wipes acid off his face with his sleeve and jams his other hand into his pocket for one of his vials.

At the same time, one of the bone worm things begins to lunge forward, crossing the distance towards Vaddis. Another comes slithering as quietly as a box of loose pots and pans in Tarrov's direction. The last one bolts upright and begins to...well. Dance.

The third one sways. It shimmies. It moves side to side. First this way. Than that way. And then in a completely different way. Should it be able to do that? What will it do next? Go this way? Or that way? Or maybe up and over like this? Or maybe over and then up like that? Oh! Maybe it will fold one way and then turn that way! Oh will it? Oh will it indeed???? The only way you'll know for sure is if you keep...watching...

Everyone make a Will save DC 15. Otherwise consider yourself dazed.

Vaddis, you get one action before then. But you are too far away from the third one to whack at it hand to hand.

---

---

Tarrov shook his head as the skeletal creature moved in a complex pattern, mesmerized by its shimmying rhythm.  He knew he should start doing something else, anything else, but he just couldn't look away . . .


OOC:

23:06, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 13 using 1d20+1. Will Save.

---

---

As the bone snake thingy lunges at Vaddis, he swings in self defense with his readied action.



07:39, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 21 using 1d20+7. to hit.
07:39, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 4 using 1d8+3. damage.
07:39, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 16 using 1d20+6. will save.

Selvin was still in the alcove while the others were dealing with the snakes. He looked and intended to join in but the snakes were moving so strangely it was absolutely fascinating.

OOC: I may have gotten a +2 if it's enchantment but that wouldn't be enough still.
08:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 7 using 1d20+5. Will save or watch dancing!!

Apparently my dice are as dazed as Tarrov and Selvin. How can I get a fumble? Tarrov's head is right. There. Ugh. I'm going to order a new set of die that aren't as stupid. Anyhooo...

Vaddis smashes his sword into his worm's side as it lunges at him. The blade fails to bite but the blow does push the worm to one side, deflecting it's lunge.

Selvin, you come to the opening of the alcove and stare, transfixed. You are dimly aware of Toke muttering something, but you can't really pay him any mind at the moment. You might miss some of the performance if you do.

You do miss some of the show Tarrov. One of these stupid worms has reared up in front of you. You have to move your head to one side, perhaps unaware that the gesture may have saved your life. The worm attacking you passess over your shoulder, the ends of it's spiny protrusions raking over your face like a stick in the hands of a small boy tac-tac-tacs against the slats in a picket fence as he races alongside it. You are dimly aware of a loud crunching sound behind you...probably that stupid worm hittingthe wall. Good riddance. People shouldn't wear big hats when they come to the theater either.

Vaddis, make two attacks please. We'll just combine two rounds of combat into one post so we can get Tarrov and Selvn going. And yes, the skeletal worm seems to have some DR going on.

Vaddis, you pivot as the worm whips it's head round and tries for the back of your neck. You get your blade into the thing's mouth and flip it aside. It twists as ably as a cat and lunges again. This time the two of you meet in the middle. Your blade gouges a chunk of it's spine as it's teeth dig into your shoulder. You push away and it snaps back. The two of you regard each other.

Tarrov and Selvin, you see a small phial smash against the forehead of your dance partner. There is a small sound of thunder and the worm springs backwards at the end of it's spine. What the hell were you doing just now? Never mind that. Toke is yelling, shouting for Tarrov to move. Now.

Thanks for doing that Vaddis. You took 3 pts damage.

Tarrov and Selvin. You are mobile and in control again.

By which I mean everyone can post actions again.

Vaddis slashes at the worm skeleton again! Wishing he had a mace or something to smash it instead of a nearly useless sword!


08:42, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 21 using 1d20+7. to hit.
08:43, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 8 using 1d8+3. damage.

Selvin shook his head, trying to clear it from that dance or whatever. He blinked a few times as he moved up to one of the creatures and tried to maul it.

OOC: Didn't include charge bonuses since it sounded like one was right nearby.
16:41, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 13,18,14 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Full attack versus wormcritter.
16:43, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 4,8,5 using d6+3,d6+3,d6+3. Damage in order if they hit.

---

---

Tarrov moved backward, away from the worms, drawing his Wand of Magic Missiles in the process.  He pointed it towards the most-wounded worm, said the word of command and watched as two glowing darts sprang from the head of the wand and sped toward their target, crashing into it with arcane force.

OOC:

Move:  Back away from worm while drawing Wand of Magic Missiles

Standard:  Activate Wand of Magic Missiles at most-damaged opponent.
16:39, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 7 using 2d4+2. Magic Missile Damage.

Free:  Continue to Inspire Courage (+1 "to hit," +1 damage)

Note:  -1 charge to wand.

---

---

Everyone remember to add in Tarrov's bonus if you haven't already done so.

Selvin, you dive into the one who hit the wall. Your claws make sparks against the bone. Your friend's mouth fills with the taste of old boiled bone and dust as he chomps on it. The bone is thick and difficult to damage, but you do manage to make some marks.

Vaddis, you land a solid hit but the bone is fairly tough. You manage to break a spine, though since the thing has a gazillion spines, you doubt it will miss it much. Two small flashing bolts shoot around you and smash into the worm. That seems to get it's attention. Maybe if you use the flat of your blade...

The worm feints and lunges for your shoulder Vaddis. You can't compensate in time. You feel the skull's jagged teeth tear through the leather on your shoulder and sink into the skin beneath. It rears back, taking a chunk of you with it. Crit for 12 pts damage. Yeah. That's gonna leave a mark.

Tarrov, you see Toke tossing one of his bombs at the dancer. The dancing worm rears back as a cloud of smoke and vitrol forms about it's face. You see Selvin taking on the one that missed you and wince as you see the other worm tear a chunk from Vaddis . Your missles seemed to do some good. And the one on him appears to be moving more slowly than the others.

Only Vaddis took a hit this time. Go team. Ya'll are up. Tarrov, if you need to skip a night or two, that's fine. I will have Tarrov keep plugging away with the wand.

Vaddis tries using the 'flat' of his sword to bludgeon the 'thing' with a backward sweep, wincing in pain!


05:33, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 16 using 1d20+7. to hit.
05:34, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 4 using 1d8+3. damage.

HP: 22/36
This message was last edited by the player at 09:37, Wed 04 June 2014.

Selvin knew that his friend didn't particularly like the taste of this thing that they were fighting. Selvin wouldn't like biting a bone himself. But they needed to put these things down, so he and his ally swung out with the claws and chomped down with the teeth again.

OOC: Hit Ac 20 and 17 for 8 and 6 damage respectively.
07:17, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 20,9,17 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Full attack versus wormcritter, take two.
07:18, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8,4,6 using d6+3,d6+3,d6+3. Damage in order if they hit.

Vaddis, I'll let you use the 'flat of the blade' as an improvised sort of club, but only at d4+str dam. I already refigured your last damage.

There's a loud cracking sound as your improvised club manages to knock the skull quite literally off the worm's spine Vaddis. Apparently necessity really is the mother of invention.

Toke's skinny arm thrusts a vial in front of your face and he barks at you to drink it while looking over at the worm who was dancing and is now charging at the two of you.

Two small shimmering darts of force whiz around your head Selvin and smash against the worm you are attacking. Apparently Tarrov has gotten the hang of that wand. You deliver your blows as the worm manages to whip it's spiny spikey tail across your ally's chest 4 pts damage

Selvin is engaged with one worm. The dancing worm is bearing down on Vaddis and Toke. Toke just handed Vaddis a cure light wounds. Post actions please.

Vaddis accepts the potion and swallows it! Then readies to receive the charge!

07:19, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 4 using 1d8+1. CLW 'potion'.

HP: 26/36

Selvin and his once-again-injured-ally attack the worm in front of them again, hoping to finish it quickly...

09:01, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 19,10,17 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Selvin claws and bite on worm.
09:02, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 5,4 using d6+3,d6+3. Damage on the worm.

Your claw catches the worm against the spine and smashes it into the wall Selvin as two more etheral darts from Tarrov's  wand break against it's skull. It shivers and starts to crumble into it's compenent bones.

The dancer dodges left and rams into Toke as Vaddis tosses the empty potion aside.

One more worm folks. Toke is knocked down for 4 pts dam.

Vaddis slams the worm that knocked Toke down with the flat of his sword!

07:37, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 5 using 1d4+4. damage.
07:36, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 23 using 1d20+7. to hit.

Selvin will charge at the worm still attacking his comrades with a quiet growl but in his haste will miss with both claws. His bite, however, seems to connect.

07:27, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 10,12,21 using d20+8,d20+8,d20+8. Charge-pounce on last worm.
07:28, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d6+3. Damage on worm.

The worm bends under the blow from Vaddis  blade. Then it hits the ground as the angry Selvin lands on top, pinning it's skull and upper torso to the ground

Toke picks himself up and backs away. Tarrov fires off another round from his wand. The worm is thrashing under Selvin's bulk, but for the moment, the front half of it seems pinned.

With Selvin pinning the 'worm' to the floor, Vaddis gives it a 'golf' stroke with the flat of his blade, trying to finish it off!


08:01, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 20 using 1d20+7. to hit.
08:01, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 8 using 1d4+4. damage.

Selvin tries to help Vaddis hurry this last creature on its way, quickly lashing out with his claws and teeth once more.

08:16, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 10,23,21 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Full attack on last worm.
08:16, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 6,8 using d6+3,d6+3. Damage on last worm.

You should always yell out 'fore' Vaddis. Someone could get hurt...

The flat of the sword manages to knock the skull off it's spine. It hits the wall, bounces, and comes to rest at Toke's feet, spinning on it's rim like a coin that's been flipped.

It stops spinning.

It's come up heads.

All worms are down. What next?

Vaddis detects evil and looks around carefully for any other 'surprises'. "Everything looks clear now. Shall we move on, or is there something else?"


06:43, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 4 using 1d20. Perception.

Selvin went back to the alcove he had been in originally to see about the door they had been about to open but was willing to move on if the group was ready.

The hall continues to the south before dead ending. There is a small side pasaage along he western wall. Your best guess is it heads back to the stirge nest.

Selvin, you walk back to the alcove. The door is slightly ajar. It wasn't before. Through the crack you can see a large chamber beyond and what looks to be a large table. But you can't make out any details beyond that.

He will VERY quietly get the group's attention and point at the door, pantomiming how it was now open and looking to them for their reactions and intentions. Once they were ready (unless they indicated that they didn't want to enter the room) he listened at the door and then opened it.

21:53, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d20+8. Perception at open door.

---

---

Tarrov raised an eyebrow at Selvin, then nodded.  A door that had been closed, now open.  That definitely had to mean something.  And probably not something good.  But better for the group to investigate it now than run into whatever had opened the door while they were engaged with something else in this godsforsaken catacomb.  Tarrov, whip in one hand, wand in the other, waited to see what Selvin would find on the other side of the door.

---

---

Vaddis begins to continuously detect evil as he heads for the alcove where Selvin just opened the door. Sword in hand and ready just in case.

As you approach the door Selvin,, you move as quietly as you can. The door is open just wide enough to allow a partial view beyond. You can see the room has two, maybe three large, thick tables set along it. There are lanterns set on the tables, as well as books bound in black leather. And body parts. A whole body rests on one table while another table contains an assortment of arms. You see no one inside.

Vaddis detects evil in the direction of the door and does his best to 'creep up' too. He thinks he did pretty well overall!

08:00, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 3 using 1d20-4. acrobatics.

Selvin thinks whoever was in there has taken the opportunity to flee possibly, but isn't sure. However, not seeing anyone, he enters the room fully to get a better look and see if there are other exits...as well as to make sure that body isn't going to get back up.

The room vibrates with a sort of background evil Vaddis, though there is no specific presence within.

Selvin, the room beyond does look empty. As well as damaged. There are three tables. The body on one appears inert. You can see that it's legs aren't attached to it's torso, merely laid in position as if they were about to be. If it is a zombie, it isn't going to get very far.

There are three vats against the eastern wall. One of them has been overturned and a thick blackish green ooze covers the floor right in front of it. There is some broken lab equipment heaped upon the southern table.

There is a passage out of the room in the southeast corner of the room. There is another short passage in the middle of the southern wall. This short passage ends before a thick wooden door. The door is barred from this side.

D7 on the map folks. Updated the map in group 0

"Ware that greenish ooze Selvin. It looks dangerous. Keep to this side of the room because it might burn your skin or even be poisonous. Were they cutting a body up, or sewing one together?"

Selvin gave an absent nod to Vaddis' words of caution. "Considering we are dealing with a necromancer? I'd guess the former rather than the latter." Two ways to go. "Unbar yonder door, or leave it and keep going?"

You can hear some noises from behind the barred door. It sounds as if someone is walking back and forth behind it. The southeast passage slopes up towards the north and appears to branch. You hear nothing down it.

Vaddis detects evil toward the door, hoping to get a glimpse of any aura on the other side through a gap or crack, but not expecting much. "What say you Selvin? The door, or the passage?"

Rudimentary search of the room, staying clear of the ooze on the floor. 06:09, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 7 using 1d20. Search.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:10, Fri 20 June 2014.

Selvin glanced at the barred door. "That sounds like something's back there. If we don't wanna leave undead behind potentiall..." He gave a shrug and made sure everyone was ready. He then nodded at Toke, "Open the door and back up please."

Toke nods and scurries to the door. He glances back at you all, nods once more, and as quietly as he can, lifts the bar aside and swings the door open.

Beyond is what looks to have been a storage room of some kind. Shelving along the wall is smashed. Broken bits of crate, perserved human tissue, and various necromantic filth lays scattered on the floor. Just beyond the open door is a man.

He has his back to you but even from that view you can see he's had better days. His broad back is laced with scars and burn marks. The flesh appears to be infected and begining to turn gangrenous in sections. Manacles dangle from one wrist of a heavily tattooed arm. Red oozes from the other wrist. He may have cut open his veins in order to lubricate his skin enough to slip the hand out of the manacle. Or at least that's the most obvious solution.

He doesn't turn towards you. He seems to have been walking away from the door towards the far southern wall of the room.

Vaddis, the room has the general background evil smell of the whole place. But this man does not whiff of anything particularly malevolent.

"Hello, help is here, may we assist you?" Vaddis then approaches, avoiding the slime on the floor at all costs.

The man stops. He stands still a moment and then seems to tremble. His head wobbles and then flops back. Almost completely back. It seems someone has cut through most of his throat and hasn't finished the job of decapitating him. The head dangles from a flap of skin and some muscle tissue. The face seems frozen in a scream, except for the mouth. The toothless maw opens and shuts, the gums smacking together to make an odd pulpy sort of chomping noise.

The near-headless man begins to run at you. Backwards. Now you can see his 'scars' are mostly lines from stitches. The body is laced with them. Or perhaps you should say bodies. It's obvious now this thing is made up of more than one body. The tattooed arm for instance is much larger and sun tanned than it's other arm.

The thing comes barreling towards you all, springing backwards from it's heels. The head bounces off the thing's borrowed trapezius muscles. It's mouth keeps openng and shutting, making that noise. "Klhhhh-chomp. Klhhhh-chomp."

I'm going on round four. Roll init and state your actions please.

Selvin wondered if it was a good idea to talk to the man there. Something about him didn't seem right, but Selvin wasn't sure what. Well, they found out quick enough that was for sure!! Selvin flinched a bit upon seeing the horror, but then bounded forward to attack and put down the undead thing.

22:20, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Initiative.

07:49, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 18 using 1d20. Initiative.

Vaddis prepares to defend himself.

Ya'll are up before me. It is attacking, so go for it.

Vaddis swings his sword in a wide arc at the 'creature'!


23:32, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 14 using 1d20+7. to hit. Missed?
23:32, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 7 using 1d8+3. damage.

Selvin didn't like the looks of this creature at ALL, so he charged in towards it before it could charges them! It made sense to his cat-like brain at least. He snapped out with both his claws and his teeth chomped down as well.

21:34, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 27,18,23 using d20+7,d20+7,d20+7. Charge-pounce-hug on Stitched Man (Claw,Claw,Bite).
21:36, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 14 using 1d20+7. Critical confirmation.
21:36, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 5,6,7 using d6+2,d6+2,d6+2. Damage for Claw, Claw, Bite.

OOC - Can't crit undead, can you???

The half headed man smashes into Selvin as   Selvin smashes into him. The blow carries Half Head just beyond the point of Vaddis' blade.

As Selvin's friend and the elf tear huge chunks from the monster, it smashes the glowing Eidolon in the gut. The blow is hard enough the elf feels it while inside.

A glowing globe darts over Vaddis' shoulder. Tarrov has used his wand again. The etheral dart smashes into half head's back and forces him to let go of the elf. It turns and begins to move towards Toke

Ya'lls go. Each of you get an attack of op as it tries to barrell past you. Ya'll tore a big chunk out of him. So you know: his base AC is 17

Selvin was surprised at the undead's speed...and strength!! He felt that blow rock through the symbiote! That was a bad thing! It meant that this beast was powerful, and needed to be put down quickly! He was so surprised that he failed to hit the damned thing as it moved past him.

22:18, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 10 using 1d20+5. Attack of Opportunity.

Vaddis swung his sword and sank it deep into the thing!!


07:13, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 21 using 1d20+7. to hit.
07:13, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 8 using 1d8+3. damage.

Selvin spun in a flurry of claws and teeth at the creature as it tried to go after Toke.

20:09, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 19,12,24 using d20+5,d20+5,d20+5. Claw,Claw,Bite on Ugly.
20:10, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 6,4 using d6+2,d6+2. Claw,Bite Damage on Ugly.

Vaddis' blade strikes the half head just at the point the tendons and gristle are keeping the head on. Part of it's tether comes loose and the head swings wildly to the left, still held on by one stubborn flap of skin and muscle.

It smashes a fist into the wall Toke  was just standing against. The alchemist ducked in time and now scurries put from under the half head's arm. It pivots, ignoring him, and begins charging at Selvin again.

It's movements are erratic. It's targeting even more so. All it had to do was kick and it could have turned Toke into an alchemical solvent. It's almost like it lost sight of him completely...

Ya'lls turn

Sorry Selvin. Think we were working on our posts at the same time. Gimme a moment and I'll add an update for your attack.

Vaddis stepped forward and brought his back-stroke back at the creature!


22:21, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 18 using 1d20+7. to hit.
22:21, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 10 using 1d8+3. damage.

You aren't sure which one did it. Whether Vaddis and his blade or Selvin and Zak's claw. But the head comes off the torso, flying across the room. The body slumps and then falls like an aged redwood.

The head bounces into the store room and lays still as well.

And that is that.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 112):

You guys still there?

Yes, Vaddis searches the room where 'it' came from, taking "20."

OOC: Whoops! Thought I'd posted!

Selvin grimaced at the body and shuddered. He had known he wouldn't like this place when told a necromancer was there, but seeing some of the person's handiwork was gross!

He helped Vaddis search before leading them to the far southern wall door and seeing what was next.

Toke searches the lab while you search the storage room. There's little that is salvagable, and noutside of some foodstuffs, nothing that seems to be of any value.

Tarrov is insoecting the golem's body. He points at one of the arms, theone that is heavily tattooed. "Doesn't that match the description of the Shoanti we're looking for? Just the arm I mean"

It does. The arm looks as if it has been sewn on, as do many of the golem's various body parts. None of the others are tattooed.

The passage in the southeast corner leadsdown a long, roughly hewn tunnel heading east. It looks to run into a north south passage. You can hear voices from the south. Nothing from the north.

"We will leave it here for the moment, let us check out what is further down now."

Vaddis indicates the voices he is hearing and tries to ascertain how many there are.


08:27, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 15 using 1d20. Perception.

Selvin stopped when they realized the arm....."Aw, gross man. He couldn't have just...reanimated the whole guy? He had t'chop 'im up? That is not gonna make the Shoanti happy I imagine. An' it's gonna be...annoying....t'get this guy all out of here."

Selvin shakes his head negatively at Vaddis. "No, because if we don't take it, how do we know the necromancer won't come back an' do somethin' with it? Or somethin' might come gobble this guy up. I'm not takin' chances as gross as this is."

He chops the arm they want off of the body, looking unhappy about it.

"You might be right, Toke, we'll let you carry it."

Toke makes a face but picks up the arm and shrugs.

The voices are faint. What you can hear sounds like some muffled screams and moans. And one deeper basso voice saying something about potatoes. It sounds like "Some's like potatoes for eattin'. An' somes jus' think they look pretty. I like's 'em cos they" something something "in my mouth..."

Vaddis leads the way as quietly as he can, detecting evil once he gets to the door, blade in hand.

Selvin walked along or right behind Vaddis. He didsn't like the sound of what they could hear up ahead. It sounded disturbing. He had a bad feeling there was about to be more fighting soon and more killing. And likely more undead monstrosities. He restrained a growl, ready to pounce.

You come to the intersection and scan a ways down both corridors. The north heads up to another roughly hewn stairwell heading downwards. To the south you see...and smell...a large cavern which seems to be lit by torches. The voices are coming from within it. You can see some large, ill defined shape moving around inside the southern cave. Man shaped, though larger than either of you by a head and hand. The smell of unwashed flesh and rotting vegetables wafts down the corridor towards you.

Vaddis continues to detect evil as he heads toward the voices.


06:40, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 18 using 1d20. Perception.He also tries to determine the number of voices.

Selvin jerks his head to the south, asking silently if Vaddis agrees with going that way to take care of whatever those are.

OOC: Would it have been alright to cast a spell before they got this close? I forgot how damaged my eidolon was.

OOC - pause for Selvin. ;)

There is of course the usual background 'static o' evil' Vaddis. This is a necromancer's lair. The large figure ahead smells of a stronger vintage of awfulness though. Besides his voice, which is the one occupied with potatoes, you hear at least three other distinct voices. Though these other voices sound muffled and make noises more consistent with moans or weeping than anything else.

Selvin, you can cast it now, before entering the room. Adn don't forget ya'll have a wand of cure light.

Selvin had Tarrov use the wound on his eidolon once more out of earshot of the voices...or at least a bit back so hopefully they wouldn't be noticed. Then he nodded to Vaddis that he was ready.


22:50, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d8+1. Cure light wounds on eidolon.

Vaddis advances as quietly as he can to the room.

06:49, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 13 using 1d20-4. stealth.

Selvin crept after Vaddis when he saw the other man move forward. Unfortunately, Selvin was not nearly as silent in his moving.

12:57, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 7 using 1d20+2. Stealth.

What noise occurs that tives you away, you may never know. Perhaps it is the scrape of Vaddis steel against the wall. Or perhaps it is the soft clatter a small stone makes as Selvin inadvertantly kicks it. Whatever it is, the big mass of flesh stops and turns it's face towards you.

'Face' is used loosely here. The thing looks like someone pushed his face inside his skull a few inches. You can see his large, wet greyish lips and his huge flaring nostrils. His eyes though are just small black dots hidden inside folds of sticky, dirty flesh.

The ogre spreads it's arms as if greeting you. "You friend of potatoes?" he inquires.

Selvin grimaced in disgust slightly as he saw the creature more fully. He blinked a few times in surprise at the question, not really sure how to answer it either. "Uhhh. No?"

He then rushed forward in a flurry of attacks at the creature.

09:47, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
09:48, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 10,19,21 using d20+7,d20+7,d20+7. Charge pounce claw,claw,bite.
09:48, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 7,8 using d6+2,d6+2. Claw, Bite Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Fri 04 July 2014.

09:14, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 9 using 1d20. Initiative.

"I'm not your friend, I'm here to kill you and end your evil forever!"

Smite Evil

Vaddis, we tied on init. Post your action please.

Vaddis swings hard with his longsword at his foe.

18:49, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 10 using 1d8+6. damage.
18:49, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 13 using 1d20+9. to hit. missed?
AC19 against him.

Mushed In Face frowns. The folds of his flesh somehow exagerrate the motion. It looks like his frown begins below his chin and ends somewhere above his forehead.

Selvin's bite manages to puncture the thick, noxious tasting flesh. Zac reports it tastes like bad cabbage. Mshed In Face roars and swings a large, meaty fist. "BAD KITTY!!!" he screams.

The blow is a wild throw and misses the elf/eidolon. It does connect with Vaddis, knocking him on the side and throwing off his blow.

6 pts dam Vaddis. This guy's AC is a 20.

Selvin grimaced as his eidolon skin tasted what the creature, well, tasted like. It was disgusting. He attacked again, but was a little hesitant due to not wanting to really taste that again. The bite was way off, but one claw was close and set the creature up for the second claw.

OOC: Boy...we could really use Raph right about now....Er I mean Tarrov and his helpful songs lol

21:35, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 19,25,10 using d20+5,d20+5,d20+5. Claw,Claw,Bite on Ugly.
21:36, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8 using 1d20+5. Whoops, critical confirm.
21:36, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8 using 1d6+2. Claw damage.

Vaddis sinks his blade deep into the creature in front of him!


00:12, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 21 using 1d20+9. to hit.
00:13, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 10 using 1d8+6. damage.

HP: 20/36 AC:19 vs. creature.

The ogre...you think it might be an ogre. A really ugly one at any rate...roars something about bad kitties again and begins to swing wildly. As Selvin's claw and  Vaddis' blade sink into the tough but still gooey flesh, Tarrov begins to sing. Toke tries to stab it and misses.

Ogre missed. Tarrov is singing. Factor in the bonus going forward. Your turns.

Selvin let loose again but missed with both claws as he tried to make sure that the ogre-thing didn't land a hit on him....unfortunately the bite landed on the creature, causing the eidolon to spit several times afterwards to get the taste out again.

00:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 14,14,23 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Claw,Claw,Bite on Ugly again.
00:12, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d6+3. Bite damage on Ugly.

Sadly, Vaddis picks a really bad time to miss HORRIBLY. All of the wild swinging threw his attack way off!


07:15, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 10 using 1d20+9. to hit.

Ugly galumphs as Selvin's claw once again manages to tear through his hide. Oddly, he once again punishes Vaddis for the blow. He swings a fist into the side of the paladin that lands with the force of a mule kick.

As you all dance about you notice a few things about the room. There are small holes set in the corners of the floor, all covered by thixk wooden lattice hatches. You can hear voices down in each hole. This seems to be a prison.

Sorry Vaddis. My dice have decided to punish you for some reason. 9 pts damage.

Selvin grimaced a bit as he realized that there was living beings held prisoner nearby. He growled at Vaddis, "We need t'finish this up quick an' save these people!" He let loose a full set of claw swipes and a bite again, but only managed to hit the creature with one of his claws. It was a powerful hit, however.

23:55, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 13,21,18 using d20+6,d20+6,d20+6. Claw,Claw,Bite on Ugly one more time.
23:56, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d6+3. Claw on Ugly.

Vaddis swings with a vengeance and sinks his blade into the fat! He then steps back 5'.

07:26, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 8 using 1d8+6. damage.
07:26, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 21 using 1d20+9. to hit.

Vaddis blade finishes what Selvin's claw began. The lumphead goes down on one knee, throwing his hands over his misshapen face and screaming, "No more Funny Kitties! Too rough! Too rough!"

---

---

While Vaddis and Selvin are administering their beat-down to the evil, strange-faced creature, Tarrov moves over to inspect the lattice hatches, trying to determine who or what is being kept prisoner down the covered holes.  After all, simply because one is being held prisoner by an evil being does not automatically make one good.

---

---

Selvin hesitated and glanced at Vaddis. "Shall we see what...it...knows?" He knew the paladin would likely want to kill the creature if it was evil.

"Do as you will with the vile creature, I'd say it isn't smart enough to know anything though."

Selvin frowned and then turned back to the creature. "Where is your master?" He then held up and carefully unwrapped the tattooed arm. "And where is the rest of this man?"

Tarrov, there are three holes in yhe ground, each covered by a wooden slatted hatch. A rope is coiled beside each hole. Peering between the slats of each you see four people. Three men, one of whom is a dwarf, and a woman. All of them look malnourished. More scarcrow than person at this point. They all have marks of violence on them, especially the dwarf. Someone has painted the dwarf blue. It's a bad paint job. Flaking in large sections. So you feel somewhat confident he isn't one of those blue creatures you saw before.

They all stare back at you, standing stark still. They watch you like prey watches a predator.

On the other side of the room, the lumpy man blinks. Or at least you think he blinks. The large mounds of soggy flesh around where eyes should be sort of flaps. "Kitties mean Rolth? Rolth ain't here Sharp Kitties. He went ta see Mister Teethies." He studies the arm. "You could ask Vreeg. He migt know where tha what you wanna know about is."

Vaddis peers down the holes in the floor and detects evil on the occupants as well, but keeping his sword pointed at the fat creature.

---

---

"Looks like prisoners, and not well-treated ones," Tarrov told the others with a sour look.  "Don't worry everyone, we'll get this sorted straight away!"  He called down to those in the cells.  He then turned to the shambling wreck they had just battled.

"You are a loathsome creature."  He spat at the monster with distaste.  "What can you tell us about Mister Teethies?  Or Vreeg?  And where might we find them?  Tell us now, or you will feel pain like you have never before experienced.""

OOC:  07:03, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 20 using 1d20+12. Intimidate Check.

---

---

"Tell us of Rolth too, and we might let you live a while longer."

There's a slight whiff of evil from some of the prisoners Vaddis. But then, who knows what these people have had to do to survive.

The ogre sort of balls up and peeks towards Tarrov.

"Pretty Man gona make Cabbage Head make boom boom." He sniffs. "Mister Rolth nice. He give Cabbage Head cabbages. And meat. Sometimes meat taste funny. But pretty much taste good. Vreeg not so nice. He only give Cabbage Head stinky okra. Okra smell like ass. Don't know where he is. Mister Teethies place but Cabbage Head don't know. He swears. Vreeg is around. Probably in library. Studyin'. "

"Where is the library Cabbage Head? How do we get to it?

"Look them over good Tarrov, we don't want a repeat of the last one. Are they all living people yet?"

Selvin just waited and listened while looking appropriately as though he might eat 'Cabbage Head' at a moment's notice if he didn't answer the questions...but Vaddis was doing fine with questions thus far with help from Tarrov.

Cabbage Head points back the way you came. "Thataway. I think. Mister Rolth don't let Cabbage Head touch tha books. Even tha pretty ones."

"Hmm, I didn't see a library, I guess we may have missed it, but, he did say, 'I think', thinking is not his strong suit."

Selvin let out a throaty chuckle. "Really? You doubt a being callin' himself 'Cabbage Head'? C'mon now." The momentary mirth slowly slipped away. "So, we free the prisoners an'...deal...with Mr. Head here?" He was clearly trying not to let Cabbage Head in on the possibility of his impending death.

"Yes, we'll free them all, we'll free 'Cabbage Head' last and forever. No one will ever bother him again. What think you Tarrov?"

---

---

The bard nodded hesitantly.  "If things are as you say then that seems to be the just result, as much as I would prefer to handle things another way."  The bard favored "Cabbage Head" with a sad look.  Who knew what events had transformed the monster into what he was.  Had he always been a black-hearted fiend?  Was there ever a chance for redemption?  Did he have that chance now?

It looked as if that chance would be completely eliminated shortly.  But Tarrov had to admit the creature deserved his fate.  And he was an ogre, apparently.  That race was never too good to begin with.  Still, there was something childlike about the creature that argued for a stay of execution.

Tarrov sighed.  The world was thus.  There were innocents who must be saved, and their welfare weighted far heavier in the balance than Cabbage Head's.

The silver-haired man looked at Vaddis.  He nodded.  "Do it," he said, then turned away as if failing to witness the creature's death would somehow absolve him of responsibility.

---

---

Vaddis detects evil again and scans all of the prisoners, including 'Cabbage Head'. "What can you tell us about the prisoners Cabbage Head? Who are they, why are they here, and what is supposed to happen to them?"

Cabbage Head snuffles as the prisoners are let out of their holes. "I dunno. Mister Rolth brings them in. Says ta keep 'em inna ground. So that's what Cabbage Head does."

You get no new results Vaddis. Cabbage Head is evil. The prisoners are a mixed lot, but none are so bad as to raise them amongst others in their position.

"Who are you and why are you here? Can you tell us anything about your captor?"

---

---

Although Tarrov was no physician, and certainly no healer, he tried to assess the prisoner's physical condition as they emerged from their cells.  It wouldn't do to rescue them only to have them collapse from exhaustion, starvation, or some other ailment as they attempted to make their way to the surface.

As Tarrov looked the prisoners over, he wondered to himself what their purpose was.  Experimentation?  But for what kind of experiments?  Fodder for necromancy?  But they were in a crypt . . . surely there were plenty of bodies available for whatever foul rites a necromancer wished to initiate.

Tarrov knelt to talk to the assembled prisoners.  "What has happened to you?"  He asked.  "Do any of you have any idea why you are here?  Have you seen any of your captors other than this fellow?"  He pointed at Cabbage Head.  "The more we know the better our chances of exacting vengeance for your imprisonment."

---

---

The woman mutters, "It was them blue dwarves..."

"Them bastards ain't dwarves!" snips the dwarf as he cradles his side. A nasty looking cut there appears to be infected. "I don' know what them blue things are, but they ain't no kin o' mine!" He looks at you each in turn, his eyes wide. As he speaks, foam flecks on the corner of his mouth and spittle sprays across the room. "They monsters! That's what they are! They may look all civilized but not civilized person does tha things they do! They put voices in your head! They make ya drink stuff and then ya sees tha monsters! They..." He runs out of steam. "They jus' make ya wish ya was dead..."

One of the men clears his throat. His voice is dry and cracks from the effort. "Tha skinny man...Rolth...He uses them. He lets 'em...take people...from above. An' play wid 'em. Then...when they're done with ya..,Rolth gets ya."

Vaddis hands them his waterskin to drink from.

---

---

Tarrov looked appalled.  "And who is this Rolth?  What does he look like?  What does he do to them?"

---

---

Selvin listened to what the people were saying, but it was a bit jumbled and confusing. Putting voices in their heads? He supposed there was magic that could do that. Though why you would do that to prisoners he couldn't fathom. Tarrov asked the question before he could so he merely nodded and kept watching Cabbage Head and the corridor.

After recovering his waterskin from the prisoners, Vaddis walks around the room a bit. When he gets behind Cabbagehead, he raises his sword high, blade down, with both hands, drives it between his collarbone and neck, straight down into his heart. "And now Cabbagehead is free too, as promised."

The prisoners flinch as Vaddis cleaves Cabbage Head in twain. Everyone is quiet a moment. And then the woman starts to laugh. It's an odd sound. A cackle. A sob. Somewhere between the two. One of the men looks uncomfortable and then looks at each of you.

"I got...taken...jus' recently. They haven't played with me as much as tha others. Rolth is some kinda wizard. He's tall and thin and bald and...he looks like a vulture. No other way ta describe 'im. He seems ta like tha dead. He...makes 'em get up and walk about. But we only see him when we die. Some don't die. The blue things let them go. But the poor sods are like all dead inside. The blue things...they do stuff to us. Make us drink things. Get us hooked up on Venom. It does weird things to your head. I heard one a' 'em say once..,they was lookin' for a cure for their own crazies. I think all tha blue ones are crazy. I dunno." He swallows a little mote from the waterskin and passes it to the next one. "We really don't know much else. But I do know Rolth ain't here. He came by just a little while ago an' told..." He glances at Cabbage Head's corpse. "...that he was goin' ta see some people. Somethin' about teeth is all I really heard. Honest. Will...will ya let us go?"

Selvin hesitated a moment then spoke quietly to his companions a bit away from the prisoners. "I am a little concerned about releasing people with...mental damage to the world freely, but we can't really re-imprison them. So...we let 'em go?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 04:27, Fri 18 July 2014.

"We will most likely have to take you to the surface ourselves. Or can you find your own way?"

---

---

Tarrov was aghast.  He was no naive debutante, thinking the world was full of nothing but flowers, balls, and moonlit assignations (although he had certainly known those who were).  He had thought he was steeled against the ugly underbelly of Korvosa, against the kind of depravity and exploitation that were the byproducts of any large group of people living together.

Tarrov truly believed that evil existed in the hearts of men, and only civilization kept them from tearing each other apart with their bare hands.

But this.  He looked around at the broken people around him.  This was more depraved, more sickening, and more evil than anything he had previously imagined.  He couldn't understand it.  He could understand most evil, even while he didn't approve.  He knew why someone would abduct little girls to work in brothels.  He knew why people would enslave others.  He knew why people would step on the backs of others to get ahead themselves.

But this?  This seemingly unthinking, uncaring cruelty?  Evil without a clear purpose?  It boggled his mind.

Tarrov turned to Selvin.  "I agree.  We have to let them go.  We don't have the ability to properly care for them, and we have to stop this Rolth and his associates from doing this," he almost spit the words as he waved his arm over their damaged flock of rescuees, "to anyone else."  His eyes glinted.  "Ever again."

He waited for a response to Vaddis' question, to see if they would need to escort these ones out or head on to exact vengeance against the one responsible for this horror.

---

---

The sanest man looks about at his companions. The woman is still cackling but much more softly. Large, oily tears are leaking out of her eyes. The other man twitches. He suddenly hugs his arms across his chest, and looks at the floor. "...if ya don't move, they can' see ya. If ya don' say nothin', they can' hear nothin'..."

The dwarf laughs at them. He puffs up his chest and throws back his head. "We'll be fine. We'll be right as roses. If'n any a' 'em shows their hateful blue skin I'll give 'em whatfer. I'm a man. Ya hear me? I'm. A. Full. Grown. Man. Ya don' think me one? I'll shows ya! I'll wipe tha walls wid 'em! I'll do to 'em what we dwarves did ta them...guys...at...that place...I'LL KILL 'EM ALL! I WILL! I WILL! I-" He stops, gasping for breath. A small wet spot appears and then begins to spread across the front of his threadbare trousers. He slaps a large hairy hand over hs mouth and just stands there, staring straight ahead and pissing himself.

The sanest man walks over and lays a hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "Of course you are. You're very brave." He looks at you all. "We'll be fine. I'll look after 'em. If...you have a knife or such...just in case. How do we get out?" He smiles. "Really. If...you can just...make sure they don't do this to anyone else. And thank you. It's good to be free."

"We'll lead you out. Let's go gentlemen, ladies." Vaddi indicates the proper direction, "Let's wrap the arm in a cloth of some kind.For propriety."

Selvin was taken aback at the outburst followed by the pissing. His eyebrows shot up and he leaned away, even though he wasn't next to the dwarf. After Vaddis spoke, he gave a shrug at the small delay of leading the people out. "Fine. Let's get it done."

He bounded away, leading the way towards the exit once more.

The four move surprisingly quietly, huddling in a small group and staying behind Vaddis mostly. You walk back through the hall with the bone cobras and into the secret hall. As you come to the intersection, you hear voices from the south. The room with the stirges. The voices are high pitched but with a sort of odd grating undertone. You can hear what sounds like two people speaking.

"-'s tits up is what I'm saying."

The other voice says something in an odd tongue. Hard vowels and soft consonants and stresses in places you wouldn't expect. The words make no sense.

"No. No point in goin' back. Even if it's over here. We should move into the city."

The four refugees all stop, standing rigid with eyes open. Mr. Sane licks his lips and leans over, whispering. "That's some of 'em. There's fur total. I think...sounds like Kleeg an' maybe Bortow."

You are at D2 on the map. The voices are from the south. The room with the stirges you passed over earlier.

Vaddis nods and then leads on, urging the four to follow quickly to the exit which is now very close by.

---

---

Tarrov's eyes widened as he heard the voices from the south.  "Should we let them head on back to the surface themselves?"  He whispered, careful that his lowered voice didn't carry any further than his companions.  He jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the sound of conversation.  "Looks like we've got company."

---

---

Vaddis shakes his head no and urges all on toward the exit.

Selvin slowed down and brought up the rear...he didn't want to take the chance that the blue bastards came upon the group unawares...or managed to snag back any of the already-way-broken prisoners.

The prisoners give you no grief. They are more than eager to move away from the sounds of the voices.

You come into the large entry chamber. The prisoners begin to surge towards the exit. The sanest man looks back. "I will see to them now. My family has resources. I will do what I can to aid them. If...you suceed, come and see me. My name is Loro de Ferhan."

The de Farhans are a well known and quite powerful family of merchants.

Loro hesitates on the bottom step. "One more thing I can tell you. Vertreeg. He is Rolth's apprentice I think. He will be the one you need to truly watch out for. You can tell him apart from the others by a scar here," he points to the right corner of his mouth. "Good luck. And whatever gods there are bless you all."

You are back in area D1.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Tue 22 July 2014.

After the prisoners have left, Vaddis turns to go back in, moving as quietly as he can under the circumstances.

Selvin gave a nod to the man offering to help the other prisoners. He knew Vaddis would likely want to check and make sure that happened...but that was for later. Right now? Selvin slinked back down to all shimmering fours and headed back towards where they had heard the voices that had scared the prisoners so much.

---

---

Now that the prisoners were safely away, it was down to business.  It sounded like there were a lot of unpleasant characters in this catacombs, and that none of them would be coming along easily . . . or even coming along at all.  Combat was the catchphrase, and Tarrov's mouth twisted at the thought.

He had never thought of himself as much of a fighter.  Apprenticed to one of the greatest performers in Korvosa, and achieving some success in his own right, he would never have believed that he would be searching for evildoers to kill in a mysterious crypt with hard men who were little more than acquaintances at this point.

The bard sighed to himself.  Life just happened sometimes.  And he couldn't complain; he himself had chosen this path when he decided to exact vengeance upon Gaedren Lamm.  Every step after that had been his choice, and his alone.  There was no one else upon which he could blame his current circumstances.

Tarrov crouched and tried to be as quiet as he could as he followed Selvin back towards where they had heard the voices.  At least this was the kind of thing about which he could compose an epic song.

If he survived.

---

---

Selvin, Tarrov, and Vaddis,  you head down the hall and come close to the back of the hidden door the voices are coming from. The voices still seem to be going along in the same vein. One speaking that weird tongue. The other one is still speaking on common, "Look. We both agree. Rolth's crazy. Vartreeg is stupid. This boat's gotta hole in it. Let's get out now before we get wet."

"Kwiska ka'heta ma'shalamu," says Mister-Too-Good-for-the-Common-Tongue.

"I have not gone topsider!"

"Hthau so molij nu."

"I just don't speak the tongue because we sound like morons. Have you not noticed that?"

"B'haliwoggle..."

"Whatever. What're we gonna do about this guy?" Suddenly Mr. Common shrieks. "HEY! YOU UP YET???!!" There's a silence. "Damnit. You used too much Moon Blood on the dart. He's still out. Now we gotta wait for him ta wake up until we slit his throat."

"Iffidk ni solu lakehm. Ma'yesho usanduwah holli oposu."

"You have to wait until they wake up. If ya kill 'em while they're asleep, their souls get stuck in your hair."

"Kahten lakehm...o palu mhe sorot a'zulu."

There's a pause. "Wait. Ya mean I'm bald?"

Sounds like they're planning on killing someone whose unconcious...

---

When the one blue man yells at you, you almost flinch Izzick . But you clamp your jaw shut and remain still until they start talking again. Damn. It sounds like the one you don't understand has almost talked his partner into just slitting your throat. You test the ropes. Not quite there yet. You go back to sawing. If they just keep at it a little bit longer...

If only something would happen to serve as a distraction.

Izzick, you heard the whole exchange above. Vaddis, Tarrov, Selvin..?

Vaddis throws open the door and steps in, sword at the ready!

07:27, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 1 using 1d20. Initiative.
07:26, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 12 using 1d20. Perception.

Selvin bounds in towards the nearest enemy once the door is open...if they see any enemies immediately. He will charge if he can, but move up to them if not. He will wait until he pounces to let out a hopefully-terrifying growl!

08:32, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Initiative if needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:32, Fri 25 July 2014.

---

---

Tarrov's eyes widened as he listened to the two unidentified men talk about their captive.  It sounded like the poor sap that the conversationalists had tied up was not long for this world.

It was time for some thrilling heroics.

Tarrov followed Vaddis in the door, waving an arm through the air.  "Olisthi̱rós!"  He called, coating the floor beneath their opponents in a slick substance that would make their next movements a . . . challenge.

OOC:  Tarrov casts "Grease" on the ground under the two men.

---

---

The two little blue men turn as the hidden door breaks open. One manages a "Wha' tha-" before he looseshis footing on the odd little carpet of grease that appears under his feet.

His companion is a little more nimble. He hops up onto a nearby table, avoiding the grease blanket.

In one corner is a half orc, bound. But he suddenly brings his hands from behind his back, pieces of rope faling from his writs.

Izzick, your hands are free. Spend this round taking out your gag or doing whatever else you wish. Remember your ankles are bound as well.

The two derro are at the middle table, one on top of it and one laying at the eastern end in the pudle of grease. Please remember the grease if you atempt to charge the prone derro.

Selvin, Tarrov, and Vaddis: you have come in through the secret door in the north, area D5. Izzick, you are propped against the wall near the eastern end of the northernmost table. The edge of the grease pool is about a foot away from you.

I will let you describe your PCs to each other. Selvin's description in particular should be interesting. Everyone state your actions and I'll resolve in the appropriate order. Thanks.

'Just a little more...just a little more,' was all the half-orc was thinking before he finally felt the bindings on his hand snap against the sharp edge jutting from the wall. Freed from his bindings, the hands quickly went to his mouth. All he needed was to be able to speak and gesture, and he'd quickly be able to get out of this situation. He wasn't even sure why he'd been captured in the first place.

Spending the round getting rid of my gag!
This message was last edited by the player at 04:40, Sat 26 July 2014.

Average height and weight, brown hair and green eyes. He carries a longsword, dagger and Lt. Crossbow with a quarrel at his hip with 30 bolts. Leather lamellar armor with a heavy wooden shield.

He wears the holy symbol of Iomedae.

Vaddis moves to his right, (west) until he is in the opening to the north. "Surrender now or face my spite derro dogs!"

Selvin is not intimidating at first glance, standing around five and half feet in height, with a body that is more nimble than muscled. His black hair hangs down past his shoulders and tends to be in small braids or free-flowing. The hair doesn't often hide his pointed ears marking him as a half-elf. His eyes are black in color as well, and seem both happy but also hold a hint of sadness and wariness in them at the same time. His skin shows a light tan of someone who has worked outdoors quite a bit. He has some visible scars as well but overall he is very good-looking and has a charming smile. He openly wears a holy symbol of Abadar and tends to favor clothing in his colors. He carries a light crossbow on his back, a morningstar at his hip and wears a set of lamellar cuirass for protection.

Much of the time, however, he is surrounded by an otherwordly form. Like a suit of armor, he wears a being from the outerplanes, protecting him and granting him other abilities. The being resembles a tiger somewhat, striped white and black and blue but seemingly burning with a blue flame as well that doesn't burn. The creature is about 4 feet tall at the shoulder, about 7 feet in length not including the tail, and looks to weigh several hundred pounds. The teeth and claws are long and jagged, and the beast appears to be quite fast as well. The eyes appear to be glowing blue in color.

(OOC: There is a picture of what the cat-thing could look like in my description on the cast list.)

Selvin charges forward on all fours towards the evil creature not in the grease if he can and pounces it! If the grease will be too problematic, he will simply move to a better position.

The table Derro cocks an eyebrow at Vaddis, but can spare no time to retort as he has to leap off the table to the eastern side in an efrort to get the table between himself and Selvin.

Tarrov uncoils his whip.

The greased derro mutters, "Ug. I got some in my mouth..."

Vaddis goes down the west side as far as he can without getting in the grease.

Selvin moved around the table to try and catch the derro between him and his allies. He growled a bit. "Surrender or be eaten?" He gave a wicked chuckle.

Sorry Izzick. I neglected to mention you were ungagged.

Vaddis advances up to the edge of the grease pool, stepping over Izzick,  who is grabbing at the knots binding his ankles. Selvin ambles up meanicingly fro the other side, issuing an ultimatum.

The derro on the table snarls but then Tarrov's whip comes crashing down just beside his left foot. Vaddis,  from the corner of your eye you see the one in the grease puddle raise a hand and hear him say, "Isk ek akik." And then everything around you goes dark. Literally. You can not see the sword in front of your face.

Selvin, Tarrov, and Izzick, you see a cloud of inky blackness issue upwards and envelop the table, the paladin, the grease puddle and both of the blue men. They soon are lost from sight inside the darkness.

No problem

Even without his gear, Izzick had an array of tricks up his sleeve. Then again, he didn't want to be the smoking gun when all things ended. Sure he'd been kidnapped, but he wasn't going to interfere unless he had to, letting the group try talking the derro into surrender before he began to let his magic fly. Otherwise, he knew very well he might end up their next target.

Until of course, the cloud of darkness enveloped the derro. It took just a second to unleash a burst of energy from his hand that seemed to know exactly where the creature was, striking with decisiveness. Before a wave of his left hand sent a second such blast soaring through the shadowy blackness.

So, in Pathfinder, Darkvision actually goes through the Darkness spell, meaning I can see fine in it, allowing me to hit with Magic Missile. If that's wrong, just tell me and I'll edit.

21:28, Today: Izzick rolled 3 using 1d4+1. Magic Missile.
21:28, Today: Izzick rolled 4 using 1d4+1. 2nd missile.

7 damage to the one that cast it

Vaddis detects evil, concentrating until he can get a fix on the derro. He then waits on them to make a move.

Selvin leapt forward and savagely attacked the blue bastard not in the grease. He let out a growling meow as he bounded in for the attack, lashing out with both claws and a mouthful of teeth.

20:53, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 23,22,14 using d20+7,d20+7,d20+7. Charging pounce on derro not in grease (claw,claw,bite).
20:54, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 5,7 using d6+2,d6+2. Claw,Claw damage on Derro.

Vaddis, you make out two dull areas within the inky cloud that thrum with evil. Both derro sized. Suddenly two bolts of eldritch energy plow into the cloud and smash into the shape on top of the table. Following the half orc's bolts, Selvin's claw swipes through the dqrk followed by his glowing jaw. One of the derro-evil blobs seems to wink from existance as your elven-eidolon companion pulls back from the cloud, muzzle fresh with a bluish green blood.

The other blob...that seems to have disappeared from the grease puddle. In fact it is now under the table...

Vaddis squats down and stabs forward under the table at the image in the darkness!


07:46, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 26 using 1d20+7. to hit.
07:46, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 24 using 1d20+7. confirm crit.
07:46, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 10 using 2d8+6. damage.

Selvin moved to get at the last remaining creature and took a swipe with one of "his" claws.

14:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 14 using 1d20+5. Claw swipe on remaing baddie.
14:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 5 using 1d6+2. Damage if it hits.

The blue man screams as Vaddis' blade scores a hit. He's still covered in grease and the blow has enough force to shoot him out from the table and knock him against the far southern wall.

"Give! Give!" he cries, laying on his side and cradling the hole in his gut. "What tha hell is wrong with you? Did I come inta your house and stick a sword in your gut?"

"No, you took others from theirs and brought them here to torture and kill! Speak now for your life depends upon it! Where are the others responsible for these despicable deeds and where is the rest of the tattooed man's body?"

"You certainly sent a dart into my neck," the half-orc mumbles, gripping where he'd felt the sting on the side of his neck, a lump still forming where the poison that had knocked him out had entered his system. "And I'm still waiting for an explanation other than to slit my throat." His voice sounded hoarse, but whether it was the natural grumble and grit of his orc side or from having not talked in days was unclear to those who didn't know him - but he was sure that it was a bit of both.

"Ahhh Grut...why'd ya leave me?" he mutters while casting a look on his dead friend's body. He coughs up a thick gob of red phlegm and sits up.

"We jus'...take ypu upper folks cos that's what tha voices tell us ta do. We don' wanna hear tha voices no more. So we play around...with you people...lookin' fer..." He coughs again. "Rolth's not here. He's Vreeg's master. Teachin' Vreeg...how ta...make zombies an' such. Rolth had some business. Probably won't be back for weeks. He has some other bases...around. I don' know where. Vreeg's...damn Vreeg! All his fault. He's probably in tha library. Or his quarters. North and east a' here."

He wheezes. "Tattooed? There was a body that was all...marked up. Pretty like. They...cut off an arm for that...golem that wonked out. Vreeg took tha..,head. He likes heads...Rest is..." He nods towards the corridor in the southwestern wall. "...with tha rest a' tha trash..."

"You! Who are you and why are you here? You say they kidnapped you?

The half-orc looked towards the men who'd saved them and nodded. He took each in before he explained, "Darted and woke up not long ago. Just made out they planned on slitting my throat." He didn't give his named but, given his obvious appearance, body covered in tattoos, he couldn't help but ask, "Like these?" before pointing out some of his own. An intricate scorpion covered his chest, while the symbols on his arm took the shape of flames engulfing it.

"Who are you, your tattoos mean nothing to me personally."

The sorcerer, not one to be insulted over his intelligence, was quick to counter, "If your victim has tattoos and I am also tattooed, do you not see the possibility that it's more than coincidence?" Of course, given his tattoos were tied to his magic, that could mean any number of things, and the orc turned to the derro with a harsh glance. Expecting...even demanding...an answer. "Perhaps my captor would like to weigh in?"

21:30, Today: Izzick rolled 21 using 1d20+10. Intimidate for answers.

"You may wish to join us temporarily if you wish your revenge, tell us your name. I am Vaddis, this is Selvin and Tarrov." He indicates the other two. "It appears our fourth party member fled with the prisoners we freed from Cabbage Head the ogre."

After Izzick gives his name, Vaddis will turn to the Derro,

"You, lead us to this Vreeg person that we may dispose of him and recover the head, and, then, to the 'trash' that we may recover the rest of the body. If you do this, we may let you live, otherwise,...."

The blue man coughs for a few moments and then smiles wickedly. "Ya see these?" he says holding up a handful of guts. "They're my guts...I don' think I'm goin' anywhere...'less ya heal me."

He shakes his head at "Nah. Tattooes got nothin'...ta do with you. Vreeg jus'...wanted a half breed...for some new...experiments..."

Vaddis looks to Selvin and Tarrov for their opinions.

Selvin shook his head. "Well, 'less yer a Shoanti, then yer tattoos don't mean anythin', 'cept maybe these guys like people with tattoos. Don't care if you wanna travel with us for a bit, so long as you know that if you turn on us, we kill you." He gave a shrug with that statement, and there was no malice behind it, just stating a fact.

I think I'm going to have that embroidered on a pillow Selvin.

Let me know what ya'll want to do after the introductions. Thanks.

The sorcerer nodded once, "About as agreeable as it gets in this town. Izzick," he said, finally giving his name. "And a better mage than any you'll get from The Academae. But trust me, the tattoos are for more than just show."

"Very true, you don't look long for this world, could you get rid of this grease please?" Vaddis says to the caster. "Do you wish to die quickly like Cabbagehead, or long and drawn out?"

Vaddis, you're threatening the blue guy right? And not Tarrov?

The grease seems to dry away in a moment. The derro laughs. "So Cabbagehead is...dead eh? Well well. If you want... to find Vreeg, go north of where you...met Cabbagehead. Vreeg'll be in one of the rooms up there. Which I can't say. The dump's...down that hall," he says again nodding towards the southwestern corridor. "Quick if ya don' mind. I gotta...hot date in Hell... waitin' for me..."

Vaddis walks over and drives his sword down into the Derro's heart just as he did to Cabbagehead. "Well gentlemen, shall we greet our host?"

"Selvin." He responded to Izzick's introduction, giving his first name in return.

He watched dispassionately as Vaddis dispatched the creature and then gave a nod. "Yah. I think it's high time we get what we came for an' do what we came t'do."

Vaddis leads the way back to where they met Cabbage-head.

You head down the carved stairs in the southeastern hallway. The long north running hall is where you fought those damn bone worms. Izzick, you can see a scattering of oddly shaped bones along the floor, runming in three rows, coiled in the shapes of snakes. The others ignore the piles however and move to the west.

You pass through a room with broken tables. Izzick, you can see an odd corpse in the south of the room. Some kind of stitched together monstrosity. It doesn't so much as twitch however and your three companions don't spare it a look. They seem to be quite sure it is dead.

Continuing west, you come to a passage running north-south. The paladin glances to the south but seems to already know what there is to find down there. He doesn't seem interested in going that way. Which is fortunate. The smell from that direction is awful. Instead you all head north.

Updated maps. Group 1 is map of the complex you have explored. Group 3 is a close in of the area we're about to hit. You will be looking in the southern door in area D 11.

At the end of the hall is a wooden door. The door is a sad thing. Obviously cobbled together carelessly. The planks are crooked and the jinges are barely able to support the weight. It hangs halfway open. Beyond is a large east-west running chamber. A large table is set against the northern wall. A feeble light from a candle made of human fat is burning on one side of the table. It says something about your recent experiences that you all recognize the candle's ingredients by the smell alone.

Also on the table is a pair of legs. Just the legs. A man's legs by the look of it. They are tied down to the table top but twitch and thrash as best the can against the cords. There are two exits to the room. One in the northwest corner and one in the southwest corner.

Other than the legs, there does not appear to be any signs of 'life'.

Selvin stayed near the front of the group as they traveled since he and Vaddis sort of knew where they were going. He shook his head silently at the 'sad' door.

He wasn't sure what it said about him or the group's recent experiences that he not only knew what the candle was made of from the smell alone....but also that his first thought when they entered the room wasn't something along the lines of 'Oh my god, there are two legs with no body and the legs are still twitching!' His first thought was to look and see if the legs had tattoos on them, and if he actually examined that later he would likely be a bit disturbed by it.

Izzick had certainly lived no life in an ivory tower, but that couldn't prepare him for the room. He repulsed a little, hiding both his eyes and covering his own acute nose. Having more bestial senses was twice as often a curse as it was blessing. Though in the back of his mind, he could only be thankful that such a fate hadn't ended up befalling him. "Is this sort of gruesome thing the norm for you folks?" he asked, the sound of his voice making it clear he was breathing through his mouth.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:56, Thu 07 Aug 2014.

The silver haired, handsome man who said his name was Tarrov sort of winces at Izzick's question. The gesture says it all. Unfortunately, yes.

The legs beat an uneven cadence as the kick against the leather straps. No tattoos though.

Another sound breaks the silence. The southwestern corridor extends downwards about ten feet and ends in a door. This door looks a bit more sturdy. Whatevermis behind it must rate a more secure door. But more importantly, the door just shut. The click of the wood against the frame is unmistakeable. As is the sound of a bolt sliding through a rusty latch. Someone is behind that door and appears to be locking themselves in.

---

---

Tarrov gave Izzik a what-can-you-do sort of shrug.  "Not by preference," he said, sighing.  He was pretty sure he was going to have to burn the clothes he was wearing after they got out of here.

"Hmmm, apparently we weren't quite as stealthy as we could have been."  The bard ran a hand through his silver hair, wondering how badly it was mussed.  "Well, now that they know we're here . . ."  He walked up to the door and knocked.

"Hello?"  He said.  "We know you're in there.  We'd like to talk to you.  So you can either open the door and we can have a conversation like civilized people.  Or we can bust our way in there and have a . . . less-civilized conversation.  Your choice, really."

OOC:

23:33, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 27 using 1d20+12. Intimidate Check.

---

---

Vaddis was glad Tarrov was 'back' from his stupor from the horror of this place, perhaps he could rest his voice box a bit not that their 'face man' was himself again!

Selvin gave a low chuckle at Tarrov's words but stayed back a bit. If the person DID, for some reason, open the door, Selvin didn't want the person to see all 4 of them right up on them. Besides, he could pounce better if he got some speed behind him.

There's a moment of silence. Even the legs on the table go still.

You hear a mumble from behind the door. Too soft to make out the words. Then someone shouts, "WELL AREN'T YOU JUST PRECIOUS!!!"

Then there's a giggle. Then it's quiet again. Then the door opens.

It's not a child. The bare bones of the skull have the wrong anatomy. The chin is too round. The teeth too jagged and sharp. The one ear that hasn't molded away is too large and is pointed at the end. A goblin's bones probably. Why it's wearing the remains of a child's sky blue sailor suit is beyond comprehension. The skeleton inside can't tell you. It probably doesn't know why itself.

It turns it's eyeless sockets towards you all and begins to rush towards you. It clutches a rusty knife in one bony hand.

As it stumbles down the hall, a crossbow bolt flies over it's head. The bolt whizes past Vaddis and in between Izzick and Tarrov before shattering itself against the eastern wall. Behidn the skeleton, just inside the door you can see another of these hateful blue men. This one is slightly taller than the others. His yellow eyes are wider and despite the lack of pupils, somehow more deranged. Behind the derro, you can see a room with racks of bookshelves. The derro giggles. "Ah. I missed. Guess I'm still 'it'...""

He moves to slam the door shut again.

I'll be going on round 9. The goblin skelie is running down the southwestern hall towards you. Vaddis is closest. Tarrov and Izzick next. Selvin, since you hung back, you're farthest away. Just inside the door you came in from.

I'll upload an updated map when I get home tonight. Thanks.

Vaddis moves forward and slams his foot in the door before it shuts to keep it open. "That wasn't very friendly Vreeg, you alway so unfriendly to guests?"


22:18, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 12 using 1d20. Initiative.

Of course, magic was always Izzick's first instinct, but it wasn't always the best solution when it could prove far less exhausting to utilize the crossbow he'd reacquired from his gear. "Let's see if my shot's better than yours." He'd never actually had formal training in the weapon, but half-orcs tended to live tough lives that taught them a little too much of everything in Korvosa.

20:07, Today: Izzick rolled 18 using 1d20+6. Initiative.
Izzick will draw (free), load (move), and fire (standard) his crossbow

20:15, Today: Izzick rolled 18 using 1d20+5. Crossbow.
20:15, Today: Izzick rolled 7 using 1d8. Damage

Selvin grinned and let out a small howl of...was that glee?....as he tore into a headlong charge at the skeleton and he pounced on it like some kind of predatory cat.

21:53, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 22 using 1d20+2. Initiative.
22:22, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 27,26,9 using d20+7,d20+7,d20+7. Charge pounce on skeleton (claw, claw, bite).
22:23, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 22 using 1d20+7. Crit confirm on claw 1.
22:24, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9,7 using 2d6+4,1d6+2. Crit claw and claw damage.

Tarrov begins to sing.

Izzick's bolt snaps over the skeleton's head and lands in the derro's shoulder. The blue man lets out a grunt but still is trying to shut the door.

Selvin and friend land on the poor skeleton like a war galleon falling on a daisy. The goblin bones come apart quite easily.

The door swings towards a close than bounces off Vaddis' arm. The derro is trying to back peddle to give himself more room.

Vaddis forces his way through the door and swings hard at Vreeg, but the door bounces back and hits his arm just as he is about to connect!

06:49, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 12 using 1d20+8. to hit.

Selvin moves towards the door, but stays back a little so as to not get in Vaddis' way until he can move around him and get inside.

With a quick flourish of his hand, sparks of light shot forth at the blue-skinned Derro. It was a blinding and disorienting flash that Izzick hoped would keep the creature entranced long enough to push their advantage.

Casting Daze. One creature with 4HD or less (hoping the Derro is) makes a DC14 will save or can't take actions on it's next turn.

---

---

"Agh!"  Tarrov said, quite eruditely he thought, as the skeleton skittered by him and down the hallway.  But before he could do much other than start singing Selvin destroyed the freakish-looking creation with a well-placed blow

Seeing that the skeleton was no longer a threat, Tarrov quickly turned his attention to the derro, who was stumbling backwards, trying to bring his crossbow up again.  None of that, the bard thought to himself as he unspooled his whip.  It snaked out and coiled around the derro's weapon, yanking it out of his hands.

OOC:  11:43, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Whip Disarm.

Remember you have a +1 "to hit" and +1 damage from the bardsong

---

---

Vreeg rolls sideways. Vaddis' blade smashes into the ground where he was. Tarrov's whip slices his hand and the crossbow goes sliding across the floor. The blue skinned freak shuts his large eyes asIzzick's light burst falls against his face. The magic does not seem to take unfortunately.

Vreeg mutters something and he room goes dark. Vaddis and ypur opponent are swallowed up by a cloud of inky blackness. Selvin, you arrive at the door. You can make out  Vaddis raising his sword and peering around. You can make out Vreeg scootching away and waving a hand in the air. He seems to be working on a spell.

Izzick and Tarrov,  you can't see inside the room at the moment as the door is blocked. However you hear something else and it's not the legs on the table. Shuffling in through the northwestern corridor are two skeletons. One is deifinetly a human. The other seems to be slightly larger. Maybe a half orc's bones. They raise their swords at the two of you.

I did add in the bonus from Tarrov's bard song into everyone's last action by the by.

Selvin glanced around and noticed that Vreeg was casting something. That was never good. So he charged forward, hoping to disrupt the spell....or kill Vreeg, that would work too he supposed.

22:17, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 25,11,19 using d20+8,d20+8,d20+8. Charge pounce on Vreeg.
22:18, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8,5 using d6+3,d6+3. Claw and bite damage on vreeg.

---

---

"Really?"  Tarrov complained as he looked at the newly-arrived skeletons.  He hated fighting against the Undead.  They were just so . . . unnatural.  He wished they had a priest or something around to disrupt the dark magic that bound them to their foul unlife.

Unfortunately, they just had themselves.

Tarrov used his free hand to reach for his wand of magical missiles, pointed it at one of the skeletons, and uttered the magic words.  Two blue bolts appeared, speeding toward the skeleton and crashing into it with a surprising amount of force . . .

OOC:

Draw Wand of Magic Missiles.

Use Wand of Magic Missiles on Skeleton.

16:21, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 8 using 2d4+2. Magic Missile Damage on Skeleton.

---

---

Vaddis focuses his detect evil and looks around the room for the tell-tell sign of evil!

With the danger of the fight only increasing, the half orc chanted quick spell, running his hands along his own body, weaving together magical protections, until an armor of mystic force had formed around him. And then with a bolt in hand, he reloaded, ready for whatever else might be in the room besides the derro and skeletons.

Casting Mage Armor and then going to reload my crossbow as well.

Vaddis, Vreeg pops up like a campfire on a lonely desert plain. For some reason the image disturbs you but you push the uneasiness aside when Vreeg screams. You can hear Selvin's jaws cutting through the meat of the blue creature.

Vreeg swipes at your friend, Selvin, and you sense a small electric shock as a spark shoots out from the derro's hand (2 big pts dam for your eidolon).

One of the skelies comes apart as Tarrov's wand does it's number. The other one swings at Izzick, who manages to step back and finish his chanting. The half orc's skin seems to glow slightly in the gloom. There's a swooshing sound and another crossbow bolt hurtles by Tarrov. Another derro is skulking in the northwestern hallway, ducking back behind the skeletons. He drops his crossbow and pulls a small vial from the sleeve of his robe.

Izzick you are reloading. The last skelie is coming at you. This new derro is in the northwest corner of the room.

Selvin let out a small curse as his ally was damaged once more. It wasn't a deep wound, but Zak was still a little damaged from before, so every little bit added up.

He wasn't sure what all the new half-orc ally could take, so he decided to help him out first before worrying about the second blue creature. He charged the skeleton with a pounce to try and kill it (again) or at least take its attention from Izzick.

22:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 17,9,16 using d20+8,d20+8,d20+8. Charge pounce on skeleton (claw, claw, bite).
22:11, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8,6 using d6+3,d6+3. Claw, bite damage on Skeleton.

Vaddis moves to end Vreeg, but the image in his mind distracted him enough that he missed yet again!!

06:18, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 13 using 1d20+8. to hit.

---

---

Gods, was their no end to their opponents?  Tarrov thought to himself as he spotted this new derro.  The young man certainly had no desire to find out what might be in the bottle the newcomer had just pulled out of his sleeve.  But if he could get the derro to drop the vial at his own feet, then . . .

That would be the plan then.  Tarrov's whip snaked out yet again, attempting to cause their most-recent adversary to lose his grip on the mysterious vial . . .


OOC:

06:44, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 18 using 1d20+8. Whip Disarm Derro.

---

---

Selvin, you need to charge back down the hall. Your attack won't go off until next round.

The skelie swings away at you Izzick, but misses as you sidestep and pull the string taunt on your crossbow. You lay the bolt in and look up as it turns around to come at you again.

The vial derro...or vile derro if you prefer...steps aside from your lash Tarrov  and then throw the small bottle in ypur direction. It shatters about a foot from your shoulder. You wince as sharp, foul smelling droplets seat the exposed skin on your cheek and hand.

Vaddis, you don't have to roll init each round. Just roll it the first time. Go ahead and give me your actions for this round.

Tarrov, you can attempt a reflex save for half dam. Total dam is 9 pts before the save. He got you good.

Thanks.

OOC - you misread DM, I missed my attack with a roll of 13

Selvin charges back down the hall! <grin>

In reply to Vaddis Sonaden (msg # 252):

So you did. Sorry Vaddis. No idea how I got 'int' out of 'to hit'

OOC - Happens to all of us some time or other, believe me! No problem at all.

---

---

"Argh!"  Tarrov grunted in pain as the vial's contents burned his exposed skin.  He flung a hand out and uttered the eldritch words that would cause his opponent to slump to the ground in slumber . . .

OOC:

Cast Sleep at Derro

HP:  15/24

---

---

The skeleton coming at him made for a hard target. But there were magical ways around such creatures. A wave and incantation conjured forth another set of two magical missiles that struck the creature with arcane accuracy.

5 ft step back and magic missile (accidently rolled them separately)

20:02, Today: Izzick rolled 1 using 1d4.
20:02, Today: Izzick rolled 3 using 1d4+2. magic missile.

That's 4 whole damage on a 4-10 scale. This is what I get for some good rolls in another game

Yeah, I'm having that problem myself Izzick...

The skelie wobbles as your spell slaps him Izzick, then it rights itself and sort of bares it's teeth at you in a sort of smug grin. Or maybe that's just your imagination. What you can be certainof is the way it raises it's sword...

...and then suddenly becomes a mass of glowy-elf-wolf-monster-thing. Selvin, as Zak pops the skull off the spine you dig a claw into the ribcage and pop it off. The skelie is just so much prop in a Chelixian play after that.

The vial/vile derro opens his mouth and points at you Tarrov... and then falls face first onto the ground. He snores with the gusto of a sated umberhulk. Not that you know how they snore. But it's the image that springs to mind.

Vaddis, you can't make out what Vreeg does. He seems to throw something at you. For a moment, a sort of man sized evil blips on your evil-dar. It sails through the air, over your head, and lands behind you. You hear something smash, like a small piece of furniture breaking. And then this new evil blip is gone. Just you and Vreeg, who is now cursing like a sailor.

So vial derro saves with a 2. And Vreeg throws a skeleton more or less at Vaddis and fumbles. Badly fumbles. My best roll tonight was a 7. I hate you all. Let's end this thing. Go Vaddis.

06:37, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 8 using 1d8+3. damage.
06:37, Today: Vaddis Sonaden rolled 18 using 1d20+8. to hit.

The sword cuts into Vreeg. The little blue man makes a strangled sort of cry and flops over. He is still breathing, but the cut is deep enough to start him bleeding out.

Vaddis let's him bleed out. He comes to the door way to see what is going on outside of the room.

Selvin grinned and let out a small noise. "Well that was fun! Is that everyone?" Then his face fell a bit. "Do we gotta go make sure didn't miss anythin'? Includin'...the stirges?

Let's search the bodies, get the head, and then get the torso and get out of here for now. We can always clear the place tomorrow."

"Collecting bodies now?" Izzick asked as he looked once more as the grizzly looking remains. "So what were you folks even doing down here before you found me? Is there a reason I was about to be turned into Otyugh chum?" The sorcerer could only begin to wonder the reasons. He was sure there was probably a black market for ritual components of spells he'd never learn.

"We were sent in here to recover the body of a tattooed man for his family. It had been stolen."

Selvin opened his mouth but Vaddis beat him to it. He nodded towards Vaddis to answer Izzick's question. "What he said." He began searching the room and adjoining rooms for the rest of the body they were sent to collect.

Cressedia Kroft, Marshall of the City Guard, gives Izzick the hairy eyeball. "You're new..." she mutters than turns around and looks at Selvin, Tarrov, and Vaddis. "What happened to the skinny one with the nervous look? I hope he didn't die."

She sighs and gestures for you all to take a seat around the table she has met with you at several times before. There wasn't much else moving in the necromancer's lair after Vreeg. You did find the rest of the barbarian's body in what you think was Vreeg's chamber. What he had been doing with the remains...well. Best not to think on it. You crawled out of the Dead Warrens in time to see the sun setting. Wearily, you dragged the carcass and the booty you had found across town to your employer's base. Croft must have been asleep. She is wearing a nightcoat instead of her usual uniform. Even her hair is messy.

She inspects the wheelbarrow you placed the body in and examines it. Then walks over to a cabinet and brings out a small chest. She places it on the table between you. "Nice work. Payment as agreed." That's nice. You hadn't found much coin among the dead derro. But there were some items of interest. They fill up a second wheelbarrow set just inside the doorway of the room where you can all see it. The books you found can be sold. But you'll need to have someone look at the other interesting goods. A small copper ring with odd etchings on it. A wand of bone with strands of dried leather...at least you hope it's leather...tied through a hole on one end. Some bluish powder in little packets. Really. For necromantic blue dwarves they were sort of on the cheap side of things.

Kroft brings over some wine bottkes and sits down, gesturing for someone to pour. "I'll summon the Northlanders to come get their kin. I thank you. This will hopefully at least solve one of our problems." She takes the goblet passed to her and drinks from it. She sighs. "Trinia's trial has been scheduled. For tomorrow. I hope she will get a fair trial." She doesn't sound very confident on that fact. "But that's out of our hands now. I would like you all to attend. You too," she tells Izzick, "Since I guess you're part of the team now."

She sighs and runs a hand through her hair. "I don't have any other errands at the moment. But I would like you all to stay where I can find you. I have a feeling I'll have more work for you soon. We have ghost ships now."

She leans back in her chair. "Last night an unmanned ship came floating in from the sea. It was flying the red and yellow flag. That means there was sickness aboard. But no one responded when called. It seems to have been deserted. Or everyone was dead. In any event, our illustrious harbor watch decided to sink her. " Kroft shrugs. "I don't know. Perhaps it is nothing. But...I just have a bad feeling. I think the bad days that have come to this city are just starting."

I'll break here to allow for questions.

Treasure: Just to save us some time, you will have the following items identified. A wand of ghoul touch. A ring of protection +1. The dust is some kind of knockout powder. Probably what was used on Izzick. It can be applied to weapons and will act as a sleep spell level 5 caster. There are five doses. The books are mostly on macabre subjects. You'll get 500 gp for the lot. There are some spellbooks in there. But since none of you use spells, you can pawn them to some academy stooge f you wish. 750 gp for that portion. If I recall, you're getting paid 2000 gp by Kroft for the mission. Divy the treasure up as you see fit.

I will be posting a description of Trinia's trial tomorrow. As well as the first thread for the second book.

Get your PCs leveld up. Let me know if there's questions or anything you want your PCs to do. You will have a couple of days of downtime in game.

Thanks.

You all retire to an Inn. Kroft has agreed to cover the tab for a week, perhaps longer. She seems very intent on keeping you all where she can call on you easily.

You will have to give her credit: she does no skimp when it comes to offering incentive to stick around. The Inn is a decent place. The beds are remarkably comfortable, the cook believes everything that can be covered in gravy should be covered in gravy, and...perhaps best of all...there are baths with hot water.

The trial of Tiana begins the next day. It is...as you feared...a farce. Triana's advocate seems to have been chosen for his incompetence. The witnesses are scarcely credible. And the Queen sits behind the Judges, laeving no doubt that the verdict will be handed down by her. Unsuprisingly, Trinia is found guilty.

You note Kroft spduring the proceedings. As the 'trial' progresses her face shades more to the red spectrum than is usual. By the end she is openly grinding her teeth. She does not seem pleased by what she has seen. As you leave the courthouse you spy her on the otherside of the square. She is arguing with someone. It is Vencarlo Orisini, the famous dueling instructor you met in her office days ago. By the time you push your way through the crowd thoug, they are both gone.

Kroft seems preoccupied. She does not send for you nor does she respond to any requests for a meeting other than to say she will send for you when she can. She does send you invitations for the execution though.

Trinia's Execution is a grand affair. Anyone who is anyone within Korvosa turns up, wearing their very finest. There are enough jewels on display to sate a thieves guild for life. There is little crime however. The guard is posted thick around the square outside the castle. You note that outside of Kroft's guards, there are a number of female soldiers in uniform you have not seen before. These maidens all wear a helm with mask, which they keep down despite the heat of the day. They wear red as their color, though their mail is so grey it seems to be almost a second color in their heraldry. You notice Kroft's guards don't interact much with these...grey maidens. The name sort of seems to fit them.

Queen Ilesoa herself arrives, walking out of the Palace in a dress of green and grey silks that probably costs more than the jewels the crowd has displayed. Her champion, Sabina, walks by her side. You notice Sabina wears mail like the female soldiers you have seen, though she wears no helm.

The Queen steps forward to address the crowd. It is a pretty speech. As much a euology for her dead husband as it is a plea for the city to find it's strength and rise above it's recent trouble. The charm of it ends though when she motions and Trinia is brought out. "Here is the one," cries Ileosa, "who has brought these tragadies down upon us! Her schemes knew no pity! Neither on my beloved husband, our king, or upon the city itself! Well. She has earned her reward! And that reward is Justice! Executioner!" She looks across the square towards the large burly man wiearing a hood and carrying an axe. "OFF WITH HER HEAD!!!"

Trinia is dragged towards the chopping block. You can see tears on her cheek but the pretty bard shows no other signs of fear. Whqtever your feelings about her guilt, all you can do now is watch her final moments and perhaps pray for her soul. There are simply too many guards about. Only a maniac would make a move now.

And so one does.

The Executioner reaches down to grab Trinia's bound hands as she mounts the steps to her gallows. He suddenly jumps back, shrieking. A dagger has found it's way into the back of his large hair hand. A second dagger flips through the air and into his arm. The crowd is shocked into silence until someone yells, "IT'S BLACKJACK!!!"

Blackjack?

Yes Blackjack. Wherever scoundrels will ransom the blood of the innocent, Blackjack will be there. Wherever truth kneels in anguish, Blackjack will be there. Who is this masked crusader for justice? No one knows! But wherever the oppressed cry out in torment...He. Will. Be. There!

As you all stare, a man in a hooded jacket and black leathers, bearing a rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other somehow gains the killing platform. He slashes twice. Once to drive the Executioner further back and once to cut Trinia's bonds. He quickly flips back his hood to reveal a mask of black leather and pivots, thrusting his rapier in the direction of the Queen. "I agree! Those who scheme without pity will indeed reap Justice! Take care O Queen! Your own schemes will come back to you ten fold! DOWN WITH ILEOSA!"

The crowd suddenly erupts. Some are shouting for the guard to capture this Blackjack imposter. Some are echoing his words. But in general, chaos erupts. As the guard moves in, many attempt to flee the scene. 'Blackjack' and Trinia disappear from the platform. And Queen Ileosa disappears back into the palace.

It seems the execution has been postponed,

Okay. Had to get all that out there so we can move on. I'll have the new thread up tomorrow night. Let me know if there's any questions or anything anyone wishes to do during this 'downtime' before we move on. Thanks.

Selvin looked angry. He several times started to summon his friend, but stopped himself. He knew he wasn't good enough by himself. The farce of a trial and the about-to-happen execution made him almost mirror the teeth-grinding of Kroft. To Tarrov and Vaddis he muttered, "I think I am done working for Kroft. And...that...queen."

And then....Blackjack appeared to save the day. Calling it a surprise would be like saying a solar eclipse didn't happen often...an understatement. Selvin stared with wide eyes and dropped open mouth at the proceedings. He numbly looked at his allies. "What...That was insane! Who the hell is Blackjack?"

"Whoever it is, we owe them a debt of gratitude, I'll not serve the queen anymore either."