In reply to Lazaret (msg # 40):

Let's kill these damn rats and find the hooded man so I can cut off his head.  With rapier in one hand and the torch in the other, Thorfire calmly kills (or badly wounds) a giant rat.

20:54, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 18 using 2d20+6, dropping the lowest dice only, rerolling ones.  Attack with Rapier (Assassinate gives advantage on creatures that have not attacked yet).
20:56, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 8 using 1d8+4.  Rapier Damage.
20:56, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 8 using 2d6.  Sneak Attack Damage.

Lazaret steps towards the first of the three charging rats. He swings, but his rapier only skims a few hairs off the back of the hissing beast.

Thorfire follows his tabaxi friend into the frey, landing a decisive thrust on the third rat and dropping it in its place.

The two remaining rats hiss while scurrying at their opponents' feet. One rat sinks his teeth into Lazaret's lower leg while the other takes a small bite from Thorfire's thigh (both Lazaret and Thorfire take 4 piercing damage).

From further up the northern passageway, Celador and Therarak hear the familiar sound of rapiers and rats.


01:30, Today: DM rolled 21 using 2d20+4.  Rat1 vs. Lazaret (advantage due to pack tactics).
01:31, Today: DM rolled 27 using 2d20+4.  Rat2 vs. Thorfire (advantage due to pack tactics).


Post round 2 actions: Two rats still standing. Room is lit by Thorfire's torch.

In reply to DM (msg # 42):

"You little bitch!"
Lazaret stabs at the rat, this time his blade finds a home.
"There's another, Thorfire!"
Lazaret swings his large paw with razor sharp claws toward the last rat.

07:49, Today: Lazaret rolled 2 using 1d4.  Claw Damage.
07:48, Today: Lazaret rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Claw Attack.
07:46, Today: Lazaret rolled 7 using 1d8+3.  Rapier Damage.
07:46, Today: Lazaret rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Rapier Attack.

In reply to DM (msg # 42):

It's fun, and a little weird to see an overgrown cat play with an overgrown mouse...Laz, must I kill everything for you?  This is how it's done.

09:35, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 20 using 1d20+6, rerolling ones.  Rapier Attack.
09:36, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 10 using 1d8+4.  Rapier Damage.
09:36, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 10 using 1d8+4.  Rapier Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Sat 03 Mar 2018.

In reply to Thorfire Shortankard (msg # 44):

"Glad I could soften that one up for you.
Are you going to eat it? Maybe later, huh?
Let's find the elf and the gnome."

With their concentrations focused by the sting of giant rat teeth, it takes Lzzaret and Thorfire little time to finish off their attackers. Once that action is complete, the pair exits the room, heads north, and then west to the barracks, where they find Celador and Therarak finishing up their search. There is nothing of value or interest here, other than a soft murmur and periodic thumping coming from further down the northern passage. It is still too far off to determine whether the murmur is a voice or something else.

In reply to DM (msg # 46):

"Let's go find out what's causing that noise."

Lazaret sneaks off up the hallway (to I15).


15:38, Today: Lazaret rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Stealth.
18:52, Today: Lazaret rolled 7 using 1d20+6.  Perception. Passive = 16
This message was last edited by the player at 00:52, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 47):

Therarak and Thorfire proceed back to the main corridor (J13), trying to discern the nature of the thumping noise.

18:06, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 16 using 2d20+2.  Stealth.
18:08, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 7 using 1d20+3.  Perception.

18:07, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 17 using 1d20+8, rerolling ones.  Stealth.
18:11, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 20 using 1d20+2, rerolling ones.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

Lazaret slinks up the corridor until it bends eastward. Seeing no immediate danger, he signals for the others to join him. Together they survey the cold, damp surroundings, straining their ears to make sense of the distant thumping. Thorfire recognizes it as a drum, clumsily beaten from further down the eastern passage.

And every so often, between beats, a voice. He doesn't recognize the language, but it is a deep, inhuman voice.

OOC: moved you all up to J15 just to keep things moving.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:49, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

In reply to DM (msg # 49):

The party follows the sound of the drum to its source. Carefully checking for traps and bad guys as they proceed into the familiar cave system.

Lazaret leads the quartet of heroes into the third northern passageway toward the sound of the drumming. The stones that had fallen from the ceiling still collect on the floor and a quick check by Thorfire suggests there are no more traps awaiting them.

As they start down the first flight of stairs (about M20) they notice the flicker of torchlight ahead of them. By the looks of it, torches are lit somewhere northwest of the landing in front of the door (at N22).

The drumbeats are more clear now, but the strange voice is still far off, by the sounds of it.

Celador meets up with the rest of the party as he comes out of the barracks room.

"There's nothing in there," he states, "do you hear that drum? Doesn't sound good, let's get going."

Celador proceeds with caution.

00:19, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 12 using 1d20+3.  Stealth.

Sheesh, no one posts for like a week and then I get a little busy for a weekend and BOOM! the party is cruising throught the cave system

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 52):

"I think you can put that torch out now" Lazaret whispers to Thorfire. "Are you sneaking in or am I?" Lazaret prepares to cast Invisibility.

The four heroes descend the stairs as far as they can (M21) while remaining out of the torchlight from further below.

As they make their plans, they notice the drumming, while still distant, grows louder.




Oh yeah. It's on!

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 53):

I will scout ahead, I don't think I need invisibility...I'm small and quiet. Thorfire proceeds up the hall darting from shadow to shadow looking for traps and things (critacular).

10:57, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 24 using 1d20+8, rerolling ones.  Stealth.
11:00, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 22 using 1d20+2, rerolling ones.  Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Wed 07 Mar 2018.

In reply to Thorfire Shortankard (msg # 55):

"We let the little fellow do his thing. If he gets eaten, I get his share" Lazaret whispers to Celador.

Thorfire disappears into the shadows and turns the corner to head further down the stairs. He finds the passageway clear of traps, but can't help but notice that the once subtle scent of rotting flesh has increased to gag-worthy levels.

About half way down the next flight of stairs, he sees the source of the odor. In the doorway to the chamber where they originally battled the hooded man are two zombies, flesh rotting from their bones where they stand. Each stares blankly up the passageway toward Thorfire, but neither appears to see the stealthy halfling.

All the while, the drumbeat continues from some distance beyond the doorway.

OOC: Thorfire is 15' from the zombies. There is a torch on the wall just outside the doorway. There is more torchlight coming from the chamber beind the zombies.

In reply to DM (msg # 57):

Thorfire returns to his companions to report the zombies.

In reply to Thorfire Shortankard (msg # 58):

"Two of the rotten things? We can do this one of two ways. Quietly with knives and arrows, or loudly with my speed and my spells. Or the little grey guy can lob some fire down there."

OOC: Game map is up to date. I'll let you four plan your next move.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 59):

Let's kill them quietly, I'll take the right one and you take the left?

13:37, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 20 using 1d20+8, rerolling ones.  Stealth.
13:38, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 12 using 1d20+6, rerolling ones.  Attack with Rapier.
13:40, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 10 using 1d20+8, rerolling ones.  Rapier Attack. (Advantage with Assassinate on enemy that hasn't taken a turn in battle - any hit on a creature that is surprised is a critical hit)

Assuming a 12 hits a zombie...

13:39, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 13 using 2d8+4.  Rapier Damage.
13:41, Today: Thorfire Shortankard rolled 10 using 2d6.  Sneak Attack Damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 19:50, Sat 10 Mar 2018.

In reply to Lazaret (msg # 59):

Therarak somewhat quietly follows Thorfire and pulls an acid vial from his trusty bag of holding and lobes it at the zombie on the left.

13:54, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 8 using 2d20+2.  Stealth.
13:54, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 6 using 2d6.  Acid Damage.

Celador sheaths his sword and takes up bow and arrow. He quietly moves into position to get a shot at the zombies.

17:56, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Attack with long bow. Zombie on the left

17:56, Today: Celador Qiris rolled 11 using 1d8+3.  damage with long bow.

Therarak:

13:54, Today: Therarak Gemfinder rolled 8 using 2d20+2.  Stealth.

Is that just 2d20 or did you roll with advantage?

In reply to Celador Qiris (msg # 63):

Deep gnomes roll with advantage when in Rocky terrain.

In reply to Therarak Gemfinder (msg # 64):

"Quietly it is...Where did he go?" Lazaret charges down toward the zombie that wasn't murdered by Thorfire.

09:49, Today: Lazaret rolled 8 using 1d8+3.  Rapier Damage.

09:49, Today: Lazaret rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  Rapier Attack.

09:48, Today: Lazaret rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Stealth.