The sheer amount of riches Rowyn had in her underground hideaway did not surprise Alohan. He hadn't thought much of it at the time but her 'house' -the one they had relations in- had been relatively untouched. Despite it's obvious affluence, Alohan now recalled how little it had been 'lived in.' As he strode about the room, he began to make the connection. She lived here, in this underground hole. She used her childhood home to keep up appearances -and to bang natives.

Alohan isn't particularly impressed with Rowyn's riches. He feigns enjoyment of course, but finds himself moving on to the statutes. The stone is unlike anything he had seen. Even the beats were exotic. Whether it be dinosaurs, a succubus, or a beholder- Alohan hadn't seen anything like them before.

At Logan's approach, Alohan places on the statues back on the table. He grabs the drink, takes a few swigs, and hands it back to the Shadowshore boy. "I drink ta remember" he mumbles, turning back to the statues. He wanted them. At the very least, this dungeon was not a fitting place for such a marvelous collection.

Looking about the room, Alohan marched over to the silk, four postered bed. He ripped off a sheet began to fold it. Satisfied, he began to wrap the statues in pillow cases and light fitting articles of clothing, using the sheet to bundle it all together. Her went at it with grim -alcohol infused- determination, hell bent on rescuing these statues from an eternity of darkness.

Once finished, Alohan was left with a big padded bundle. He hardly noticed Logan disappearing down the hall.

Angati looked at the water color for a little while... "My guess is this is one of our cherished Vanthus finance's pieces of work..." she said smiling and picking it up to look at it more closely.

21:17, Today: Angati rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  Perception Check.

She then moved on to check the secret entrance that Logan had found out, and examined it trying to figure how it could be worked open.

Kassius waves off the alcohol, preferring to stay fully alert while still in enemy territory. The opulence that surrounds them is impressive. Clearly, thievery is a profitable business here, at least for the leaders. At the locked door, Kassius puts his hand on the wood, extending his senses beyond. It won't help him open the door, but at least he'll know what's on the other side, and perhaps if it's worth the effort of picking or smashing down.

Door Sight 2/6 remaining after this.

OOC: Yes! Spot on Beni!

The oracle checks the artist's signature in the bottom corner of the painting and sure enough it is a Brissa Santos original. Angati couldn't hold her hand on her heart and say the young girl was an exceptional artist but there was something about they way Brissa had been able to capture the surface of the water in the harbour. It was as though she'd caught the random movement of the waves in action, in a precise moment of time just in the way she'd caught the undulations of the carpet of green kelp in 'Journey's End' - a painting that now hung on the oracle's bedroom wall. As she stared, the waves in Sasserine harbour seem to start to flow and move and Angati begins to hear the slop of water against the sides of ships and wharves and then...

...Alohan bumped her as the native tossed the bundle consisting of the collection of strange porno statues onto his back. The moment was broken and the painting was just a static surface again, but Angati felt like she needed to talk with the young Brissa again, to find out where her inspiration came from to paint such captivating watercolours.



OOC: Okay, well, that is a 'nice' memento of his relationship with her I guess. Fitting in a way...

Any more rolls for the alcohol? 2 x fortitude saves at DC18 (for the spirits) to see if you enter phase I or phase II drunkiness. The fancy wine is DC 12.



OOC: Spoilsport! :P



Inside he sees a small room with three *big* treasure chests inside.


That worthwhile enough to pick a lock for? :D

Kassius reports the apparent treasure to the other, and looks doubtfully at Logan. Hopefully, the man's still sober enough to pick the locks, as Kassius has no talent in that particular skill.

Logan moves over to the door, pulling his newly-acquired thieve's tools out and dancing them across his knuckles when while he does so.  "I see that look!  I'm not drunk, just relaxed.  You should try it some time."  The rogue kneels in front of the door, and applies the picks and tools with eager skill, the joy on the young man's face due to his utensils plainly evident.

Sleight of Hand to be flashy
+2 to Dexterity due to Stage 1 Drunkenness, +2 to Disable Device b/c of MW tools

11:20, Today: Logan rolled 30 using 1d20+13.  Disable Device.
11:19, Today: Logan rolled 21 using 1d20+10.  Sleight of Hand.

The joy on the young man's face is indeed evident as he picks the lock with a level of mastery that few in the city could have matched. The door swings open and the thief, still balanced on his knees to reach the lock, turns to the rest of the group with a flourish and a cheeky grin on his face.

That grin is frozen in place as Logan triggers the trap that he missed spotting earlier (sorry John, your passive perception roll sucked, see below) and a volley of a dozen barbed and poison tipped-darts fly out of the wall and down the corridor. The first dart strikes the rogue at point blank range and sinks deep into his neck (confirmed critical hit, see below) - staggering the thief and knocking him onto all fours (13 hp damage, reduces Logan to 0 hp).

Alohan takes a barb deep into his chest (8 hp), but the rest of the party are lucky enough to dodge or take cover behind armour - one dart embeds itself into Angati's shield and the ever alert Kibeti actually jumps out of the corridor to escape.


20:27, Today: Secret Roll: Dungeon Master rolled 17 using 1d20+10.  Logan to detect poison dart trap DC22.

19:37, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 28,27,16,9,13,17 using 1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8,1d20+8.  Darts vs Logan, Alohan, Angati, Celene, Kassius & Kibeti.
19:37, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  Confirm crit on Logan.
19:39, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 13 using 2d4+8.  Damage to Logan.
19:39, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 8 using 1d4+4.  Alohan damage.


Ah yes, this is why we heal each other after combat people. :D :P

OH! And Alohan and Logan please make a DC 11 fortitude save or I'll be rolling up some constitution damage for you. :D


HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Angati  HP: 26/28   <MF USED>
Alohan  HP:  6/28   <MF USED>
Celene  HP: 11/18   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP: 19/21   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP: 14/19   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP:  0/21   <MF NOT USED> <STAGGERED>

<SPELLS AND EFFECTS>
None
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:54, Mon 04 Jan 2016.

Johannes isn't able to post so I am going to jump in here.

As soon as the party is able to get clear of the corridor - the bleeding Alohan dragging the effectively unconscious Logan out - Celene calls out to her goddess for assistance again and again.

15 pts of healing and Celene is tapped out of channels now.

The good news at least is that there are no more darts - Logan is *pretty* sure that the trap was designed to just release a single volley and now that this has been done it is effectively disarmed.


HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Angati  HP: 28/28   <MF USED>
Alohan  HP: 21/28   <MF USED>
Celene  HP: 18/18   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP: 21/21   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP: 19/19   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP: 15/21   <MF NOT USED> <STAGGERED>

<SPELLS AND EFFECTS>
None
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:58, Mon 04 Jan 2016.

Logan shudders as he regains conscious.  "Well...."  The rogue shakes his head and looks around, a blush filling in his cheeks.  "Perhaps I was being a bit too cocky.  I should have expected she'd have some sort of trap on her treasure chamber.  On the bright side, I was able to pick it, and I think that's the worst of the danger.  I say we avail ourselves to the riches..."  Logan trails off as his eyes dart down the almost-deadly passageway.

Carefully, the Shadowshore boy gets to his feet and enters the passageway, trying to search for more darts and (carefully) inspecting the now-revealed dart holes, using his tools to plug them up or otherwise disable the trap if it seems any more danger is imminent.

"They probably need to be manually reset," the rogue thinks out loud.  "Maybe take out anyone who sneaks in, but not a group, or a determined assault.  Rowyn was probably protecting it from a lone thief, but probably didn't foresee something like losing all the Lotus Dragons and being defeated herself."

If the coast looks (relatively) safe, the rogue makes his way into the treasure chamber itself, the time taking more care to inspect the three chests and then opening them, excited to see what his near-death has found.

14:28, Today: Logan rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Fort Save.
In breaking news: being drunk also makes you better at fighting off poison!  Though Logan would have made the check anyway.

Logan inspects the slots that the darts came through and is 99% sure there are no more to come out, but plugs them all up to be sure. Then he turns his attention to the treasure room...

Maybe the attack has sobered him up a little because he spots the next trap - the floor of the next room has a dozens of fine slots in the floor, and by carefully inspecting them he can see that there is a thin blade in each primed to shoot up.

Logan pulls out his tools and bends, working hard to disable the next trap.

"I'll say this, Alohan.  You sure had guts for sleeping with her.  She seems mighty paranoid.  Treasure behind a secret door, double-trapped.  What to do want to bet the chests are trapped, too?"

"Hmm..."  The rogue starts to poke around.  "I can probably just gum up these works, but maybe I can disable the trigger and make this safe...."

Disable Device check, please.  +13 total bonus.

Angati muttered "if what you are doing, does not work, I'll be handing you a bottle, and taking a step back... that seemed to work nicely as far as deactivation goes"...

She paused a bit before continuing, "...just come here before doing anything else..." she said as she cast a Cure Light Wounds on the thief, and another on Alohan.

OOC:
08:14, Today: Angati rolled 10 using 1d8+2.  CLW Alohan.
08:13, Today: Angati rolled 5 using 1d8+2.  CLW Logan.

Angati heals up the front line of the party, bring them up to almost full health, although it really does seem like an endless job sometimes...


HIT POINTS & MISFORTUNE
Angati  HP: 28/28   <MF USED>
Alohan  HP: 28/28   <MF USED>
Celene  HP: 18/18   <MF NOT USED>
Kassius HP: 21/21   <MF NOT USED>
Kibeti  HP: 19/19   <MF NOT USED>
Logan   HP: 20/21   <MF NOT USED> <STAGGERED>

<SPELLS AND EFFECTS>
None

Perhaps trying to redeem himself, the rogue takes a very long time to look over the trap in the treasure room...¨

17:23, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 30 using 1d20+13.  Logan disarm trap.

...and figures it all out. He traces the control cables and finds that floor trap is triggered by opening either the NE or SE chests. It is disarmed by opening the NW chest. Strange, but that is how it is.

Sending everybody else out of the room, Logan holds his breath and opens the NW chest a fraction. There is a gentle *click* as the trap mechanism disengages then nothing - no razor sharp blades slicing through his feet that it. Exhaling, he opens the lid fully and looks inside the chest. Nothing! The chest is totally empty.

He opens the NE chest and sees something much better. It is filled to the brim with gold coins, gold plates, fine silver cups, necklaces, broaches, gems... It is a fortune (10,000 gp).

OOC: How about dem apples? :D

He checks the final chest. This is also filled with a great amount of coins and gems, but all of these are packed neatly inside silk bags bearing the Vanderboren crest. (Also about 10,000 gp).

Kassius whistles appreciatively at the impressive collection of coins, gold, and riches. "Looks like we've found what was supposed to be in those chest's in the Vanderboren Vault. Returning this should allow her to continue paying us, as well as more than earning that pay I would think."

Logan's mind again whirls as he surveys the two chests.  If the money he had seen so far was incomprehensible to the rogue, this was...

Well, it was more money than he had ever dreamed of seeing in one place.  Even split five ways, it was a great deal more than he had ever dreamed of having.  For a split second, Logan regretted the other four with him - 20,000 gold would be enough to run off and vanish somewhere forever - leave his troubles in the past.  Find someplace nicer than Shadowshore and Sasserine.  But just for a moment.  The rogue could admit to himself that he could never have claimed such a treasure by himself - any one of the combats he had faced would have likely proven deadly had he been by himself.  And besides, Lavinia's employ would likely continually result in more such scores, and Tessera was being seen to as well.  Cutting now and running was surely the worse move, no matter how attractive it seemed.

Finally, that rogue nodded.  "I'm sure she'll be happy to have it back.  At least it's enough to justify our retainer for awhile longer."

A look of anger flashed over the half-elf's face.  "Though we still haven't found Vanthus!"

Alohan felt his chest where the bolt had entered his skin. It itched after the magic had fixed his wounds. When he had retreated with Logan's unconscious body, Alohan revisited the bottle of booze, bringing the bottle with him after Logan regained his senses. He took a few more swigs while the Shadowshore boy went about disabling the traps, half listening to his friend's comments regarding Rowyn. He shrugged and looked to the others. "She be feedin' me her urchin..."

The native didn't have an opinion towards the gold. It was fair amount to be sure, but he cared little for its worth. If they took it with them, left it here, or gave it all away, Alohan cared not. Still, he knew who would be the one carrying it back out this awful place. He took another swig in exhausted anticipation.

---

19:33, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 26 using 1d20+7 ((19)) Fort Save
21:18, Today: Alohan Nuari rolled 13 using 1d20+7 ((6)) Fort save vs Alchy

This message was last edited by the player at 02:19, Wed 06 Jan 2016.

"Well, those 10000 split 5 ways should help  us a bit to better face Vanthus" said Angati looking at the first stack of coins. As she looked at the second, the ones marked from the Vandervoren she grinned "And those.. well, we did not get Vanthus, but we share have kicked him in his jewels, wouldn't you say ?".

"Anyway, much as I fear Lavinia might be incapable of keeping this money safe, I'd say that in-as-much as she has been punctually paying us, we owe that to her... shall we get out of this place ?".

"Talking about which... maybe we should do something about the place... I don't know... but at least these area here, seems cozy enough... maybe we could claim it as our base of operations... there is room for all... and maybe we can even get a cook all in one go... " she said reminding everyone of the kobold cook.

It could be a pretty good base of operations - maybe a little bit on the damp side but plenty of room. The kobold chef has run away, but I do know someone else that would like a shot at learning a new skill.... young greasy Shefton.

You will need to explore the entire complex before claiming it as your home though, so that means cleaning out both the natural caves and the secret harbour.

Now that all of the Lotus Lady's quarters have been explored, and its treasure claimed (added to loot thread) the party decides to rest for the night. Several of the doors leading back to the main complex are barricaded and then the group eats and sleeps for 8 hours (all hp healed, all spells restored) and awakens rested and ready for the next challenge.

Using Shefton's map they are able to find their way to the location marked 'Natural caves'. The final door before the caverns is secured with several strong bolts and has a ominous looking skull painted on it. The party obviously ignore all this and open the door.

On the other side is an irregular cavern that winds 80' downwards into the underground and ends in a large tide pool - its waters thick with seaweed and its bed clustered with a veritable carpet of red and black sea urchins. (Yeah, these are the ones where you need to make a DC11 fort check or be nauseated for 1 minute).

The pool looks pretty deep, you'll have to swim almost all of it, and traversing this 'sea urchin farm' will be no easy feat since the floor is uneven, with parts where slippery spikes of rock poke up almost to the surface to and are obscured by the thick green kelp. (DC15 acrobatics check while doing 'vigorous activity' or get spiked by an urchin and you'll have to make a save)

On the other side of the poor you can see the corridor continue past a pebbly beach.

Once inside the natural caverns, Logan took a quick look back towards the door.  "So here's it's urchins trying to poison us, and out there it was thieves using their poison?"  Logan shrugged.  "It can't be too much worse, right?  At least they're not hiding or anything.  Though the fact the door was barricaded..."

He looks into the darkness, trying to tease out details from the edge of his vision.  "You don't suppose they were trying to keep something out?  I mean, these caves must have a natural exit, or the water wouldn't be fresh enough to support sea urchins.  But they might keep it barricaded lest intruders find their way in or barricaded because something lives here.  Like that big croc we first encountered."

Logan prods a nearby urchin with the tip of his blade, and pats Alohan on the back.  "Fancy taking the first swim?"

So is it an Acrobatics check and a swim check we need to make?
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:25, Thu 07 Jan 2016.

"Wait, let's not get hasty. Ambush while in the water puts us at a marked disadvantage."
Kassius says.

Then, he draws out an arrow, casting a spell that causes the arrowhead to glow like a torch. Walking along the dry edge of the harbor, he knocks the glowing arrow and fires it into the shadowed recesses.

I can make an attack roll if you want, but it's just AC 5 to hit a square. I'm trying to get the arrow into the partially shadowed room in the upper left.

Not even that. If you're happy with paddling across at 1/4 speed then you don't need a swim check OR an acrobatics check. You'll get across slow and safe. But, if for some reason you decide that you'd like to move 1/2 speed, then you need a swim check. As swimming is a 'vigorous activity' then you'd need the DC15 acrobatics check to avoid standing on a spike.

And yeah... combat would also count as a vigorous activity. Not that combat is likely of course...



Kassius hits the small sandy bank that is almost due north of the party. The extra light reveals that this is actually a bend in the tunnel system and the water cave continues out to the NE. No sign of any danger though.

Come on Alohan, I know you want to take a dip!

Kassius glances around some more, checking for any hidden dangers. The sea urchins are obvious, but an attack here would be worrying. Seeing nothing react to the glowing arrow, and with it's light providing some assurance of nothing hidden further up, Kassius shrugs. "Nothin to it but to go on."
He says. Sheathing the bow to keep it dry, Kassius and Kibeti advance cautiously through the lake.

Moving at 1/4 speed to avoid having to make checks.

Logan nods and follows Kassius carefully into the water, keeping a few paces behind and watching the bend ahead for signs of any danger.