Our story begins in Torch, a large town built around a hill in the barren lands of Numeria. The road - made of packed, dry dirt - is well trafficked, the Market Square is just 100 feet away and visitors from out of town as well as Torch inhabitants are walking to and from the merchants there. Humans, dwarves, some half-orcs, and a couple of gnomes make up the crowd over there, and every single one is there for the skymetal craftsmanship. Later, when the sun goes down, the street would be faintly illuminated in the purple glow of the flame giving Torch it's name... The purple flame has burnt likely for over a hundred years, steadily for all those years (except for the infrequent outbursts when the flame forms a pillar of light into the sky, a hazard that the smiths of the town has learned to anticipate and avoid), and it's been a defining feature of Torch not only for the appearance. The flame burns constantly and evaporates nearly anything thrown into it, making it the waste disposal system of the town, except metals which it melts with ease. Skymetal too, the strange alloys found in the buried structures found around Numeria, can be melted with ease by the flame making Torch a hub for crafting and trade with skymetal and creations made with it.

Rather, it burned constantly. Eight days ago it stopped. Suddenly and without any dramatic displays, as far as you've heard. People are worried, of course, but the situation isn't catastrophic. Tourists and traveling merchants are still in town, the crafters have a stock to sell off... But in the street where you're standing, there are piles of trash near the house walls and buckets with human waste standing around corners in alleys, spreading their stench. Torch will be forced to change, and there's no solution for the waste problem yet. Of greater interest to those hoping to gain gold, reputation, or just to go on adventures is the fact that the same day that the flame died Khonnir Baine discovered a large amount of footprints on the banks of the Weeping Pond to the north, and in the pond a submerged tunnel leading into a set of caves. Khonnir Baine is a wizard, a liked and respected member of the council, and the owner of the Foundry Tavern which he runs with his daughter Val. He gathered a group of people and went on an expedition into these caves, but not before a group of halfling adventurers, and then a group of local thugs went down there without returning. Khonnir did return after initial investigations of the caves, and a few days ago, yet another group - this time devotees of Brigh - ventured into the caves without returning. Khonnir organized a second expedition and left just two days ago. He has not returned. Town Hall has now announced that a reward of 4.000gp will be awarded to anyone who can rescue him from whatever trouble he faced in the caves, a reward separate to the 4.000gp reward to anyone that would reignite the flame atop the hill.

A pair of dwarves, two women carrying big pouches likely filled with gold and silver, walk by you on their way to the market. You hear them talking: "Tell me again what happened to your brother!" "He was with that Kazkar fellow at the Copper Coin drinking away, what do they call that - 'rust beer'? They got hammered, as usual, and - I don't know who started it - but there was a dare, and they both went up the hill to the flame! You know, there's only sludge there now, some sort of... I don't know what. So anyway, they both drank it! Rogtym, they tell me, his muscles grew like a beast! Just for a moment, I think, well he looks as usual now. But he's been sleeping more than twice the usual - and that's a lot - since. I guess he maybe caught that headache, too... Anyway, Kazkar he didn't fare so well. Heard it nearly burnt a hole through his gut! Anyway, he's okay now, the healing was costly but he's recovering." They walk on towards the market, likely to spend the gold they're carrying.

Ren sighed as she heard the tale of two drunken fools who nearly killed themselves drinking strange sludge. She was sure her companion, Darek, would find it amusing but this kind of brashness could explain why the Torch had failed in the first place.

She had discussed it with the others and they were all in alignment to investigate the caves. Darek knew many who had gone missing and Nameless was eager to investigate any mystery in the area to find out where he (she? it?) came from.

Chakha was just looking for a fight, and with so many going missing there was bound to be a fight down below.

Ren lead the party towards the market place to browse the adventuring wares before they would depart. She pondered the thought for a moment as they walked.

"Perhaps we should buy up waterskins. If it's a long swim perhaps that is why so few have returned."

Darek grunted and shook his head.

"Nah...Bolek went missing and he was a beast in the water. I swear he was part fish or something. I mean it's still a good idea but that can't be the only reason. Besides I'm sure old Khonnir had plenty of magic to breath underwater or in stone or wherever he was and needing breath."

Chakha grunted.

"Good. I would hate to get excited only to find a bunch of sodden corpses instead of some beast."

Just saying the words made her iron-corded arms ripple as she instinctively flexed. Her biceps were easily larger then Darek's thighs, and her mighty thighs were larger then his waist!

Nameless walked along with its completely unnatural gait. It paused and tilted its head slightly as they overheard the two women talking.

"Perhaps we should investigate the Hill first. A sample of that sludge might prove to be both interesting and useful for future study and may provide some clues as to what has happened to the others. It may indicate the true source behind the Torch's mysterious malfunction."

Darek just grunted.

"Malfunction? The only malfunction was a couple of dwarves who couldn't hold their liquor. I mean how is that even possible? I've heard dwarves getting buzzed drinking pure acid!"

Ren pondered the input from her companions and then gestured towards the top of the hill.

"It would be foolish to think that whatever happened to the torch is unrelated to the caves that were discovered. It would only be a couple hour delay to investigate the black hills for this supposed sludge. Let us buy our waterskins and some glass vials that we can take some with us to study as we delve."

OOC: Hope that's clear to you. Stocking up on some extra water skins and some glass vials or jars in the market and then heading to Black Hill for sludge sampling.

Walking up Black Hill is no problem, and there's not many people to meet on the way there. From the top of the mountain, there's a good view over most of Torch, but mostly people don't come here for the view. The hole where the flame once burst has collapsed on itself, a funnel-shaped dent in the ground can now be seen, it's diameter nearly 10 feet. Halfway down the slope sits the surface of the sludge the dwarves had drank. It's black, and much thicker than water but still a fluid. Ripples trace their way across the surface, and a small swirl spins and vanishes only to appear again, near the middle. There's a prismatic sheen to the ripples and swirls. As Nameless descends to take a sample, a big bubble grows on the surface, and bursts; spreading a strange, sweet scent with tones of crude oil, flowers, vanilla and sour fruits. Filling vials with the sludge is no problem. You gather two pints in total, divided among a couple of vials and jars.

Nameless puzzles over the sludge, letting it slide too and fro within the glass vial.

"Given the chaotic nature of it's results, if the dwarves are to be believed, one might surmise that this is actually a mixture of several different fluids and the proportions determine the effect. Unfortunately if that is the case the applicational uses are limited as it would be impossible to determine what ratio of what component fluids deliver what effect."

Darek just rolled his eyes from the lip of the mountain.

"So in other words, a waste of our time?"

Nameless turned back at him, his face completely unmoved by the slight jeering.

"That is not what I said. On the contrary it could still have various applications as we might be able to determine what each individual container does via small scale testing. Rats for example could be fed proportionally small samples and the effects noted."

It was a good idea but Darek had long since lost interest and was now busy kicking rocks into the sludge, watching it puff or sizzle as appropriate.

Ren snapped her fingers to draw their attention.

"In any event as agreed we can study it later. Come on, let us head towards the caves. If anyone is in danger they might still be alive but the longer we take the chances of survivors drops lower and lower."

The weeping pond is nearly straight west of the location near the top of Black Hill where the flame used to be, but the trek down the hill ends on the south-eastern slope, downtown. The road leads all the way past the market square and up to the big manors that are built in north-western Torch. The weeping pond is just under 200 feet off the road, enclosed by a crescent-shaped cliff on all sides but to the south. It's mostly quiet here, a few birds can be heard from over the cliff. Nothing grows near the waters, not even the resilient weeds one would usually find growing between rocks and in the sandy wastes of Numeria. The water itself seems dirty almost, there's nothing on the surface but it's murky and smells of sulfur and other chemicals. Anyone investigating the water will realize that the submerged tunnel you've heard of is about 45 feet long. At least the waters are calm and thus easy to swim through.

---

I'm not sure if that should pose a problem or not, that might depend on your characters. DC10 to swim at half your speed, fail = doesn't move forward. You can hold your breath for a number of rounds equal to your constitution while swimming this way.

Ren hands out the extra waterskins and starts taking off her armor. She felt practically naked without the layer of hide and steel however it would only weigh her down and restrict her movements.

Within her mind the familiar voices swirled around her consciosnesss

...you will die down there...
...drowning death...
...drink the elixer...

She shook her head to clear her mind. The voices were always there and she always had to at least mind them as they sometimes whispered secrets however now she needed to concentrate.

Chakha flexes as she strips out of her armor. She easily hoists her backpack onto her shoulders and Daken and Ren hand off their packs as well to her.

OOC: Ren passes along 14.5 lbs in her backpack and Daken hands of 9.5 lbs. This allows everyone to operate at light load.

This will allow everyone to just take 10s and pass through in 3-4 rounds. The 'air bladders' if you will are just extra precautions.

The group breaks the water with little more than ten feet above the surface to the ceiling. Dampness hangs in the air of this cave, condensing into heavy moisture on the slick, stone walls. The calm, dark waters wind around to the east up north, along a stony, soot-scarred beach. A five-foot-high ledge sporting several stalagmites rises to the east, beyond which a low-ceil inged cave beckons.
They stand up in the two-foot-deep water by the shore, may even walk up to the shore, and look around for a few moments before the group realizes that the cave is actually lit by something. The light radiates from cracks and crevices along the cave walls, and soon, a scratching noise starts to rise within the cave. Three bugs, each the size of a gnome, crawl out onto the beach and towards the intruders. Their eyes and mouthes glow as if made out of molten rock.


Initiative:
Beetles 11 (AC12, HP4)

---

DC11 Fort to avoid nausea for 1 minute
Today: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Beetles, rolled 12 using 1d20.  Initiative.

Almost everyone emerges from the toxic water unscathed except for Daken. Almost at the end he stubbed his toe and out of reflex swallowed some water. Emerging from their dive he immediately keeled over and started retching.

The beetles emerged while nobody was looking...nobody except for Nameless. With a swift motion it whips its rapier into the ready position.

Nameless struck true and hit a weak joint in the bug's armor but he was only able to sink a bit of the blade in before the bug shifted and knocked the blade out.

OOC:
Move Action: Moving to D3
Standard Action: Attacking B2 (either one), hitting AC 15 for 3 pts of piercing damage

OOC:
Ren: Initiative: 3, Fort Save: 14
Nameless: Initiative: 13, Fort Save: 19
Chakha: Initiative: 10, Fort Save: 13
Daken: Initiative: 9, Fort Save: 6 - Nauseated (Can only take a single move action per turn)

The foul smelling water leaves a tingling, almost burning sensation on the skin of everyone in the group - but noone else was affected like Daken... With steady, quick movements of their many legs, the beetles all closed in on their prey and sprang to motion with hind legs and wings to bite. Glowing glands spread their light towards the torsos of the humanoids, but the jaws of the beetles reach only as far as the thighs - two of them not even being able to bite down on their intended target, while the third one rips up a wound in Chakha's leg. The scuttling and screeches of the beetles echo against the walls, the only noise that can be heard in the cave apart from the occasional dripping of water, and the sound of the newly arrived group.

Initiative:
Nameless 13
Beetles 11 (AC12, HP4 - B3 1/4HP)
Chakha 10
Daken 9
Ren 3

B3- Standard: Bite Nameless, roll 13, miss.
B2- 5-foot step, Standard: Bite Chakha, roll 18, 2 damage
B1- Standard: Bite Ren, roll 8, miss.

I went ahead and placed your characters, the next time you would be free to place them wherever you see fit tactically and (especially) within the bounds of the story though! :)

Chakha flexes and swings but the beetle in front of her wiggles away and her blade bites nothing but dirt and mud.

OOC:
Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Attack B2 hitting AC 6
13:27, Today: Chakha rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  attacking B2.


Daken holds his stomach and tries very hard not to throw up.

OOC:
Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: N/A
Status: Nauseated (1/10)


Ren likewise grips her morningstar and slams it down and again the beetle skitters out of the way and she splashes up more dirt and mud.

OOC:
Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Attack B1 hitting AC 7

---

Seeing an opportunity, Nameless shifts through a gap in combat, twirling around behind one of the beetles.

OOC:
Move Action: 5' step to E4 to flank B2
Standard Action: Sneak Attack B2 hitting AC 15 for 6pts of piercing damage.

This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:34, Sat 08 Apr 2017.

A beetle begins turning along with Nameless, trying another bite but not quick enough to spin with his step and hit. The other one still alive responds to Ren's morningstar strike, spreading its wings for a jump-like assault, it's jaws easily pushed away with the morningstar. The stabbed beetle screeches and lies still on the ground, it's glands still spreading their light over the small beach.


Initiative:
Nameless 13
Beetles 11 (AC12, B1 4/4 - B3 1/4HP)
Chakha 10
Daken 9
Ren 3

B3- Standard: Bite Nameless, miss.
B1- Standard: Bite Ren, miss.

Chakha steps forward and brings her giant sword down on top of the beetle spraying Nameless and herself with guts and ichor.


Move Action: 5' Step to E3
Standard Action: Attack B3 hitting AC 12 for 16 pts of slashing damage.
14:13, Today: Chakha rolled 16 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 4,6.
14:10, Today: Chakha rolled 12 using 1d20+5.


Daken takes one look at the beetle exploding like a ripe melon and loses it, retching onto the ground.


Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: N/A
Status: Nauseated (2/10)


Ren grips her morning star, adjusts her position and again brings it smacking down only to hit nothing but dirt and mud.


Move Action: 5' Step to G2
Standard Action: Attack B1 hitting AC 9

---

Round 3

Nameless circles around to flank the last beetle. Once again he finds a gap in the bug's carapace and this time sinks his rapier blade in halfway to the hilt.


Move Action: Moving to G4 via F5 to flank B1
Standard Action: Attacking B1 hitting AC 21 for 4pts of piercing damage.

14:17, Today: Nameless rolled 4 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 1,2.
14:16, Today: Nameless rolled 21 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 16.

As the beetles die, the sounds they made cease and the cave goes quiet. Their glowing glands don't seem to lose any of whatever natural power those beetles possessed, the light from them spreads across the area still. Beyond the ledge to the east, the ceiling is at the same height leaving only about five feet down to the cave floor, and stalagmites to crawl around to add to that. To the north, the water turns a corner and leads to the right, possibly to more open areas of the cave. Just ten feet away from each of the beetles, the light starts to dim and another couple of steps forward it's darker than any human could see... But Ren and Nameless, upon looking to the east in the tight space, can spot a humanoid lying in between the stalagmites.

---

Survival checks could give info, climbing up the ledge is DC10 (you can see it and the stalagmites in the map above). The water leading north-east is only about two foot deep, and does not require swimming. I'll be back tomorrow.

"There appears to be someone lying on the ground past the ledge. Chances of survival...unlikely."

Chakha just grunted and peered. Unable to see she lights a torch and holds it out to Nameless to hold for her. Nameless shakes his head.

"I believe I am most qualified to get there. I can see without needing a torch and my lower arm strength and grip are comparable to yours."

The barbarian woman frowned and straightened up, towering over the bland human-like android. If he noticed her attempts at intimidation or posturing he made no response.

Carefully Nameless picked his way through the stalactites and made his way to the body.

OOC:
Chakha got a 23 on a survival check.
Nameless got a 19 on a climb check to go check on the body.

15:29, Today: Nameless rolled 19 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 14. Climb check
15:26, Today: Chakha rolled 23 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 19.  Survival check.

Nameless climbs 20 feet into the area, the passage filled with stalagmites, before reaching the dead body of what was once a female half-orc. The tight passage with stalagmites is a 5-10 foot wide tunnel probably reaching 50 feet of distance before opening up. Even with his colorless vision in the darkness, he can by the tusks and the shape of the ears and face recognise the woman: she was well known, a popular brawler in Torch that almost everyone would call a friend. Parda Garr was her name. She joined one of those earlier expeditions, a group of local thugs, something that came as a surprise and disappointment to many.  Glancing forward, 20-30ft away the cave branches into one opening to the south, and an open chamber with a similar but longer beach leading into what is probably the same waters as those you came from.
Meanwhile, Chakha finds the tracks of many people - it seems more than one of the groups that have been before have climbed up to the stalagmites and gone that way.

Nameless calls back to the others informing them of what he found.

"It looks like she traveled this way on purpose."

Chakha grunts and nods.

"A whole group of people went that way."

Daken, finally finished retching walks over to join them.

"Hmmm...she left with a group of thugs. Maybe they did her in?"

Ren had started to unpack her armor but hearing that made her put her armor back in her backack.

"We're here to find out what happened and that is as good a lead as any. Let's head that way and try to figure out how Parda died."

Without any dissent the party once again hands their packs to Chakha and slowly and carefully climb through the stalagmites.

OOC: They should again all be able to take 10s and pass. Once there Ren and Nameless will examine the body to try and find out what might have happened to Parda while Daken will casually check her pockets for 'clues'.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 11:20, Mon 10 Apr 2017.

The body has bled a lot from a couple of wounds in her torso and stomach, but neither Ren nor Nameless can determine what caused those wounds. There's nothing of value on her body, no weapons and even any armor has been stripped off her. The way forward is a tight passage. About five feet wide, so for at least ten feet it's impossible to move more than one person forward at a time. Drops of water leaving the ceiling and hitting the small part of the lake that extends into these caves occasionally make faint sounds that echo softly through the caves... And there are other sounds too. Maybe footsteps. Or maybe its just the sound of water in small waves hitting rock walls and the beach.

---

The cave is completely dark after leaving the glow from the beetles. Does anyone use any light spells, or torches? I rolled heal checks for Ren and Nameless.

The party dons their armor before having Nameless lead the way, letting his darkvision guide him. Then comes Ren and Daken with Chakha (reluctantly) taking up the rear guard. Chakha will light one of her torches for the journey.

The party walks onward... Soon, a dark cavern, the ceiling 20 feet up covered in small stalagtites, opens up before them. A rocky shore overlooks a placid pool and stream, fed by a trickle of water leaking from a narrow fissure to the north. A small garden of toadstools and dark mold grows along the banks. Another cave tunnel leads to the south, but before anyone has the time to investigate it, a dark shape moves through the darkness, and begins approaching the group, baring sharp teeth and raising front paws with five claws on each. The being resembles a frog: a big head with a wide mouth, bulbous eyes standing out of the head and webbing between the fingers of the paws... But it's big. The same size as the beetles before. On it's head, an old leather hood hangs in strips, and you can just barely make out a brand of some sort on its side, signs you don't immediately recognise. It's skin is milk white and almost translucent, you can see the outlines of muscles and tendons moving as it crawls forward. It begins approaching the group, biting in the air in a threatening manner.

OOC:

Initiative:
F: Frog-creature - 9 (AC 16, HP ?/?)
N: Nameless
R: Ren
D: Daken
C: Chakha
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:55, Mon 10 Apr 2017.

Chakha had been itching for another fight after being squeezed through the passageway and seeing the frog advancing on them she charged forward before anyone else could react.

With a mighty swing she nearly severed the frog in half.

Dake and Nameless both tried to assist but her massive swing disrupted both of their aim.

OOC:

08:35, Today: praguepride rolled 58 using 4d20 ((8,13,20,17)).
Chakha: 22
Daken : 22
Nameless: 16
Frog: 9
Ren: 9


Chakha:
Full-Round Action: Charge to D4 hitting AC 16 for 14 points of slashing damage.
Status: Charged (-2 to AC)

Daken:
Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Acid Splash hitting Touch AC 6

Nameless:
Move Action: Move to D5
Standard Action: Attacking Frog hitting AC 10.

The creature shrieks in pain from the slash: a rasping, eerie parody of a croak. As it regains some composure a few seconds later, just before it jumps forward - slashing with teeth and claws, there's a sudden burst of light from it's bulbous, faintly red eyes. The light is so bright that it lights up the entire area in front of it, illuminating even far into the tunnel behind the group - and the light burns the eyes of the four that stand in front of the creature. Then it's teeth sink into Chakha's arm. And then it rips at her, and again. The vicious attacks can be heard by everyone, but the onset of the strong light radiating from the eyes of the frog was enough to make everyone shut their eyes by reflex and open them just to see it land on the ground ready for another round - though some open their eyes and see nothing but darkness.

Initiative:

Chakha: 22
Daken : 22
Nameless: 16
Frog-creature - 9 (AC 16, damage 14/?)
Ren: 9

Free action: Blinding Gaze - Fortitude DC 13 or blinded, everyone!
Full attack:
Bite Chakha, 21 to hit, 4 damage.
Claw Chakha, 15 to hit (depending on blind!), 2 damage.
Claw Chakha, 24 to hit, 3 damage.

With a blinding flash both Nameless and Daken had their sight overloaded by the frog. Chakha and Ren both shut their eyes in time avoiding the worst of the gaze.

OOC:
Ren: 17
Nameless: 9
Chakha: 15
Daken: 3

14:56, Today: praguepride rolled 37 using 4d20 ((16,8,11,2)).


Ren circles around and attacks the frog from the side but the hoppy foe leaps out of the way and once again Ren's morningstar eats dirt.

You failed like you always failed
Have faith for only through faith will you find service]
You will die here
Everyone will die here
Orange is better ice cream then Red

She hated the voices in her head and when she failed like this she lost some of her willpower to suppress their steady stream.


Move Action: Move to D3
Standard Action: Attacking Frog hitting AC 14.

---

Chakha resisted the urge to fly into a barbarian's fury but she felt the red haze start to take over. She resisted it though and let loose another mighty swing with her blade biting deep into the frog once again.


Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Attacking Frog hitting AC 17 for 13 pts of slashing damage.


OOC: I'll pause there to see if it's still alive before I decide what Nameless and Daken are doing. How bad the frog looks will determine their next actions...

The frog dies! Blindness will last one hour!

With a mighty slash Chakha cleaves the frog dead before checking on her companions, frowning to see Daken and Nameless both waving hands in front of unseeing eyes.

She shrugs and starts cleaning the ichor off of her massive blade.

Ren starts searching the area as they wait to see if the blindness will wear off. When it doesn't she frowns.

"First thing's first..."

She prays to her god and places a healing hand upon Chakha, binding some of the larger woman's wounds. Seeing her ally still needing healing she does it again.

OOC: Casting x2 Cure Light Wounds to heal a total of 12 pts of damage (Chakha is healed back to full 15


After a few minutes more of waiting Chakha likewise gets restless and while Nameless and Daken wait blind Chakha and Ren peek around corners scouting out the exits and looking around for more clues as to what happened before they arrived there.

Ren quickly finds a human body lying in the water. The body is half eaten, part of the face ripped off and the rest bloody and beaten, but the body is still barely identifiable as human... A pouch of coins is tied to the belt of the body, the contents of the pouch total 72 gold pennies and 35 copper pennies. Around his neck hangs a silver symbol, a square with rounded edges at the top appearing to bear the likeness of an inscription on the front - an inscription perhaps not meant to be readable. In another pouch, two vials containing liquid and air (they are apparently water-tight) are contained.
Walking just a few steps to the south, Chakha finds that the tunnel curves to the south-west but then goes straight into an open cave where it branches yet again. From where she's standing, she can see what appears to be rubble and trash lying on the floor... Metal and wood, but if it's from broken objects or no longer needed items lying around is hard to tell from a distance.

Daken was having a miserable time. He could hear Ren and Chakha moving around, talking to each other but Daken was once again isolated from the group, more burden then help. To tell the truth he fancied both women in his party and he longed for a way to prove himself. Chakha was...rough around the edges but she reminded him of home with her wild barbarian ways and while she wasn't much of a talker and could pass for a half-orc from both size and facial features there was a thrilling power that emenated from her and a wild passion in battle he couldn't help but wonder about in other situations.

But Ren...Ren was the real prize. Ren was the reason he had signed up in the first place. Her heavenly features and beautiful, if somewhat crazy, spirit had entranced him from the moment he had seen her. Oh he knew she was crazy. It was always like she was listening to something that wasn't there and she knew things she shouldn't, couldn't possibly, and yet she spoke like it was a fact.

He wasn't foolish to think a romantic liaison would blossom in this festering pit but with his vision gone he had nothing to do but sit and imagine.

He heard Ren and Chakha discuss the body they found and the various directions they could go and he could only curse his rotten luck. IF he had a chance with Ren he was surely blowing it. First he vomited profusely in their first real fight and then he was stricken blind and now useless.

He used his elbow to nudge Nameless and confirmed the silent 'man' was still sitting there. Daken crossed his arms and pouted some more.

He heard footsteps approach and both he and Nameless scrambled for weapons but Ren's voice echoed out.

"Hold, friends, it is only us. We have no idea how long your vision will remain lost or if it will ever come back. At this point it might be best to continue to press forward. We found some more traces of those who came before and perhaps one might eventually provide a cure in some matter. Chakha and I will lead the way and call out any danger. If things go poorly Chakha will hold them off while we retreat back the way we came. It might be rough but I'm sure we can escape despite your condition with our stout friend bringing up the rear."

Beside Daken, Nameless shifted but remained silent. For all Daken kenw he was nodding his head or shaking it vigorously. Ren's feet shifted and from her lack of response he assumed Nameless had agreed.

Daken wanted to turn back now but he was horribly afraid of drowning. He just knew with his rotten luck he would get his foot stuck or turn the wrong way and drown. Besides, both women and Nameless were pressing to move forward and he needed to be brave if he hoped to restore himself in everyone's eyes. If he turned back now, he knew they wouldn't call him out for being a coward but they would know and eventually everyone in Torch would (assuming they made it out alive).

With a sigh he nodded his head. Big meaty Chakha-like hands slapped his shoulder and hauled him to his feet. He was handed his spear which he used like a blindman's cane to tap out the way forward.

"Just follow my footsteps. Or the sounds of battle."

Daken sighed again and continued to tap his way forward...

OOC: Party is staying put for a couple of minutes and then moving forward. Ren and Chakha in the lead with Nameless and Daken behind them being lead forward.

Unfortunately Daken is the only one who can identify potions through spellcraft yet he doesn't have his sight to see the auras from Detect Magic.

The tunnel leads on to the south-west for nearly fifty feet before opening to a rectangular cave, approximately measuring 30 by 10 foot. Chakha is still ten feet from the opening when the echoes of Daken's tapping is joined by the sound of light feet against the cave floor, someone swiftly running away. The sound comes from the tunnel that opens to the south-east, out of the room ahead of the group. A big heap of what appears to be trash lies in front of this opening, making it somewhat difficult to get past there. Straight ahead, another tunnel leads onward to the south-west. As they take a few more steps forward; Chakha and Ren sees a collection of crates, boxes, rubble, and scavenged metals heaped in the northwest section of the damp cave. The walls are marked with several strange chalk drawings of twisted, spiny plants, a strange three-legged creature, and four-armed humanoids.

Ren pauses to consider the chalk drawings but Chakha moves quickly towards the south-east tunnel.

"We can search this place later, first we find the one fleeing from us."

She grips her massive sword at the ready and leads the way to the south-east.

OOC: Order of battle: Chakha <- Ren <- Nameless <- Daken

Clambering past the pile of rubble, the four make their way into the next tunnel. After a slight bend to the west, an opening to a great chamber appears before them. In the torchlight, one cannot see the eastern wall of the cave. The ceiling rises nearly thirty feet overhead. Chakha and the others step out on a five-foot wide ledge that slopes down to the cave floor ten feet below. Four ramshackle huts made of what appear to be strips of metal, hides, and some sort of fibrous plant matter sit in the cave. To the south yawns a dark pit. Ren, when she steps into the cave, can just barely make out a strange wall to the east, a smooth wall perhaps made out of metal. You hear what appears to be the same, light footsteps and a thin figure can be seen by the nearest hut below. Female and humanoid in shape, her skin has a dark gray tone and covered by next to no clothes at all - the reason for which you understand as the steps out in front of the hut and her skin begins to slowly shift in the colors of the hut behind her. You can imagine she'd be good at hiding. Athletic muscles bulge under her skin on arms, torso and legs, and she keeps both hands behind her back. She begins to speak words in common with a thick, strange accent.
"Guests of our chamber-home. Please, no weapons to hold up! We wish for you to see our Sef-chief. Will you? Only two, only two other stay here."


OOC:
O = pit
H = hut
L = The woman

Chakha can see roughly up to column J. The ledge makes a difference, but I didn't mark it on the grid - it can be seen on the image with the map.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:22, Wed 12 Apr 2017.

Ren lowers her morningstar and leans over to describe what they see to Daken and Nameless. Without a pause, Daken speaks up.

"I'll go."


"But you can't see."

"Doesn't matter, does it. I heard the common tongue. A bit broken but understandable. If they can disguise themselves then sight isn't going to mean much."


"No, you can't see. Can't see if a knife is heading to your throat."

Daken sighed. He would have rolled his eyes but he couldn't trust he was facing the right way for it to have any impact.

"Weren't you listening? She said two. I volunteered but we can bring someone else. Maybe someone less confrontational?"

Ren nodded although Daken couldn't see it.

"He has a point. We don't know if his vision will come back but maybe these people can help. And if it is a trap then it'd be best to have someone like you on the outside so you can spring us, or Nameless who can slip in unseen. No this makes sense. Plus he doesn't need a weapon."

Chakha scowled.

"IF his sight comes back."

Daken just shrugged and started tapping his way away. He actually started heading straight over the cliff before Ren pointed him in the right direction. She showed the woman that she was disarming by handing her morningstar to Chakha. Ren then caught up to Daken and took away the spear he was using as a cane. He seemed unhappy about that until she took him by the hand and led him down towards the strange woman from the hut below.

OOC: Ren disarms and leaves her pack with Chakha. Ren will lead Daken down to meet with the Sef-chief.

"No no, to here!" She brings out her right hand from behind her back and with the dagger she holds she points to an opening in the north wall, along the ledge your standing on. She then fastens the dagger and the short sword she had in her left hand, in leather straps in her belt and starts climbing up to the ledge close to Ren and Daken. Standing up straight, she's as tall as anyone in the group but her thin limbs and torso make her seem much taller. She leads the way along the ledge, and as Ren leads Daken past the corner further down the ledge she sees another one of the same kind as this woman. A man, well hidden before they came up right next to him - his skin a dark brown color very similar to the cave wall behind him - with an expression that's hard to read, strained but with interest. He says nothing and makes no gesture to greet them, but he too secures his dagger in the straps of his belt.

A ten foot tunnel follows, then Ren and Daken enters a cramped cave, metal junk covering almost every inch of ground. This precarious pile of junk rises up in a heaplike hut to the northwest, and by the hut entrance stands a woman. Strapped to body with belts on legs, waist and torso are ten daggers and a shortsword, but her hands are open as she greets you.

"I am Sef, chief here." She speaks with less accent that the first one, but still quite noticable. "We heard you coming, and I want to have agreement with you. You can go safe through our homes, but I want two things. First, you leave us safe. Second, if you follow tunnels that way" she points to the eastern exit from her cave, and further north-east "you will find trickster jinkins, which you need to kill. We are few and they are threats..." She goes quiet for a moment to let the visitors in front of her think about it, then she - with a face still not showing much of any humanlike expression or emotion at all - adds "If you help us with this, we have strange treasure to offer, our gratitude."

---

Meanwhile, out in the larger cave, a fourth being (counting Sef and the others encountered so far) of the same kind has emerged on the ledge, south of Chakha and Nameless. Hands behind his back, his skin shifting from dark brown to dark gray as he steps away from the wall, he smiles a little - even this facial expression of this foreign being seeming very strange and hard to read. "Hello. Yadriss," he says, "you?"

Ren considered Sef's words. She didn't like the idea of getting involved in some kind of war without additional details but perhaps there was a way to resolve things peacefully. Otherwise perhaps these trickster jinkins were not the kind of creatures that could even be reasoned with. Ren chose her words cautiously.

"We will do what we can for your situation. Perhaps you could help us as well? Several days ago groups of people like us came into these tunnels. The great flame up top has gone out and we don't know why. Has anything strange been happening here in the past few weeks?"

---

Chakha just grunted in reply. She wasn't sociable at the best of times and chatting with strangers while there was trouble brewing didn't make her any more personable. Nameless, however, was intrigued by these people. He couldn't see them but perhaps they knew something about his origins.

"This one is called Chakha. She is a mighty warrior from her tribe. I do not have a name so they just call me Nameless. Where do you come from Yadriss?"

Sef nods sternly, the situation being very serious for her. "I don't know of a flame, but yes - we have met many people coming in here. The first was a woman with purple hair, she had many others with her - orcs, humans, and rodent-people we have not encountered before. She met with then-chief, and payed him so we would attack anyone coming after her. They have not been here after, only others trying to go the same way."

---

"Chakha. Name-less." He points with a hand that, similarly to the first woman, was concealing a dagger behind his back - he points to the pit straight east from where he's standing. "We come from far down. Flying through open, with big might, we come up. And now here. Where come you from?"

Ren leaned over and whispered to Daken.

"Does that description sound familiar?"

Daken just shook his head and shrugged.

OOC: Neither of them have knowledge: local! Nameless does and probably can identify when he rejoins the pair.


Straightening back up she asks a follow up question to the chieftess.

"Which way did they leave? They might be the ones we are seeking. Also what more can you tell us about these 'trickster jinkins'? That name isn't familiar to me and we would like to be prepared before facing them. What do they look like? How do they attack? Are they weak or afraid of something in particular? How do you and your people fight them?"

OOC: Ren will attempt to shift their attitude via diplomacy while they talk.
If they are indifferent it's a success, otherwise...
18:35, Today: Ren Ulyms rolled 15 using 1d20+10.  diplomacy.

---

Nameless cannot follow the gesture of the Yadriss. After a momentary pause Chakha grunts out...

"There's some big pit he is pointing too."

Nameless cocks his head to the side and ponders the meaning.

"Ah, I see. Well I don't but I mean to say I understand. Was this a recent relocation for your tribe? Why did you migrate?"

OOC: FYI Nameless will continue to chat and ask questions of Yadriss up until Ren and Daken return and it's time to go. The group will head to deal with the 'trickster jinkins' first assuming they don't sound like insta-sudden death so they are ready to move on when you are. Otherwise after an hour of talking with both groups and Daken and Nameless' eyesight returns they will move on.

"Same way you are to go. They went through jinkin tricksters' caves, then through the flat wall, I think. The thing with the jinkin is, they're of a magical kind since long back. Jumps through the air to land in another cave, three walls away. Or other worlds. If we brought the whole group of skulk, they would never stay. Instead they make traps, wait behind rocks and strike when not seen. And even to corner one, your sword needs a good strike" Sef gestures, putting all her power behind an imaginary attack aimed at a likewise imaginary jinkin "because of the magic in them, else they just laugh and jump away. Even magic needs certain strength, says then-chief."
She goes on describing them, scaly beings with sharp teeth and pointed ears - tiny beings. She does not seem convinced by Ren's cooperation however, Sef is quite cooperative herself but seems to keep her distance from you relation-wise.

---

Yadriss tells Nameless with great enthusiasm, gesticulating wildly, of the migration. "With magic, we fly up - it was magic of other skulk. Great power, greeeaaat power. We skulk always move sometimes, for new home. For more to have. Only short since this, we fly maybe... Since three weeks. Four. Five. Not long."

---

The group gathers in the big cave room with the four huts, after a while, telling each other the news. Upon hearing of the jinkins, Chakha realizes that this sounds a lot like some sort of fey. Gremlins, perhaps, but fey nonetheless - with the accompanying weakness to cold iron. Vision gradually returns for the men, during this conversation, revealing the pit as well as the strange wall to the east. It's a smooth wall made out of a dark gray metal going straight through the cave, one would think it could hide the rest of a great cavern on the other side - but a circular opening in the wall five feet off the ground reveals some sort of hallway on the other side.
The way to the jinkins, however, goes to the north. Ren and Chakha has had time to check it out. Right outside of Sef's chamber there's a small, easily climbable ledge leading in two directions: a dark chamber to the east with a tunnel leading further east before branching south and north; and a tunnel heading north and branching into a chamber to the northwest as well as turning toward the east. They couldn't see any specific contents of either chamber, they're mostly empty, but no matter which direction one would choose - there's only five feet of space from the floor to the ceiling.

Ren re-organizes the group to better plan for their progress. She decides to take the branch immediately North once everyone has their packs re-assembled and armor donned. Daken takes the time to conjure a magical set of armor and his body is outlined in a shimmering golden haze.

Ren leads the way once again. With her shield and armor she is the most fortified against a sudden ambush. Chakha goes next, trying to angle to the side as much as possible to provide clear charging lanes with her greatsword.

OOC: Assuming she can even swing her sword in this environment, otherwise she'll opt for her club instead.

Daken goes next, thankful that he can finally see. He is ready to hurl globs of acid at any 'jinkins' he sees, hoping the magical energy will bypass the protection that the chieftess spoke of.

Finally Nameless takes up the rear, almost walking backwards to keep an eye on any ambushers that might be sneaking up behind them.

The group climbs the ledge one at a time, and begins to walk through the cramped tunnels, somewhat crouched. When Ren gets up to the first chamber and peeks inside it, Chakha is right behind trying to get a clear passage to attack anyone coming from the right and Daken has just stood up after climbind the ledge. Nameless is just below the ledge. Even with her great vision in the darkness, Ren sees nothing but stones of various sizes, collected there or perhaps fallen from the roof in some minor earthquake, before suddenly a tiny, scaled being stands in front of her with an evil grin and a shortsword pointed at her! The jinkin attacks before she manages to collect her wits, and she has no way of avoiding taking a hit. The creature is no great fighter with those thin arms, but he angles the sword exceptionally well to get straight through an opening in the hide armor and cut into her flesh.


Initiative:
Jinkin - 24 (AC18, HP6/6)

---

OOC: Greatswords can be swung, however you are squeezing: -4 to attack, -4 to ac, each square moved counts as two.
Climb DC 10 for Nameless, it's only 5ft up.
Surprise round: Standard - Swort sword sneak attack for 1 nonlethal and 4 damage, 23 to hit. (also, 5-foot step)
BTW, I did roll perception for Ren, but it was registered as secret just like the stealth roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:17, Tue 20 June 2017.

Daken jumps at the sudden attack and out of pure instinct lobs a blob of acid at the 'jinkins'. The acid splashes onto the cave wall and starts sizzling as it etches into the stone.

Chakha flexes to wield her sword but stops as the cave walls are too confined. With a growl of anger she lunges forward and attempts to just grab the tiny creature and crush it in her hands. Unfortunately the little creature squirts right out from her hands.

OOC: Free Action: Dropping sword
Free Action: Entering rage
Move Action: Move to C3
Standard Action: Attempt to grapple, hitting CMD 6 :(
21:51, Today: Chakha rolled 6 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 2.  Grapplin' Time!


Ren swings her morningstar to the side but only succeeds in clubbing the rock walls and making her arm go numb from the vibrations.


Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Attack hitting...sigh...AC -1
21:54, Today: Ren Ulyms rolled -1 using 1d20-2 with rolls of 1.  morningstar attack.


Nameless attempts to climb up the wall but with the sudden sound of combat up ahead he misjudges a foothold and his foot slips out. He manages to catch himself and eventually makes it up the ledge.


Move Action #1: Climb check: FAIL but within 5 so doesn't fall.
Move Action #2: Pass! Nameless moves up to B4

21:57, Today: Nameless rolled 16 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 12.  climb #2.
21:55, Today: Nameless rolled 8 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 4.  climb check.


OOC:

Init:
Daken: 18
Chakha: 17
Ren: 11
Nameless: 9

20:32, Today: praguepride rolled 44 using 4d20 with rolls of 10,6,15,13.  group init (+1, +3, +2, +5).

Before any of the adventurers have the time to react, the Jinkin strikes Ren again - another stab through the armor. It quickly draws the sword back out and starts running, escaping down the tunnel to the north-east, disappearing into one of the openings too quickly for anyone to notice which way it took.

---

Initiative:
Jinkin: 24
Daken: 18
Chakha: 17
Ren: 11
Nameless: 9

To clarify, the jinkin took a surprise round standard action, then rolled a great initiative and took another full round before anyone else. You're free to go out of initiative order if that makes things easier, but if you run after right away we might as well stay in initiative.
Standard action: 18 to hit vs flat footed, squeezing Ren. Damage: 1 nonlethal, 6 lethal sneak attack damage.
Move action: Move, hide. Last seen in D2.

Daken pauses to consider their situation. In these cramped tunnels the 'jinkins' has quite the advantage but if they...

Too late...

Chakha charges forward after the thing.

OOC: BARBARIAN RAAAAGEEEE!

Daken will hold his action and Chakha will move forward to I believe either C1 or D2. We'll wait and see what's around the corner before the rest of the party moves.

Chakha runs up, looks left - immediately sees a tripwire for some sort of trap, a rocky cave with rocks big enough for a tiny creature to hide behind, and a tunnel leading east. Looks right - sees a small chamber with tunnels leading south (connecting to the chamber you didn't go through) and north, big rocks ideal for a tiny creature to hide behind, and the scaly little jinkin with shortsword in hand hastily hidden behind a rock just by Chakha's feet.





OOC:
Initiative:
Jinkin - 24 (AC 18, HP 6/6)
Daken: 18 / delayed?
Chakha: 17
Ren: 11
Nameless: 9

15:54, Today: DM Ventrikel, on behalf of Chakha, rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Perception.
Trap (tripwire) will trigger if one enters C1, although it's possible to carefully step over it.
Attacks on Ren total 2 nonlethal, 10 lethal (sneak attacks). Does that make her unconscious? Good thing you have one potion since she's the healer ;)
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:17, Tue 20 June 2017.

OOC: Oh yeah, Ren is at -1

Chakha shouts behind her.

"Get around behind it! Back the other way!"

Daken watches in horror as Ren collapses from the stinking little thing and rushes forward, digging in Ren's pouch to pull out her magical healing potion and drains it down her throat.
OOC: Using her Potion of Cure Light Wounds to cure 9 pts of L and NL damage
08:14, Today: Daken rolled 9 using 1d8+1.  cure light wounds.


Ren picks herself up channels her god, providing a small enhancement to Daken.


Move Action: Stand up
Standard Action: Casting Guidance on Daken for +1 to his next attack.

Nameless rushes back the way they came, climbing and squeezing his way to another passage behind the 'jinkins'

OOC:
Move Action: Moving to E5
Move Action: Moving to G3

Nameless easily spots the tripwire strung across the entrance to the southern cave, steps over it and continues forward. Arriving at the other end of the cave Chakha's in, Nameless sees the northbound tunnel opening into a greater cave room with enough height to stand up easily but has no time to watch it further as another Jinkin comes into sight, hiding and preparing to stab Chakha with it's shortsword. Alerting Chakha to it, she's ready when it jumps forward. The first Jinkin quickly follows up a stab with an attempt to bite her with a full set of sharp teeth - but she easily steps out of the way. The second one, however, succeeds. The shortsword hits her well, but the strength of the Jinkin is not enough to pierce her hide armor - and only leaves a big bruise. It then catches her arm in it's mouth and bites down - again not with great strength and the teeth only scratch her skin.




OOC:
Initiative:
Jinkin - 24 (AC 18, HP 6/6 DR5/cold iron)
Jinkin 2 - 19 (AC 18, HP 6/6 DR5/cold iron)
Chakha: 17
Daken: 16
Ren: 11
Nameless: 9

Jinkin 1: Attacks 7, 10.
Jinkin 2: Attacks, critical - 19 to confirm, 2 nonlethal damage. Attacks again, 15, 1 nonlethal.
Nameless:
15:37, Today: DM Ventrikel, on behalf of Nameless, rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Perception, checking for traps.
Tripwire crossing E5.
DR5 - from previous knowledge roll before you found them.

Chakha roars and disregarding her earlier plan just resorts to the tried and true "hit it with the biggest thing at hand."

She swings her sword at the newcomer with all of her fearsome might and just barely misses the tiny creature.

OOC: NOooooooo!!!
Move Action: pass
Standard Action: Attacking J2 hitting AC 17!!!!


Daken pokes his head around and seeing the pair of jinkins decides to start in with the magical effects. Seeing Ren struggling to get to the front he moves to the side to allow her to go forward and then he begins twisting the winds of magic into a powerful soporific.

Move Action: Backing up to B4
Standard Action: Casting Sleep (will complete right before Daken's next turn.
DC 16


Ren moves forward and this time provides magical guidance to Chakha.

Move Action: Move to C3
Standard Action: Casting guidance on Chakha for +1 to next attack/skill roll.


Nameless meanwhile moves up to flank the jinkins and help keep them from fleeing and hiding again. He tries to jab his sword forward but it skips off a rock instead.

Move Action: Moving to F2
Standard Action: Attacking J1 hitting AC 2 (sigh)

The tiny creatures laugh and sneer as swords swing through the air and miss them. "Eh heh heh HEH!" The first one responds, attacking Chakha again, hitting with sword and sharp teeth. The second one, growing cocky as its small body is so hard to hit in the cramped cave, runs heedlessly to gain a better position behind Nameless - leaving openings for swings from both the fighters next to it. It stops behind Nameless, the android now being threatened from both sides by the sharp swords, and it attacks. The sword finds its spot, and pierces deep.




OOC:
Initiative:
Jinkin - 24 (AC 18, HP 6/6 DR5/cold iron)
Jinkin 2 - 19 (AC 18, HP 6/6 DR5/cold iron)
Chakha: 17
Daken: 16
Ren: 11
Nameless: 9

J1: Full attack - 20, 16. 2 nonlethal.
J2: Move (provoking AoO from C and N), Standard: Attack. Nat 20, 15 to confirm with flanking (forgot that in the roll). 2 nonlethal (assuming 15 is hit when squeezing), 4 lethal sneak attack. Ignore if it's killed by the AoOs ;)

I gave you the info on SR so I might as well give you the number too, makes things flow easier:
SR12

The jinkins turns to run and Chakha lunges forward with her massive sword. The point of her sword was pointed but it didn't matter as she thrust forward with such force that it easily splits the fey creature through the middle. With a flick of her wrists she bisects the thing and chunks of what was the jinkins falls to either side.

AoO: Hits AC 21 for 18 pts of damage

Chakha turns and tries to follow through into the other jinkins but fails to connect.

Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Attacking hitting AC 8


Daken's sleep spell goes off but the fey creature easily resists the effects. Cursing he throws more acid towards the jinkins but has no chance to actually land it.

Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Acid splash hitting touch AC of 1 after all the penalties...


Ren shouts at Chakha to move her giant ass.

"If you push forward the three of us can trap it in the corner there and finish it off."

She then proceeds to provide more magical guidance to the mighty barbarian.

Move Action: Pass
Standard Action: Casting Guidance on Chakha for +1 to next attack/skill roll

Nameless thrusts forward again but again fails to sink his blade into the agile creature.

The Jinkin steps to where it's comrade was just killed, out from the position right between the barbarian and the rogue. "Uaaaah!" it yells, seemingly frustrated, at Chakha and makes quick arcane gestures in the air. A second later it begins to take a step forward, and the whole group sees that as the body moves forward it begins to disappear, as if it's passing through an invisible doorway to some completely different world.

---

5-foot to E1
AoOs for spellcasting, unless it's killed it will complete its action and disappear without a trace!

With a final roar Chakha takes the foul creature's head clean off it's scrawny neck.

She growls and looks around for anything else to challenge before letting the warrior's fury bleed off. She slumps to her knees and slowly crawls forward a bit before finally just lying down.

As the rest of the party moves up to consolidate their position, Nameless goes around and attempts to disable the traps they spotted earlier.

OOC: CHAKHA SMASH!

AoO hits AC 23 for 17 pts of damage. This is why I love level 1 barbarians (although that battle did use up almost all of her rage 5/6 rounds...

Daken meanwhile takes a closer look at the bodies to see if there is any treasure or clues as to where they might have been heading. Once that is done he begins cutting off an ear from each to provide to Sef as proof of their deeds.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Thu 27 Apr 2017.

They each carried a shortsword only, but in the darkness behind the stones, Daken finds two braided baskets - by the looks of them made from material found above ground, perhaps stolen from Torch or another human settlement. One of them contains a rather heavy bolt of undyed linen; the other a stack of 15 gold coins, 87 silver coins, and 3 coppers.

Nameless goes to disable the trap Chakha spotted first, close to where Ren and Daken just came from. His first attempt is not enough to figure out how to disable it, and with the second attempt he takes a bigger risk - unhooking the wire from a part of the rock it was set around. As he does, the wire suddenly tightens and in a split second he realizes that he's set off the trap. A spike on a wooden arm swings out from a hidden groove in the wall, and hits Nameless. The group hears a similar noise echo from both ahead of them and behind them as other traps go off simultaneously.

---

Nameless: Take 10 for 15 vs mechanical trap, fail by 4 or less. Roll total 11, fail by 5 or more. Trap sprung.
14:43, Today: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Trap, rolled 5 using 1d6+4.  Dmg Nameless.
14:43, Today: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Trap, rolled 21 using 1d20+10.  To hit Nameless.
Bolt of linen worth 5gp, weight 10lbs.

Nameless cries out in pain and the rest the group arms themselves when noises echo around. When all the commotion dies down Ren goes over to bind Nameless' wound.

"Maybe we should just mark the traps next time. At least until you feel better about disarming them."

Nameless stays quiet but nods. Chakha meanwhile puts the swords, coins, and linen into her backpack. Daken was about to protest but considered that the linen looked heavy and better to have the giant barbarian carrying their stuff then the rest of them.

Nameless, despite his injuries, moves to the front when they reach the more open part of the cave with Ren and Chakha behind him and Daken taking up the rear creating a diamond like formation.

Nameless and the others keep their eyes open for more traps or potential ambushes.

Several different tunnels converge on a narrow ledge overlooking a rubble-filled cavern. The far wall is made of a smooth, dark gray metal. A single circular door, tightly closed, sits on the metal wall just above the upper level of the rubble. The group moves forward carefully, Nameless climbing down first and then the two behind him, but their eyes were just not sharp enough to detect the jinkin sneaking up on them. He jumps up, hidden behind a thin but wide metallic plate lying in the rubble, and stabs Nameless. He yells, showing his sharp teeth, in a language none of you understand. "Brak veet Jazvit thod!"




Initiative:

Jazvit - 7 (AC 22, damage taken 0)


Surprise round: 16 to hit flat-footed Nameless, 1 nonlethal & 3 lethal damage.
Climb DC 10 to go up the ledge, going down only takes double movement. Once down on the rubble-covered ground you're no longer squeezing (so Daken is still squeezing).
The map is hard to translate into the grid as usual :) But the shaded areas fill two purposes: outlining major obstacles to make it easier to compare with the image, and they are a rough estimation of what squares one cannot stand in (but one can sometimes move through them, judgements should be made here based on the image.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:36, Sat 29 Apr 2017.

Nameless gets stabbed and falls to his feet. The earlier wounds take their toll and while the android is still conscious it is clear he is in bad shape.

Ren summons the divine energy of the stars and the heavens and silvery light pours out of her hands and embraces Nameless. His bruises and wounds start to bind and he recovers. Seeing that Nameless is back in relatively fighting shape Ren circles around to flank the tiny creature for the rest of her companions.

Standard Action: Casting CLW on Nameless to heal 5 L and NL damage (so he's at 6/9)
Move Action: Moving to D2 (I'm assuming it would be climb checks to move to C1/D1 so she won't be able to flank but if I'm wrong just assume that she goes to E2 instead to flank for Nameless.


Nameless maintains his passive face as he slides to the side and works his rapier forward to pierce the tiny creature but it easily dodges behind some rubble and Nameless misses completely.

Move Action: 5' step to E4
Standard Action: Attack hitting AC 21 (23 if Ren can flank) for 9 pts of piercing damage.

19:44, Today: Nameless rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  oops, real attack this time.
19:45, Today: Nameless rolled 9 using 2d6+1.


Chakha roars and charges into combat. She keeps the red fury out of her vision but her anger still bubbles beneath the surface.

Full Round Action: Charging to D4 hitting AC 28 (no crit) for 13 pts of slashing damage.

19:46, Today: Chakha rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  chaaarrrrrgggee!
19:46, Today: Chakha rolled 18 using 1d20+8.  crit?
19:46, Today: Chakha rolled 13 using 2d6+6.



Finally Daken takes up the rear and works his way down from the ledge. He doesn't have any interest in joining the melee in front of him but takes up position to make sure
the creature doesn't try to escape this way.

Move Action: Double move to move down to C4


Init Order:
Ren: 18
Nameless: 15
Chakha: 13
Daken: 10
Jazvit: 7

As Chakha finishes the combat, slicing yet another jinkin open - scales scattering on the ground from the wound - one more of those tiny, evil faces look out from the northern chamber visible from the big cave room. It's face displaying a mix of fear and hatred, it mumbles arcane words with a foreign twist to them and steps through an invisible portal, eager to leave.

Nameless cautiously moves forward, eyes peeled for any additional hidden dangers while Daken again pats down the dead and removes an ear for proof.

Ren and Chakha poke through the rubble before heading towards the metal doors to examine them.

"Perhaps that is where the rest of the expeditions went? The chieftess did say the others passed this way and perhaps in sufficient numbers the 'jinkins' would hide instead of ambush?"

The creature carried nothing but a short sword. The rubble on the floor lies in small piles here and there, and in places one can see the cave floor below the metal scrap. There are metal plates, many of them much thinner than would be practical for the sort of construction metal smiths usually work with - weapons, armor, hinges and locks and various tools. But it's all made out of skymetal, the material said to have once rained down from the sky. Skymetal really is more than one type of material, there are several different kinds - the most commonly known one called "Numerian Steel". It's a dark metal often found to be very flat and smooth, like the strange wall in this cave. It is well known that Adamantine is a component of numerian steel, but even though adamantine is expensive and very useful, it's rarely extracted from the numerian steel. The purple flame marking the black hill in Torch enabled the smelting and working of skymetals such as numerian steel, but even then extracting the adamantine was very time consuming and expensive.

Plates, twisted and sometimes seemingly burnt lie scattered in the rubble. Some are the size of a hand, some three times or five times as large. Here and there lie cylindrical or cubic objects, the shells of some object from long ago. Short metal sticks; even in some places pieces of the alien, sturdy but bendable plastic material - nearly all of them burnt and melted in the edges - join the metal plates. Anything useful seems to have been picked out already.

The circular door is shut tight with no handles or windows. Those with better darkvision remember that there was a similar door on the wall in the cave where they first found Sef's tribe, but can't remember if it was identical. The door and the wall is dark gray and smooth - appearing to be made of the numerian steel, very hard to break through.

The group gathers around the door to decide their next course of action. Nameless seems obsessed with the door, combing every inch of it for any clue as to how it opens or what lies beyond.

OOC: he'll take a 20 perception check for 27 while the others are talking.

Ren opens her mouth to speak but Daken beats her to the punch.

"We should go back. We've got three ears, we should turn them in and see what kind of aid Serf will provide now."

"You mean Sef?"

Daken frowns and nods.

"Yeah, the chameleon chief. She said she could give us a reward for these and she might spill some more info about these doors. Look we don't even know how they work and there's no way we're battering our way through them..."

Chakha grunts as if Daken was issuing a personal challenge but Ren steps in as usual as the mediator of the group.

"We shall see about that but there is wisdom in your words. I would like to go back and examine the other door we saw. And you're right, maybe Sef will be able to advise us on how to move forward. Nameless, are you listening?"

But he wasn't, he was obsessing over the door.

OOC: The party will sit tight and let Chakha's fatigue wear off and give Nameless time to inspect every inch of the door. Assuming he doesn't open it they will head back to present the jinkin ears to Sef.

"You killed these?! Great news for us!" Sef reacts with surprise and appreciation when the group returns. She immediately turns away from you and walks towards her hut, talking over her shoulder and soon starting to rummage around in there. "We know they are more than three, more than ten we think. But they are cowards. Appear out of nowhere, take things, sometimes attack - then run again! But I hope this gives them a better scare than before."

Investigating the door did not reveal much of interest, but the door and wall itself was odd enough to speculate. The whole wall has an alien look to it. If one hasn't visited any of the bigger cities in Golarion, one has probably still heard of the great buildings found therein. The enormous marble temple of Abadar in Korvosa, or the much bigger pathfinders' Grand Lodge in Absalom - such buildings are well built with the kind of smooth walls that by themselves are a work of art. But this wall is made out of metal, and not any metal but skymetal. Except for a couple of scars here and there that one could have guessed were from falling rocks if they weren't almost horizontal, it all probably looks as the day the wall was made. And the door too. Thin grooves around it mark the circular door, but other than that it does not appear to be much more than just another part of the wall. It's only this, and it's size and location that makes it seem like a door - as Nameless finds no way that anyone could open it. Except perhaps jamming something into the grooves and prying the door open - a feat that would likely require great strength.

"This is for you." Sef hands Daken a brown leather pouch containing forty-nine of the small, circular, coin-like objects that are in Numeria referred to as Silverdisks. They're commonly used as currency, each being worth ten gold coins. "And I have this, as I have said. Strange things." She holds forth five strange thin strips, each about the length of an index finger and about half as wide. They're made of the same flexible and smooth material you found in the rubble, plastic. They're mostly dirty gray with no text on them, but each feature a brown stripe on one side. "Treasure, as I said. The one with the purple hair asked for us to keep watch for such things, she wanted them, so I consider them treasure. But I don't know what to have them for.

Chakha adds the coins to her pouch and once again Daken starts to protest but then thinks against it.

We'll divvy it up in the end...it's fine, she can carry it for now...

Nameless meanwhile grabs the thin plastic strips and puzzles over them a bit, flexing them with his hands. He examines the thin profile of them and then heads towards the nearby door attempting to stick the strips into the narrow grooves around the edge of the door to see if they are some kind of key.

Nameless goes to the southern door; it's nearly the same distance but less climbing, no corpses in the way, and the area does not seem to be trapped. Approaching the scorched and battered metal wall, he finds that the door is open - where the other one was shut solid he now only finds an opening five foot off the ground. Inside are corridors to the left and right, and one straight ahead - that one too with an open doorway. Outside this inner door, on the wall, sits a small black box with small, foreign symbols on them. Numbers, Androffan numbers from one to nine lined up nice in a square pattern. The corridor seems to continue through a room and past two more sets of doorways, and that's as far as he can see. There's rubble here and there, not at all as much as in Sef's cave or the jinkin caves, but some. And in the corridor, just 20 feet away from him, is a construction of some kind. A piece of furniture of a very alien design, or even a being of some sort. It has three legs, a somewhat thick upper body resting on these, and a strangely shaped, thin thing where the head would be. Two lights glow faintly from this 'head', as if eyes watching Nameless.

"You going there?" Yadriss walks up behind Nameless, hands behind his back. "You be careful. Is haunted by the dead with four arms. You can die." He seems to hold genuine respect for the area as a dangerous place, but finishes his sentence with a cruel smile.

---

"Are you going through the wall?" Sef asks the group. "Two other groups have gone before, more than the one with purple hair. Not one has returned."

Ren nods at Sef.

"We came here to find out what happened to the purple haired one and the others. So yes, we will go inside. Do you have any maps about where this goes or what's inside? Any little bit will help..."

---

Nameless nods at Yadriss. When Ren rejoin them Chakha takes the lead, marching cautiously down the hallway towards the furniture with lights. She pauses 10' away from it, halfway down and motions for Nameless to come forward and inspect it.

OOC: Pause here in case the party entering causes something to happen.
Otherwise they will proceed down the left branch first.

Chakha - Ren - Nameless - Daken

Sef draws up a crude map on a piece of paper. Soon enough, the group have themselves seen the same things that she drew on the paper: going through the circular entrance in the wall, they stand in a curved hallway with floor, walls and ceiling made out of smooth dark metal. Panels of lighter material run along the ceiling eight feet above. To the left and right, the hallway is blocked only five-teen feet from the entrance by metallic junk and rubble from ground to floor. The rubble is spread over the floor, as if someone has been digging through it for valuable items. In the short hallway straight ahead, the metallic object does on closer inspection seem to be a being of some sort. Three legs, a head with glowing eyes, and metallic strings and tubes running through the body, but no-one in the party can recognise the creature. It's entirely, eerily motionless. The area beyond the smooth wall is just as dark as the cave, only Nameless and Ren can see - but the room ahead of them is bigger than the hallway. Peeking inside, they see a tangle of what appears to have been cages, and in between the metallic wires lie organic material - it appears to be ancient bones from some long dead creature. The cage tangle is against the northern wall, to the south lie small mounds of rubble in front of a closed flat door. An open door sits straight ahead through the room, the contents of the room cannot be seen from here, but another door appears to lead back to a cave. Even though they can't see that far even through the darkness, the group knows what's there.

"Sand," Sef had said. "Sand, sand everywhere. A small cave, then sand as far as my eyes can see, in a cave that is bigger than most. And sands there are cursed, haunted by undead - skeletal creatures but arms are four!"

---

I see there's no knowledge: engineering either! :)
Edit: Daken has it! But is treated as untrained when it comes to technology, without the Technologist feat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:40, Mon 15 May 2017.

Throughout their explorations Ren grabs little knickknacks and loose pieces of rubble until she has quite the pocketful of odds and ends. When they reach the opening to the sand cave everyone readies their equipment for attack and then she starts throwing the junk into the room, one piece after another.

"If it's some kind of mechanical trap or creature it might detect the vibrations and let us get a good look at it first."

The group gathers before the final room leading to the desert cave. Within it, two strange machines sit to the north and south against the walls here. Their faces appear similar to coils of metal tubes with several nozzle-like protrusions pointing into the room itself. In order to try and discover some sort of trap, Ren goes to gather a few extra pieces of rubble - bent metal cut with sharp edges and often round angles. She picks a piece up, and the group immediately hears a metallic noise from behind. "Whzzzz!"
In an instant, a metallic net comes flying through the air over Daken's head, hits the wall behind Nameless and lands by his feet; as the immobile creature from the hallway emerges to attack the group!


Initiative:
9 - Enemy construct (AC 14, damage 0/31)

Surprise action: Net vs FFtouch
14:25, Today: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Enemy construct, rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Surprise net VS Daken.

Daken flinched and cursed as a net went sailing by over his head.

"Let's just ignore the glowing construct! Let's just walk on by without giving it a second glance!"

His sarcasm betrayed his fear as the automaton menaced the group and he jumped to the side and instinctively flung a glob of acid at the thing. To his surprise it landed dead center on the construct and sizzled and bubbled as it ate into the armor.

Move Action: Stepping aside to D6
Standard Action: Acid Splash hitting touch AC 20 for 3 pts of acid damage.


Nameless paused. He wanted to rush forward however with Chakha rumbling for a charge he hesitated to wait for the large barbarian to rush forward first. In the end his artificial brain quickly came to the conclusion that inaction was inexcusible and he did his best to run forward and attack ahead of the giant northerner.

He plunged his rapier forward but the angle was off and it slid across the metal surface causing little more then light scratches on the surface.

Move Action: Move to B6
Standard Action: Attack hitting AC 11


In Chakha's mind combat was very simple. See the enemy. Run to the enemy. Put all your weight behind your first blow. If it was still standing you repeated that last step over and over again until it was a bloody heap at your feet. Her opponent might not have guts to disembowel or blood to drain from a cut throat but she saw no reason to change battle tactics at this point. She charged. She swung with all her might. Her sword bit deeply into the construct, crumpling a whole section of what could reasonably be described as its torso.


Full Round Action: Charrrge!
Hitting AC 17 for 18 pts of slashing damage.

19:50, Today: Chakha rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  chaaarrrrrgggee!
19:51, Today: Chakha rolled 18 using 2d6+6.  damage!




Initiative:
Daken: 20
Chakha: 15
Nameless: 16
Automaton: 9 - 18 slashing, 3 acid damage
Ren: 4

12:42, Today: praguepride rolled 44 using 4d20 with rolls of 3,13,13,15.  group init (+1, +3, +2, +5).

Tiny black dots appear in the spot where Chakha hit the being with her sword - in the light from the dropped torch, they look like little bugs. Hundreds of them crawl over the metallic body, and the body actually seems to heal as they emerge - the scarred metal bending as if very slowly coming back together. The does not seem to focus much on this process, as it quickly raises a metallic, mostly cylinder-shaped hand and slams it straight into Chakha's stomach.

Initiative:
Daken: 20
Chakha: 15
Nameless: 16
Automaton: 9 - AC 14 19/31
Ren: 4

Standard: Slam Chakha, 16 to hit and 10 damage.

14:30, Today: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Automaton, rolled 10 using 1d4+6.  Slam dmg.
14:29, Today: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Automaton, rolled 16 using 1d20+6.  Hit Chakha.

Daken attempts to throw more acid into the fray but Chakha blocks any real chance of success.

Despite her exhaustion Chakha enters her final bout of rage, roaring in fury as she slams home her sword. With one last mighty swing she brings her sword down and splits the automaton nearly in two before falling to her knees in exhaustion.

Free Action: Enters rage (6th round for the day, she is done)
Standard Action: Attacking hitting AC 23 for 15 pts of slashing damage.<


The rest of the party moves forward to confrim that the construct is vanquished and Daken is prepared with acid in case it starts moving again.

The bug-sized beings continue to crawl over the destroyed body, healing it slowly - but the group quickly finishes the job, attacking it again until even the regeneration stops. It carries no weapons, but the net it previously threw as well as four more can be extracted from it's body - all of them constructed from alien, sturdy material.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:09, Sun 28 May 2017.

As is par for the course, Chakha packs away the nets, easily handling the added bulk with her massive frame. The party returns to the cavern of sand and Ren resumes tossing bits and bobs into the room to try and 'trigger' any guardians or predators waiting in ambush.

The two machines on the walls of the final room before the desert cave seem to be there for some strange purpose, but they are motionless and seem entirely dead - there's not a single light on them. Ren, standing in the room, begins tossing pieces of metal on the sand ahead. The cave turns north and leads to what seems to be an enormous sand-filled cavern... Near the wall in one place stands a large rock with many small holes and dents, it looks strange. It's large enough to nearly block the way, but one can squeeze past it. And as Ren tosses little pieces of metal on the ground... Nameless, watching it, for a moment sees what appears to be an eye, lurking behind one of the holes in the big rock. Then it disappears, as if something covers the hole again.

---

X: The large rock, with something inside?

Nameless gestures towards the others.

"There is someone or something behind that rock. Those holes allow it to spy, possibly even fire a crossbow or some thing similar from protection. I would advise caution."

Ren nodded and positioned her shield, motioning for the others to fall into step behind her. The party creeps cautiously towards the rock, eyes peeled for danger or ambush.

OOC: Moving up slooowly. Essentially they're in combat mode and taking Full Defensive standard actions (+4 dodge AC) as they move towards the rock.

As the group approaches, purple flesh shows briefly behind the holes in the rock. And then it begins to grow out. Long tentacles extend from more than ten places on the surface of the rock. The party stops, preparing for battle... And the three that are standing on the sand find themselves sinking, their feet entangled by sticky fluid in the ground! Tentacles lash out for Chakha and Ren, but the women - guarded and prepared - easily deflect the attacks. More purple, fleshy extensions from the creature in the rock work to lift it up, moving it slowly backwards from the approaching group.

---

Initiatives:
X: Aberration 20 (AC 14, HP22)
I went ahead with some actions due to high initiative.
Full round: Attack (2 tentacles)
Five-foot step.

Fortitude DC 14 or entangled for Chakha, Ren and Nameless.
Roll another save if you make it and move to another square.
Tentacles extend far enough for 10ft reach.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:48, Thu 01 June 2017.

Daken once again is the quickest to react. Seeing the tentacled beast on the other side of the wall he attempts to summon magical slumber to befall the creature.

OOC: Casting sleep. Will go off right before his next round's action.


Ren is caught and her feet sink into the ground. With all her effort she manages to slog forward to put herself (and her shield) between the rock and the rest of her group. How they would get around the rock was another issue entirely.

Entangled! -2 to attack and -4 to dex and 1/2 speed movement. She can still slog forward 5 ft though as a move action to E3 and standard action is to strike defensively.

-4 to attack for defensive, -2 to attack from entangled + 2 melee attack = net -2. Hit!

She strikes for 7 pts of B or P damage, whichever is better against this blob.

+2 AC from defensive fighting offsets the -4 DEX from entangled


Chakha and Nameless are both stuck and with Ren block the way all they can really do is aid her in trying to keep Ren on her feet.

Both of them will aid another to give her +4 to her next entangled roll


The creature attacks and Ren fends it off.

Daken's spell fires off pervading the area with a magical sense of slumber.
OOC: DC 16 sleep spell. I'll pause here to see if it lands or not.


OOC: Initiative
Daken: 25
Ren: 20
Abberration: 20
Chakha: 10
Nameless: 9


Looks like you were a bit hasty but that's fine, I'll just skip over the beasties actions and go straight into round 2 for Ren and Daken.

This message was last edited by the player at 16:21, Fri 02 June 2017.

The aberration resists the spell! Those standing in the thick, sticky mud feel something latching on to them from below - a sharp sting!


12:54, Today: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Aberration, rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Will.
A character who was entangled and remains in the area around the creature takes 1 bleed damage at the beginning of their turn.
The creature moved away, so unless Nameless moved up to D4, he's safe - and the ground around him quickly dries up meaning he's not entangled anymore.
B and P both worked fine!

Daken: 25
Ren: 20
Abberration: 20 (AC14, HP 15/22)
Chakha: 10
Nameless: 9

Daken fires off another glob of acid when it's clear his spell didn't take hold. As usual his aim is off and a spot of it hits the side wall instead of his target.

Ren, with the help from Nameless and Chakha, frees herself from the sticky, stinging mud and moves forward for another attack. Her morningstar doesn't hit the tentacle she was aiming at, instead skittering off the stone as the tentacle squirmed out of the way.

Aberration is up. I also rolled for nameless and chakha and if it matters they free themselves next round from the entanglement

Daken: 25
Ren: 20
Abberration: 20 (AC14, HP 15/22)
Chakha: 10
Nameless: 9

The creature flails with its tentacles towards Ren, missing twice!

OOC: Breaking the entangle lets you avoid the bleed damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:50, Wed 07 June 2017.

OOC: That is, Full round action - two tentacle attacks: 5, 15 to hit.

Ren sounds the retreat. This was just too awkward a positioning for the group to succeed at and it was taking all her effort to avoid being overwhelmed by tentacle attacks.

The group pulled back to the entrance of the sandy cavern, hoping to draw the monster out into the open so they could charge and flank it and attack it as a cohesive group.

OOC: Chakha moves to B6, Nameless moves to B4, Daken retreats back to A5, and then Ren will withdraw to B5. Everyone goes full defensive.

This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Mon 12 June 2017.

Ren retreats carefully, getting out of the way safely... But before she manages to reach the door, a tentacle hits her hard in the back. The monstrous tentacles extend further than she had expected! The monster moves up behind her, tentacles flailing in the air around her friends.



Initiatives:
Daken: 25
Ren: 20
Abberration: 20 (AC14, HP 15/22)
Chakha: 10
Nameless: 9

Leaving E3 didn't provoke due to withdraw, leaving D4 did - attack: 22 to hit, 6 damage.
Don't know at all what HP Ren has, so I marked where she would fall if she was brought below zero.
Move to D4. Accidentally rolled two attacks, but it only gets a standard. Also, looking at the map, it can't see Chakha where she's standing... So Attack on Nameless, miss.

Ren took a stinging bash to the back but she held it together to reach her target and spin around, ready to defend herself. Seeing the creature out and exposed allowed them to enact their "master plan"...which was turn around and charge it and pound it to oblivion.

Chakha was the first, stepping forward between the tentacles and slamming her giant sword down with full barbarian fury. With a sickening sound she buries the sword halfway through the aberration, but somehow it is still standing!

Move Action: 5ft adjust to C6
Standard Action: Attack hitting AC 23 for 13 pts of damage.


Nameless stepped forward to deliver a flanking strike however his thin blade was not very effective against the already gravely wounded creature and he was unable to finish the fight.


Daken flung more acid around completely ineffectually.

Finally Ren moved forward, again hoping to finish it off with a swing from her morningstar but again the creature was able to evade death by the aasimar's hands.




Was debating having Ren hold back to heal as she's the only one who can right now.  Thought I could risk it given how Nameless AND Daken had failed. 2 PTS OF DAMAGE IS ALL I NEEDED! CURE YOU GAMBLER'S FALLACY!!!

Anyway, what happens happens :D

Current HP:
Ren: 2/8  AC 17
Nameless: 6/9 AC 16
Chakha: 5/15 AC 14
Daken: 7/7 AC 11

The tentacles twist and shake with pain as Chakha strikes into it's flesh, through the carapace. The being seems enraged from the pain, as the tentacles gather around Chakha. Lightning-fast, two tentacles are brought down on Chakha from above - but she reacts even faster, and dodges both.



OOC: Haha, this is exciting! But I get another round with low rolls, so now it's probably over :P

Initiatives:
Daken: 25
Ren: 20
Abberration: 20 (AC14, HP 2/22)
Chakha: 10
Nameless: 9

Chakha gave a mighty roar as she brought her sword down.

"GORUM! SEE MY STRENGTH!"

With a mighty chop she split the monster in two.

The rest of the group paused to consider their situation but both Ren and Chakha were heavily injured and Ren took steps to heal them both up before the group continued forward.

Ren will CLW on both herself and Chakha.

10:07, Today: Ren Ulyms rolled 6 using 1d8+1.  CLW chakha.
10:07, Today: Ren Ulyms rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  clw Ren.

Ren: 8/8  AC 17
Nameless: 6/9 AC 16
Chakha: 11/15 AC 14
Daken: 7/7 AC 11

Man I miss Cleric healing bursts.

The group will look around for hidden treasure before continuing forward. Also keep an eye out for a place that looks safe to rest as they're getting pretty tapped out...

The group looks around. Inside the shell containing the pinkish, tentacled creature - nothing is to be found, and neither on the sandy stone ground of the cave tunnel. Nameless probably checks out the two constructions on either side of the room just before the cave chamber - metallic beings entirely attached to the wall. They seem relatively intact - no wounds, no major dents, and no signs of degeneration of any sort - and one could guess that if only given a spark of life, they could perhaps again come back to life. How this would be accomplished is though impossible to tell. Chakha, meanwhile, takes a look back in the room with the broken cages, just before the room Nameless is in. In a corner, among the rubble, she finds some items that could probably be useful:
One large metal tool resembling blacksmith's tongs. It doesn't take long to figure out how the simple mechanisms work, the front part of the tongs can be locked shut, and unlocked again.
Two silverdisks, with an unusual sparkle to the tiny lines criss-crossed in irregular patterns on both sides - distinguishing them as probably more worth than a usual silverdisk.
One rather complex object, appearing to be a tool. A black handle leads to a metal shaft with several small protrusions in different shape. The protrusions are odd enough to make one think of the head of an insect with antennae and split jaws, even though it is most likely not made to look like an insect. How to use buttons on the handle as well as the purpose of the supposed tool itself is impossible to tell.

Investigating the area further, as there is nothing more to explore in the rooms with the metallic walls and roofs, the group turns to the cave with the aberration. Only 20 feet away from the door, the cave opening with a rather different sight awaits them. At first glance, this cold cavern presents a strange and disconcerting vista-that of a desert valley under a starless night sky. A stretch of sand covers the ground, a vista broken here and there by bits of strange, spiky shells or contorted, dead fronds that look like branches. A trail turns along the cave wall to the right, and looking around the corner the group sees that it continues for as far as Nameless and Ren can see, turning away from the wall and leading straight to the east across the sand.

The area that can be seen from the cave, to the north where the cave opens, and to the east around the corner, is all sand. There is no place to rest nor escape nor hide, provided the group wants a few walls and perhaps a roof. The metallic rooms behind them or the Black Hill Caves themselves could offer walls and a roof, but with at least one unexplored tunnel and a hole into dark caverns below (both found in the chamber with Sef's tribe), the safety of these areas can be questioned. No more than half an hour away, although this includes a rather uncomfortable swim, lies Torch. That route also takes you by the corpse of the half-orc denizen of Torch that you previously encountered.

---

Providing a map for explored areas of the caves, to be found under the Game Map link :)
The first item found, Grippers grants a +2 circumstance bonus on strength checks when used as a crowbar. Can also be used for an attack: standard action (proves AoO), if hit (melee attack, improvised weapon): 1d4+7 damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:27, Mon 19 June 2017.

Although Daken is intrigued by their finds, especially by the silvery disks Ren frowns at the scene in front of them. A wide vista of sand was hardly what she was expecting.

In fact this whole cavern was quickly turning to oddities. Constructions that were far more complicated then anything she had ever seen before. Strange metals and strange devices that all made her head hurt.

...it's because you're too stupid to know what's going on...
...you never know what's going on...
...oooh, shiny bits over there!

"QUIET!"

Her companions jumped at the sudden noise. Ren looked around, nearly as startled as the rest. An awkward silence fell on the group as her companions, as ordered, were silent. Finally Ren just shook her head and sheepishly tried to apologize.

"I....uh, sorry. It's been a long day and all this is giving me a headache."

She waved half-heartedly towards the construction around them. Chakha glared and Daken and Nameless exchanged confused look. Nobody had really been talking. Nameless and Daken had been discussing trying to use the gripper device to try and force open some doors and Chakha, as usual, had been silently looking around. It was especially odd as Ren was their leader but hardly gave commands like that, and especially not to Chakha. The giant woman was still covered in gore and ichor from their last fights and the giant barbarian was not someone to anger by shouting at them.

After a few more awkward moments Daken cleared his throat and Ren nodded to let him speak.

"Uhhh...sorry Ren. Nameless and I want to try and have Chakha use these to open up that locked door back behind us. If it's shut it might have something good inside of it..."

...most likely just death...
...you'll all die down here...
...maybe could be something nice? deadly but nice?

The voices in her head were always talking and the ones she could hear almost never had anything pleasant to say. There were potentially hundreds of them, Ren had never tried counting them all but the ones she knew best were a trio she called Mr. Whispers, Mrs. Grim, and Dummy. Whispers sometimes had useful information but mostly would be vague and cryptic. Mrs. Grim mostly just commented about how Ren was a failure and doomed to die. Ren could sometimes shut her up by being happy but Grim would always return. Dummy...was just that. Easily distracted, often speaking nonsense. There were more, dozens if not hundreds mores but those would come and go while those three were always there right behind her ears.

Distracted by the voices in her head she just nodded and waved for Chakha to lead them onward. Ren was feeling exhausted having almost completely depleted her miracles. Chakha also looked exhausted, especially from after that fight with the construct at the entrance. Ren only hoped that Whispers and Grim were wrong and that they wouldn't find their death behind that door.

OOC:
Chakha will try to use the grippers to force open the door? Otherwise Nameless will start rubbing everything they found against the locked door hoping something happens :D

Chakha locks in the grippers on a small edge found along the otherwise smooth metal door, takes a good position, and pulls with every muscle in her body... A moment later, she stumbles backward as she releases the grip - the door still in a closed position. In trying to break it open, she did move it half an inch and realized that it can slide straight up into the roof - but it is way too heavy. Letting Ren be with her headache, Nameless and Daken join in to help pull on the grippers - and they all make another try. Slowly, quietly, it begins sliding open - but it's heavy work! Suddenly it slides right back down into the floor with a bang, they make another attempt, working to slowly push it up into the roof. Two minutes later, the grippers are detached and the door is stuck in the roof, in an open position like the other doors that were already open. The room beyond proves to be something of a disappointment. A few feet in, a wall of twisted metal and rubble block passage to whatever lies beyond. On the floor, among the rubble, a cylindrical metallic item can be found - one looking to be worth something as it does not appear to be broken. The cylinder is rougly 10 inches long, little less than 2 inches wide, with one transparent layer above a roughly conical metallic plate in one end, the other end just a smooth metallic surface.

Daken picks it up and examines it, turning it this way and that. With a shrug he puts it into his backpack for later examination.


10:44, Today: Daken rolled 9 using 1d20+6.  knowledge engineering.


Meanwhile Nameless starts mentally reviewing their journey and comes up with three possible avenues of exploration.

"I believe that there is a cavern structure we bypassed early on. We followed the body of the dead half-orc and then encountered Sef and her people but in doing so bypassed a cavern structure. To the north there is another set of closed doors beyond the junk pile and finally we have the journey through the sands. Looking north I did not see any exits from the northern cavern so one might surmise that the northern doors leads to a smaller set of rooms, rooms that perhaps like this one might have interesting items that can aid us in our travels."

Daken just scoffs at the idea.

"Interesting items? we've got a bunch of bits and bobs that we don't even know what they're good for. We start twisting, pushing, or pulling and we might very well blow ourselves up or transport ourselves directly to the Abyss or who knows where. We're collecting junk for all we know..."

Ren stands up and interrupts the group, her headaches passed.

"Nameless is right though, we should make another attempt at exploring that northern door before going through the sands. In fact I don't think we should go through the sands at all until we have rested. Chakha and I are both drained and it would be best to heal and rest before making a lengthy journey. We might also want to explore that cavern or ask Sef for food and water for our journey."

Daken hesitated but eventually nodded and of course neither Nameless or Chakha argued. The group left back out the way they came and headed back towards the northern door to either force open the doors or rub everything they had acquired so far around the outside of it in an attempt to somehow unlock the strange portal.

Daken realizes that he has no knowledge of this sort of other-worldly technology. The group heads to the other metal door, where they fought the last of the jinkins... This door appears different to the one they just broke open, like an outer gate to a building it is more sturdy. With the grippers and the help of the whole group, the door still does not at all respond to their gathered strength, it feels as though a group of giants would be needed to break it open. Taking a break, the group are watching the door when a drop of water lands on Daken's head. Looking up, he spots what appears to be a giant, muddy drop of water, slowly sliding along the ceiling towards the wall. Alerted by Daken, they all look up, and spot two more of these formless but apparently living beings. One slowly sliding along the ceiling towards one of the far walls, one just now about to touch the ground as it slides down the southern wall. Nameless recognizes the beings as a type of ooze creatures, these particular ones are Amoebas, they're likely quite acidic and while not large enough to completely suck a creature into them as is common in the stories - they look to be rather sticky, and will likely hold on to their victims as they attack.




+ denotes beings currently on the ceiling, the ceiling is 15 feet high here.
Initiative:
9 - Oozes

Ooze 1 AC 6 hp 15/15 (ceiling)
Ooze 2 AC 6 hp 15/15 (ground)
Ooze 3 AC 6 hp 15/15 (ceiling)

Knowledge: engineering works as if untrained for Daken, who is missing the Technologist feat!

Regarding the door: as with the southern, open one, there is no visible lock mechanism. Rubbing and swiping the cards prove to have no effect at all. Chakha taking 20 with grippers (for a total of 26) did nearly open the last door, with aid from just one person it was broken open. On this one, Chakha taking 20 with grippers and aid from three (for a total of 32) does not move the door at all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:35, Tue 20 June 2017.

Ren once again girds herself for war. Using the last of her magical strength she summons a blessing for all her allies.

Move Action: Drawing weapon
Standard Action: Bless.


Chakha strides forward, sword singing and with a challenge on her lips. With one clean slice she cuts the ooze from end to end reducing it to a sizzling puddle at her feet.

Moves to E4 and hits AC 25 for 22 pts of damage.


Seeing one of the giant blobs right above him Daken moves with full speed out of the way to avoid it dropping on him. With a toss over his shoulder he sends a glob of acid sailing up at the blob above him.

Moving to F1 and acid splashing against touch ac 11 for 4pts of acid damage.



Blobs are up! O2 is dead and maybe O1 has 4pts of acid damage on it... maybe.

Initiative -
Ren: 17
Chakha: 14
Daken: 11
Oozes: 9
Nameless: 8


22:43, Today: praguepride rolled 39 using 4d20 with rolls of 16,5,12,6.  group init (r+1, n+3, c+2, d+5).

This message was last edited by the player at 03:54, Wed 21 June 2017.

As one ooze spreads over the floor, the slash of Chakha's sword revealing a semi-transparent, soft mass; the other two slide slowly along the ceiling and walls. Rather than dropping straight down in the middle of the group, they stick tightly to the cave rock, sliding into the corners where ceiling meets wall, sliding forward, barely seeming to change shape or position when moving unlike any humanoid. The one from the roof above Daken moves in a southern direction, eventually touching the ground just between Ren, Chakha and Nameless. The other one continues in a western direction, landing at some distance from anyone in the group.


Initiative -
Ren: 17
Chakha: 14
Daken: 11
Oozes: 9
Nameless: 8

Ooze 1 AC 6 hp 11/15  - Double move, 20 ft total, to F3.
Ooze 3 AC 6 hp 15/15 - Double move, 20 ft total, to C2.

Nameless attempts to attack and skewers the ooze in front of them.

Nameless attacks O2 hitting AC 16 for 4 pts of P damage.

Round 2

Ren smashes her morning star and lands a solid blow on the otherwise unsolid enemy.

Ren hits O1 AC 19 for 4 pts of B/P damage.

Seeing Ren seemingly take care of one ooze (as it is surrounded by most of her companions), Chakha ducks over to bisect the other ooze.

Chakha 5' moves to D3 and attacks O3 hitting AC 11 for 19 pts of damage.

Daken grips his spear and moves in behind Ren to stab at the ooze as well, hoping to finish it off but somehow manages to hit only dirt with his spear, instead of the giant blobby thing in front of them.

Only a single one of the weird creatures remain somewhat whole. A ripple goes through it after the last blow, then a mass of the water-like substance it consists of bounces right back out of the same position, launching at Ren. The mass, extending like an arm of sorts, hits her right in the shoulder - the slam itself not of any significant strength, but Ren can feel the being trying to burn her skin with it's acid. The mass sticks to her shoulder, growing around the shoulder - the sticky substance and the strength of the being holding Ren hard, beginning to crush her.

Initiative -
Ren: 17
Chakha: 14
Daken: 11
Oozes: 9
Nameless: 8

Ooze 1 AC 6 hp 3/15
Attack, slam: 18 to hit, 2 damage + 2 acid (resisted).
Grab, grapple: 21 vs CMD. Constrict: 4 damage + 2 acid (resisted).
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:22, Wed 21 June 2017.

Ren struggles with the blob until Chakha walks up and drives her sword clean through it, killing the ooze and ending the fight.

Ren breaths a sigh of relief and the group readies themselves and catches their breath. With the door seemingly impossible to get through there was only the sand caverns as a way forward.

"Let us rest and recover at Sef's village, if possible."

The others gave nods, weary having fought through oozes and dark fey and strange abominations and constructs so far. When the group returned to Sef's village Ren meets with Sef to share their adventures and to inform them of what they had found and fought.

"Perhaps now you can have the chance to expand your territory and secure these areas for the future. In the mean time we would like to rest and recooperate here. Can we trust your people to watch over us while we rest?"

"We are few, but cave was not enough. With jinkins gone, we have more space now. It is a great favor from you, we will guard when you rest." Sef taking a quite formal stance, offers areas to sleep in the communal cave. Once or twice someone in the group wakes up, hearing a pair of the skulks whispering to each other, sneaking by some entrance to the cave - but apart from that, their sleep is not interrupted.

Waking up fresh and refreshed Ren suggests they poke their heads into the last unexplored part of the cavern system before continuing towards the desert. Depending on how the desert goes after a day of travel will determine if they keep going or go back to Torch for supplies.


OOC: Yep, exploring that last section next to the cave where they met Sef. Coming in on the bottom (southern) tunnel.

Temperature drops as they head down the passageway, and frost lines the walls and floor. A layer of brown dust carpets the floor of the whole cave ahead, and a body sits slumped against the wall to the left. A ten foot ledge leads to the tunnel to the north. Nameless recognizes the brown dust as Brown Mold, it might be very dangerous to get close to it, and it can be killed with such things as magically cold attacks.

Nameless throws out a hand to warn everyone else from getting to close but the warning proved to be unnecessary. The sight of the body and the frost was more then enough to cause people to pause.

"It's brown mold. Sucks the heat out of everything around it. You can fight it with frost though."

The group turns to Daken who only shakes his head.

"I know, I know, there are plenty of wizards who can summon frost at the snap of their fingers but I use acid. I'm sorry. There isn't anything I can do at the moment."

He pauses and considers the scene.

"It might be possible to use a pole or something to move the body closer and snatch it away from the mold...maybe. Or maybe a flask of liquid ice to splash and freeze the mold."

"Or maybe little caster should learn a useful spell. Globs of acid that you cannot aim haven't been much help."

Chakha's low voice from behind him makes him jump as it is rare she speaks beyond roaring challenges in combat. Her words hit home though and he falls silent. Ren considers the situation and the motions for the group to head out towards the desert.

Heading out to the desert path, going to follow the trail thingy we saw. They have 4 days of rations each I believe and waterskins.

Again, the desert opens up before the party as they leave the metal rooms. The desert is, just like the caves where they slept, just as dark in the day as they are in the night - and it's hard to know what time of day it is now. The group follows the trail, turning south and are about to head east when the sand to the south of them suddenly moves. Rising, charging at them from the sand is a skeleton with four arms but otherwise humanoid in shape. Nameless with his darkvision sees yet another skeleton to the north east, this one seems to have been hidden by the rock they can barely make out some 60 feet away, just north of the trail.

The skeleton charges up to Chakha, slashes at her with one arm, but the aim was way off.




Initiative:

18 - Skeletons


Skeleton 1: AC 14 (charge), hp 4/4 - surprise round: charge, claw (5 to hit)
Skeleton 2: AC 16, hp 4/4 - surprise round: move
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:28, Sat 24 June 2017.

The skeleton at range is just out of his 'good' aim but Daken attempts to throw a blob of acid at the distant skeleton anyway. The acid bursts onto the chest of the skeleton and the bones start to bubble and hiss as the acid starts eating through it.

Daken hits touch AC 15 for 3 pts of acid damage

Init	Name	AC	HP	Weapon	To-Hit	Damage	Status
19	Daken	11	7/7	Acid Splash	+1 touch	1d3	-
18	Skelly 1	16	4/4	Claws	+1?	??	-
18	Skelly 2	16	1/4	Claws	+1?	??	-
15	Chakha	16	12/15	Greatsword	+5	2d6+6	-
13	Ren	17	9/9	Morningstar	+2	1d8+2	-
9	Nameless	16	7/9	Rapier	+3	1d6+1	-

Resource Tracker:
Ren

• Trail Rations (per day): 6
• 1st level spells 4/day: 4 (Bane, Bless, CLW)
• Glitterdust 1/day: 1

Daken

• Trail Rations (per day): 4
• 1st level spells 4/day: 4
• Disorenting Touch 7/day: 7
• Torches: 10
• Acid Flask: 1

Chakha

• Trail Rations (per day): 4
• Rage 6/day: 6
• Arrows: 20
• Torches: 9

Nameless

• Trail Rations (per day): 4
• Nanite Surge +4 1/day: 1

The attacked skeleton charges towards Daken, the claws of one of its four arms slashing through the air in front of his face. The one close to Chakha steps up towards the rest of the group, stoping near Chakha and Ren, it's four arms slashing nearly simultaneously towards the both of them, the attacks not well aimed enough to get through their armor. In the distance, several more skeletons come running at top speed. Ren and Nameless see them all, and see them first, two or three of them get close enough for the torch Chakha has dropped on the ground to illuminate their shapes. Humanoid as they are, there is a very alien air about their shapes - entirely due to the four arms on their bodies. They each come running from the east, but from different positions to the north and south. One approaches from the rock shape that sticks out of the desert straight to the east, and as draws closer, the group can see eerie green lights hovering in front of its eyes.

Init	Name	AC	HP	Weapon	To-Hit	Damage	Status
19	Daken	11	7/7	Acid Splash	+1 touch	1d3	-
18	Skelly 1	16	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 2	14c	1/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 3	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 4	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 5	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 6	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 7	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	Q16
15	Chakha	16	12/15	Greatsword	+5	2d6+6	-
13	Ren	17	9/9	Morningstar	+2	1d8+2	-
9	Nameless	16	7/9	Rapier	+3	1d6+1	-

Skeleton 1 slashes at Chakha and Ren with all four arms, missing them both. (5-foot step)
Skeleton 2 charges at Daken, claws and misses.
Skeleton 3-7 runs (7 is in Q16, off map).
Skeleton 4: green lights in eyes.

Chakha slides into flanking position and smashes the first skeleton to smithereens.

Chakha 5' steps to D10 and attacks Skelly 1 hitting AC 17 for 10pts of slashing damage.

Ren takes the momentary pause in combat to cast a blessing upon her allies channeling her faith into a subtle guidance to their weapons and spells. With her spell cast she readies her shield and marches out into the sands, shouting at the skeletons to dare stand against her and her faith.

"Desna's song shall sing eternal and I shall dance the dance of the stars and the skies. Those who stand for the dead of darkness shall never triumph over the song of the stars!"

Casting Bless: 10 round duration
Then Ren moves out to F9 to cover for the others.

While Ren shouts at the skeletons rising around them Nameless quietly shifts into position behind the nearest one and stabs at the skeleton. He skewers it right through the neck hole and out the mouth and with a flick of his wrist tears the thing in two.

Nameless 5' moves to E6 and CRIT! on skelly with 1 HP remaining. Crits for 14pts of piercing damage.

Round 2

With Nameless taking care of the immediate threat, Daken throws acid at the glowing eyed skeleton. Unfortunately between the range and the darkness it falls short, splattering on the sand. His attack finished he moves into protection behind Nameless.

Acid splash hits touch AC 10. Daken moves to D7

Init	Name	AC	HP	Weapon	To-Hit	Damage	Status
19	Daken	11	7/7	Acid Splash	+1 touch	1d3	Bless (2/10)
18	Skelly 3	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 4	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 5	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 6	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
18	Skelly 7	12r	4/4	Claws	+1	??	Q16
15	Chakha	16	12/15	Greatsword	+5	2d6+6	Bless (1/10)
13	Ren	17	9/9	Morningstar	+2	1d8+2	Bless (1/10)
9	Nameless	16	7/9	Rapier	+3	1d6+1	Bless (1/10)

The skeletons keep on running straight at the group, one charging at Nameless - but it dodges the claws; another one charges at Nameless - this one with the green glowing eye sockets, bits of acid splattered over its ribcage from Daken's attack... The dead, evil stare catches Nameless off guard, and the claws hit where they're aimed at, slashing through its skin. One of the skeletons does not quite reach the group, but two others charge at their nearest target: Ren. Ganging up, they both sink their claws deep in her flesh.

Init	Name	AC	HP	Weapon	To-Hit	Damage	Status
19	Daken	11	7/7	Acid Splash	+1 touch	1d3	Bless (2/10)
18	Skelly 3	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 4	14c	3/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	The Green Glow
18	Skelly 5	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 6	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 7	16	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
15	Chakha	16	12/15	Greatsword	+5	2d6+6	Bless (1/10)
13	Ren	17	0/9	Morningstar	+2	1d8+2	Bless (1/10)
9	Nameless	16	4/9	Rapier	+3	1d6+1	Bless (1/10)

S3: Charge Ren, 21 to hit, 4 dmg.
S4: Charge Nameless, 22 to hit, 3 dmg.
S5: Charge Nameless, 15 to hit.
S6: Charge Ren, 21 to hit, 5 dmg.
S7: Double move

Touch AC is AC-2 for these, so Daken's attack hit when it had spent the round running!

Chakha quickly assesses the situation and swings wide to try and put opponents between her and more enemies. She takes a swing at a skeleton but misjudges the distance and her blade only succeeds in separating a few claws from a hand.

Chakha moves to F8 and attacks S6. Swing and a miss.

Ren was struggling and gasping for life after being clawed apart by the skeletons. Gasping for breath she staggers back as Chakha charges past her, giving her the room she needs to channel life bringing magic into her battered body.

Ren 5' steps to E9 (free action) and casts CLW on self (standard action) for 7pts.

13:27, Today: Ren Ulyms rolled 7 using 1d8+1.

Because she is no longer disabled the standard action doesn't inflict HP damage.

Nameless shifts and strikes hoping to take down another skeleton but his rapier gets tangled in its rib cage and while he disentangled it eventually the strike did absolutely nothing.

5' adjust to F7 and whiff

Seeing that melee combat would be inevitable, Daken readies his spear and girds himself in magical shimmering armor.

Readying spear (so he has reach I believe and threatens E6 and casting Mage armor

Daken meanwhile was panicking.

Init	Name	AC	HP	Weapon	To-Hit	Damage	Status
19	Daken	15	7/7	Acid Splash	+1 touch	1d3	Armored, Bless (2/10)
18	Skelly 3	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 4	14c	3/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	The Green Glow
18	Skelly 5	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 6	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 7	16	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
15	Chakha	16	12/15	Greatsword	+5	2d6+6	Bless (1/10)
13	Ren	17	7/9	Morningstar	+2	1d8+2	Bless (1/10)
9	Nameless	16	4/9	Rapier	+3	1d6+1	Bless (1/10)

Resource Tracker
Ren

• Trail Rations (per day): 6
• 1st level spells 4/day: 2 (Bane, Bless, CLW)
• Glitterdust 1/day: 1

Daken

• Trail Rations (per day): 4
• 1st level spells 4/day: 3
• Disorenting Touch 7/day: 7
• Torches: 10
• Acid Flask: 1

The skeletons keep clawin, fiercly with all four arms, ripping through skin and bones - leaving both Nameless and Daken dying in the sand.

Init	Name	AC	HP	Weapon	To-Hit	Damage	Status
19	Daken	15	-5/7	Acid Splash	+1 touch	1d3	Armored, Bless (2/10)
18	Skelly 3	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 4	14c	3/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	The Green Glow
18	Skelly 5	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 6	14c	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
18	Skelly 7	16	4/4	Claws	+1	1d4+1	-
15	Chakha	16	1/15	Greatsword	+5	2d6+6	Bless (1/10)
13	Ren	17	4/9	Morningstar	+2	1d8+2	Bless (1/10)
9	Nameless	16	-3/9	Rapier	+3	1d6+1	Bless (1/10)

S3: Claw Chakha, 21 to hit, 2 to confirm crit, 5 dmg. 2x claws missing ren. Crit hit again on Chakha! Not confirmed. 2 dmg.
S4: Claws Nameless, 2 hits, 7 damage.
S5: Claws Daken, 2 hits (incl. 1 crit). 12 damage.
S6: Claws Chakha, 1 hit, 4 dmg.
S7: Charge Ren, hit, 3 dmg.

Ren and Chakha decide to go down swinging. Chakha smashes S3 and adjusts back to E8 while Ren misses and holds her ground.

RIP brave adventurers. Hit 'em with your best shot!

The skeletons attack the two standing warriors furiously, Ren and Chakha each avoid many, many of the claws but there are just too many skeletons with too many claws. Chakha's throat is ripped open, she falls with her face down in the sand. Claws dig deep into Ren's abdomen, then more rip at her shoulders and arms. The pain is intense, she sees the sand rapidly approaching her face as she falls, seconds from unconsciousness and death.

The sand melts, forming one fluid mass... The yellow hue turns shadowy gray, and the fluid surface rushing towards her face becomes an unnaturally flat, solid floor. She gets her arms out underneath her, catching herself just before her face would hit the ground of the strange metal tunnels they entered on their way from the cold brown mold to the desert. Looking up, she can see the cave leading to the desert up ahead. The very same desert she just died in.

"no...No...NOO!!!"

Ren came to struggling and flailing. Thinking she was having one of her seizures Chakha came forward and wrapped her in a giant bear hug, pressing her tightly and nearly crushing her. Daken and Nameless looked on with concern as she struggled and against Chakha's might. Ren grunted and squirmed for a few more seconds before coming to her senses and after calming down she gave a nod to the giant barbarian who finally released her. Daken and Chakha just waited silently and it was Daken who was the first to speak.

"Ummm...what happened? Are you okay?"

Ren shook her head, her golden hair coming loose and flowing across her face.

"Death awaits us out there in the sands. Bones and claws...too many...too many."

"Uhhh...what? I mean they warned us about some kind of skeleton but..."

Ren grabbed him and shook him a bit in frustration.

"Dozens of them! They were all over us. We were swarmed in seconds and ripped apart seconds later."

Chakha grunted and flexed a giant bicep.

"I run from no one, not even your strange dreams. If I am to die in battle so be it. I will make it a glorious death."

Daken and Nameless didn't seem as eager to walk into some kind of threat but Ren shook her head in exasperation.

"Does Gorum teach you to throw your life away needlessly? To wage war without strategy? We have to cross the sands but we can do so on our terms. Holy water, and lots of it."

Daken considered the bulging pouch and backpack that Chakha carried, full of the treasures they had looted.

"We do have a lot of stuff. If we cross the desert and find more even muscle mountain here might not be able to carry it all."

Chakha grunted but with a sigh gave a nod for Ren to lead them back.

---

On their way back, perhaps because she was dissapointed that they were fleeing, no, delaying confrontation with their foes, when they reached the river Chakha explored a ways North, swimming to see what was around the bend.

OOC: Heading back through the river to Torch to sell, identify, and shop. Chakha's going to poke her head into the northern cavern if possible.

Chakha, swimming around the corner, finds a small beach with three corpses of halflings - according to rumors, the first group that decided to explore the caves since the torch died were a couple of halflings. Looking closely from the water, Chakha sees that they appear to have been looted - no weapons or useful items remain... But lodged under one of the corpses, a small gem sparkles in the light from her torch. At the same time, she sees - crawling over and around one of the bodies: small, gelatious creatures somewhat similar to the amoebae encountered before, but not the same creature. She also picks up a faint smell of mold.

Heading back to Torch, possibly going to fight the creatures upon re-entering the cave, the group swims through the chemical-smelling waters, through the underground tunnel, and emerges at the beach of the Weeping pond. A couple of dwarves and a human watch them from the street, as they gather themselves after the swim. More passers-by of different races watch, exchanging a couple of words - perhaps talking about the group. Market Square is a good place to buy and sell whatever one has or would want, so they walk south - occasionally cathing some warming light from the sun between the clouds. It seems to be midday. The four are just a few hundred feet from Market Square, not on a crowded street but with people walking back and forth on their right and left, when a gnome walks up to them. His facial features are somewhat odd, and he's even shorter than most gnomes, likely a kid. "Uh, you're the adventurers, right? The new ones? Mister Ulreth says to give you this, says I'll find you lookin' strange and with weapons." He looks up and down at Chakha's greatsword, stuffing the index finger of his left hand deep into one of his nostrils, digging around. With his right hand he produces a sealed, brown paper envelope and hands it over. "From mister Ulreth." he says, taking his finger out of his nose, studying the contents he got out of it before brushing it off on his pants. "An invitation, if I heard right from the mister."

Nameless recognizes the name, a Garmen Ulreth is supposed to be one of the most influential people in Torch - which is quite remarkable considering he's neither a councilor nor a legitimate merchant.

The envelope holds five papers, the first one being a message.
Rumor spreads fast around this town, and I was glad when I heard that yesterday yet another group decided to challenge the dangerous Black Hill Caves - in hopes of relighting the torch and aid our missing councilor I can only assume! You're doing our town a great favor, and in return - I hereby invite you to the illustrious tavern and card room, Silverdisk Hall! Your entertainment is on the house, and I look forward to meeting you personally.
G.U.

The other four papers are identical:
The holder of this certificate is entitled to card games and entertainment at Silverdisk Hall for a total worth of no more than one hundred gold pieces (ten silverdisks).
The certificate is valid for one week.
The papers are signed this morning.

Daken starts for the gaming hall immediately but Ren grabs him by the collar to slow him down.

"First we secure the supplies we need. Then we can go see what this is all about..."

Ren leads the group to the Market Square where they offload some of the loot they had acquired and purchasing much needed supplies.

Selling:
x3 Short Swords (15gp)
x4 Nets (40gp)
x1 Bolt of Linen (2.5gp)

Buying:
x6 Trail Rations
x2 Vials of Liquid Ice (80gp)
x4 Bottles of Holy Water (100gp)
x1 Club (free)


Once that is done the group will poke around looking for someone to try and identify some of the other items they acquired, namely the plastic strips, the fancy silver discs, the grippers and the 10' long cylinder.

Approaching the market, Nameless steers the group towards one of the stalls - that of a man named Sanvil Trett, a merchant based in Torch for months at a time before traveling to other places. This Sanvil is known for his expertise in these areas: he is an expert at identifying and understanding technological devices, and can even - just as Nameless can - read the language sometimes found on them. He's a human male with long, well combed black hair and several ornate leather bags worn in belts around his waist, and from his waist over one of his shoulders. "Hello there, everyone. Interested in buying anything?" He makes a sweeping motion over the few items he has on display. "Unfortunately I do not have much to sell at the moment. But travellers always find their way to my stall, I'm sure I'll have better stock in a week. Today I can offer delicious food kept in very compact little devices" he holds up a container of sorts, small enough to fit several in his hand, seemingly made out of a rather flexible metal material - and with a strange cork at the end. "One of these is enough for one day, for one of you, and I'll sell them at the price of six gold pieces - or two for a silverdisk!" Next he shows up what he describes as a technological bomb with a button for a fuse, easy to hold in one hand and throw.

"Ooh, you come with items of your own? I'll take a look at the lot of them for two gold pieces. Should you afterwards decide to sell me one or more, you can consider this investigation free of charge!"
The small silverdisks, the two that were somewhat different, he shows you a couple of identical ones he's currently selling - one of them even glowing with a faint blue light. "These are batteries, used to give power to small devices such as weapons. Insert them into the device and it will suck the power right out of the battery, then they're empty - such as the two you're holding. They can be used again - but must be recharged, which can be a hassle. That takes advanced equipment of the sort I've only heard can be found deep in the mysterious places hidden in the mountains around Numeria, places where the walls, floor and ceiling are made out of metal - where technological constructs stand guard! I'd pay 50 gold for each of them."

"Now to these other items. These are cards, access cards. Used to open doors. Many doors in these alien, technological areas are closed without doorknobs... Most common, is that they are connected to a power much stronger than that which can be contained in these batteries. If they are, they can be opened by a type of these cards... But not every card can open every door, and these brown cards that you carry are for that reason not worth much. 1 gold 5 silvers each. If you were to find a black card however, it could open the same doors as those brown ones - and more! I would give 5 gold pieces for one of those!"

"The cylinder is called a flashlight. It needs power from a battery, and can't be used unless you find - or purchase - one, but if you get power for it, it will light up much stronger than a torch! 15 gold pieces for that one.

"And then to this little device. It is called an E-pick, E for electronic - electrical power is what runs through devices such as the batteries. It follows the same color pattern as those cards - so this one is of better craftsmanship than what a brown one would be, although the reason for that is unclear. You use it to rig and disable different sorts of electrical devices: doors, bombs, traps, whathaveyou... I'll give you 50 gold for that.

Leaving the items, he turns his attention to the group. "So, where did you come across these items? Wait - let me make a guess! You're the ones that just came out of the Black Hill caves? Heard about it from old mrs. Venter as she passed by just a moment ago, her son had seen you come out of there. What are your plans now then? When are you heading back?"

As he talks, Ren gets the sense that there is something odd about him - for being a merchant, if that's what he is. Something about his smiles perhaps. Or maybe it is rather that he seems well equipped himself while not having much to sell...

---

Shopping list - no problems! Sorry for long post, just couldn't stop myself from telling these fantasy adventurers about the technology :D

Technological items: 2x Battery, no charges (0/10); 5xAccess Cards (brown); Flashlight, 0/10 charges; E-pick (black), enables disable device on electrical objects without penalty and with a +1 to the roll.
18:01, Today: Secret Roll: DM Ventrikel, for the NPC Ren, rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Sense motive.

Daken is about to respond but Ren interrupts him with a clear of her throat.

"We... don't really know. Thank you for your knowledge however I think we will carry these with us a little while longer."

She puts two gold pieces down and leads the rest to walk away. Once they were away from the stall Daken spun on Ren with a quizzical look.

"Is this one of your visions again?"

She glowered at him and shook her head.

"No, just a bad feeling. What do you know about the Technic League?"

Daken just shrugged.

"Not too much, same as everyone else."

"You don't find it weird that he was willing to buy everything we offered at a mint to boot but then didn't have anything to pawn off on us?"

"Maybe because you didn't ask. Maybe because he had some of those...'batteries' things and it was worth more combined."

Ren shook her head.

"No, that wasn't greed. That was something else. And how he was asking questions..."

Daken shook his head in frustration right back at her.

"Maybe he's just curious. That's what people are when an adventuring party rolls through with loot and tales from the underside."

Ren thought about trying to argue further but decided against it. It wasn't worth it and they had a gambling hall to get to. Entering the establishment it took all of Ren's wrangling to keep Daken and, surprisingly, Chakha in check as they went to one of the staff to find Garmen.

"You can gamble after our meeting..."

She glared at the two of them but this time Chakha protested.

"Given how today has gone you will find some reason for us to storm out of here and we will be left with gold that we cannot spend."

She waved one of the slips in front of Ren but Ren's will was adamant and so the party found itself delaying their gambling spree for a meeting with Garmen Ulreth.

Silverdisk Hall, north-east of the market, is a large house in the rough shape of an L. Torchlit gamling rooms can be seen through the row of windows facing the street from the top floor, the bottom floor windows are covered with thick curtains on the inside. The group opens the door, and are hit by the clamour of partying locals in this large well lit hall. Just inside the door stands a tall woman, one of her oversized boots flat against the wall as she leans against it. Dirty, ruffled hair over a face toughened by a hard life... In her right fist, knuckles covered in dried blood, she's holding the end of a rope; with her other hand she alternately wraps and unwraps the knuckles of the fist. Her gaze meets those of the group entering the place for a moment before going back to her fidgeting with the rope.

A long counter runs along the right wall, behind it two bartenders are putting forth drinks to patrons squeezing in between the passed-out men and women sitting on stools. Three large tables stand close to walls around the hall, on walls behind them sit multicolored wheels-of-fortune - not many moments pass without at least of them spinning, the clicking noise of the indicator passing the nails sitting on the outer rim of the frame soon becomes an important feature of the place's aura. A couple of smaller tables feature Technic Ticken, a game of cards spread from town to town via the large mining populations the technic league move around Numeria as they find new areas to exploit (the game itself is by the miners referred to only as Ticken).

Most patrons of the place are young or middle aged men and women, and judging by the clothes and the language they belong to the working class of Torch, and all of them are drunk. Ropefists, as the thugs are known, stand in different corners, guarding the room - all of them young, unarmed but tough-looking men and women. "Welcome, newcomers." a man has walked up to the group as they enter Silverdisk Hall, he bows and then extends a hand for proper introductions with the group. "I am Garmen Ulreth, proprietor of Silverdisk Hall."

"You are newcomers, right? To Torch? Don't think I've seen any of you before." His voice is deep and pleasant to listen to. He steps aside and shows the group to do the same, as one of the ropefists women drags a drunk, slurring 20-something man towards the exit. The man grabs at the air, as if trying to make his arms extend to reach the thirty feet to the wheel of fortune where he might have left something on the table. "Larghawah... I wanted burdavaaah..." his voice soon disappears behind the door as the ropefist drops him outside and comes back in.
"I'm sorry, we're working hard to keep Silverdisk Hall pleasant for everyone." Garmen nods towards the man who was just thrown out, then adjusts his posture to take a more formal, straight stance. "Welcome, and welcome to Torch to those of you who are new here! I trust you will enjoy your stay here."

---

Garmen will politely keep the PCs company for a short while if they wish to ask any questions or so, otherwise he will retreat to offices behind locked doors on the other side of the counter.
Gambling is the only way to get the money from the certificates (although it can be spent on drinks) - go ahead and try to win some money if you wish :) For simplicity, let's stay you can bet 10, 50 or 100gp - perhaps representing many, smaller bets.

Wheel of Fortune - Each patron selects one number from 1 to 20. Roll 1d20: hit your number: earn 15 times the gold you gambled. Each time anyone does hit their number, they get to spin the wheel twice again for the jackpot, this time hoping for their own number or for 20 - if they get it, they multiply their winnings by 4!

Technic Ticken - The house deals a card to each player, then they get to chose: another card, or stay. If the total of the cards is higher than 21, the player will lose. When all players stay, the bank deals two cards to themselves. If the bank is not higher than 21, their total is compared to each player: anyone with ah higher number than the bank wins and earns double the money they gambled. If a player manages to draw more than two cards total and win against the bank (that is, have a higher total but not higher than 21, their winnings is multiplied by the amount of cards they have. A player always wins on a first deal of 20.
Roll 1d20 for the first card and each additional card drawn, total it.
Then roll 2d20 for the bank, if higher than 21 - dismiss it, if lower: that is the bank total.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:56, Tue 04 July 2017.

Ren keeps Daken and Chakha around just long enough to make introductions before they bolt to the gambling tables. Chakha heads to the Wheel of Fortune while Daken goes to the card table.

While they gamble, Ren takes the opportunity to ask a few questions of Garmen.

"As you can see my compatriots are quite thrilled from your invitation but I have to wonder what we did to deserve your attention. Is there something in particular we might be able to do for you?"

Although Ren was polite her voice couldn't hold back the suspicions. Someone like Garmen had plenty of thugs to do errands and chores for him so it most likely wasn't a simple reason why he would shower them with attention.

OOC: I'll do some gambling and summarize it in a later post. Feel free to continue this scene on in the mean time.

Garmen smiles, spreading his hands wide in the sort of inviting gesture that makes one think 'What, does he think he owns this place?!' - and in fact Garmen does own this place. "I did not invite you to ask any favors of you, but for you to enjoy my establishment! I like to know who's who in this town, perhaps one day you will ask a favor of me - or I of you." And, with a more serious look, he adds: "Several groups - how many now, seven? Have gone into those caves before you. Sooner or later someone will find out what is actually going on down there. That is of interest to everyone in Torch, including to me. Let me offer you something to drink." He takes a few steps towards the bar, speaks to the bartender who a few moments later produces fine dwarven brews to those with Garmen and at the tables of those who have already left to gamble. Garmen, meanwhile, leans towards the bar, resting one elbow on the counter. "If you would tell me, I would be honored to learn of who you are. You do not appear to be just any ordinary people."

Ren smiles and nods her head to Garmen.

"You are correct, we are not ordinary people. We are adventurers, or so we strive to be. We are here to get to the bottom of both these disappearances and uncover the mystery behind Torch's dying light. I could see someone like you might be interested in keeping the Torch light going to keep trade coming to the region. I can also see you as the kind of person to be able to get the right information to the right ears most easily. To tide you over I will say that we have thoroughly explored the immediate caves in the black hills and while we have found a few bodies and a few signs of passage it seems that the other missing expeditions penetrated the depths far deeper then we had initially anticipated. Saving or recovering them will take quite some time it seems. Especially if we don't have access to the infamous black key card needed to unlock certain areas...

So far we have found the body of Parda Garr. I don't know if she was one of yours or not but I would appreciate if you could notify her friends or family."

Before Ren could continue there was an angry shout from the Wheel of Fortune. Chakha was pounding the table in anger having lost the last of her credits. Nameless, ever observant, was dragging her away before she could cause any damage, or decide to dig into the pouch of money they had left over from their purchases.

Meanwhile Daken was also wrapping up, only instead of anger there was smug satisfaction on his face and a stack of chips that he could exchange.

"I didn't exactly double my money but coin is coin, eh?"

Daken strolled on by towards the cashiers desk to cash out.

Later on once the group had left the tavern he swung by and picked up a potion of Cure Light Wounds with his winnings, tucking it away in his pouch for a rainy day.

OOC: I'm fine finishing up the scene with Garmen but assuming he doesn't provide them with a black access card (or a lead on where to find one) they'll head back to the caverns.

The first stop will be to use the vial of liquid ice to kill off the brown mold and loot that body. The second stop will be that northern cavern with the oozes/amoebas

Garmen listens, thoughtful - and amused at the description of him. "The black keycard? Unfortunately I cannot help you with that, of course a few of these rare items pass through my establishment - but I am not a collector. This Parda Garr... I know of that name... Oh, the fighter! Sure, I'll make sure her family hears of this. I'm certain they'd appreciate it if you could bring her body back into Torch." He turns to Chakha, smiles, then looks back at Ren. "Well, not everyone can win! Better luck to her next time. Now, if you'll excuse me..." He nods goodbye before leaving through a door behind the bar.

---

Glass shatters, and the temperature of the air that was already cold drops rapidly. Viscous liquid spreads from the vial over the brown fungus on the cave floor, and as it does - the mold moves ever so slightly while taking on a dark gray color, as if drying up. Soon the whole room features only the blackened, dried up carpet instead of the lethal, soft, brown mold. Ren, having an innate resistance to the freezing pain the mold could inflict, tries approaching slowly - and the mold seems to be completely dead. The remains of two burnt-out torches lie scattered in the room where the mold once grew. The body, sitting against a wall, is pale from the cold but not frozen. Rust-colored ribbons and fibres grow along the spine, throat and chest of the human man, and Nameless recognizes this to be russet mold, known to hatch humanoid beings known as vegepygmies from the infected bodies. The man is wearing a masterwork chain shirt, masterwork thieves' tools, a masterwork hand crossbow with 5 bolts, 75 gold coins and several glass vials that likely once contained magical potions but are now not worth more than a few coppers.

The northern room by the stream of foul-smelling water, the one Chakha previously scouted, is still guarded by three semi-liquid beings - all of them much smaller than the ones previously encountered. As the group approaches, they slowly slide over halfling corpses and cave ground to attack.

---

Initiative & stats
14 Slime 1 AC12, hp 6/6
14 Slime 2 AC12, hp 6/6
14 Slime 3 AC12, hp6/6

quick combat update here bcuz small encounter and not much time, I think we can do this one without a map :) Also, the room is now visible in the map for group 3. The slimes are all on the ground in that small cave.

Despite knowing what they were going to face the semi-liquid blobs move faster then they were expecting.

Ren and Nameless move up. Nameless sticks one perfectly and all the internal goo starts leaking out through the hole Nameless made.

OOC: Nameless hits AC 14 for 7 pts of piercing damage.

Ren likewise smacks one with her morningstar causing it to burst out in every direction.

OOC: Ren hits AC 16 for 7 pts of B/P damage.

OOC:
Nameless: 22
Ren: 16
Slimes: `3
Daken: 8
Chakha: 3

19:10, Today: praguepride rolled 38 using 4d20 ((15,19,1,3)).
(r+1, n+3, c+2, d+5).

In regards to the body from earlier, Nameless is taking most of it. MW Chainshirt, MW thieves tools and the hand crossbow. Coins get added to the party pool (aka Chakha's pouch)

The third one, the one in the back, picks up speed and comes charging at Nameless - hitting with a surprisingly strong blow.

---

17 to confirm crit, 4 damage.
Slime 3: AC 10, 6/6hp
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:13, Wed 19 July 2017.

Daken has barely enough time to summon a globe of acid to throw when Chakha moves up and cleaves the blob in two with one massive swing of her giant sword.


Just like that, all three blobs of slime are dead leaving the party free to catch their breath and search the area for any other signs of the previous expeditions.

Once their search is complete they spend the next half hour gathering up the two bodies they had found and laying them next to the entrance. Daken uses acid to carve a crude note above them:

"Found these bodies in the caves
Please take back to Torch
- Ren's gang"

Once they were set and prepared they traveled back through the skulk caves and cautiously entered the sand caverns. Ren warned the group that skeletons might spring out at them from the ground so they everyone had their holy water vials ready as well as bludgeoning weapons. Chakha and Nameless both had clubs now and Daken had spent his free time in town learning a particularly potent spell to snip the lines of necromancy that animated dead bodies.

With the slimes dead, the group looks over the three bodies of the halflings that came to Torch to try their luck at these caves. The gem Chakha previously found lies by one of the corpses, a piece of agate worth fifty-five gold.

---

The group walks into the desert - Ren warning them about the skeletons they all keep their eyes peeled. It is however only Chakha that sees the sand shift as one of the four-armed horrors rise from its position in hiding. As it does, small puffs of smoke appear before its eyes, soon vanishing to leave green lights hovering in the air just an inch in front of where the eyes must at one point have fit between the flesh that no longer covers the skull.

---

Surprise round - enter Chakha! Feel free to place your characters as you would have them walk into the desert - around the area where they're now standing. The sand is not difficult terrain.

Init	Name	AC	HP	Weapon	To-Hit	Damage	Status
?	Daken	11	7/7	Acid Splash	+1 touch	1d3	-
12	Skelly 1	12ff	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
12	Skelly 2	12ff	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
12	Skelly 3	12ff	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
12	Skelly 4	12ff	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
12	Skelly 5	12ff	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
12	Skelly 6	12ff	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
12	Skelly 7	12ff	4/4	Claws	+1	??	-
?	Chakha	16	12/15	Greatsword	+5	2d6+6	-
?	Ren	17	9/9	Morningstar	+2	1d8+2	-
?	Nameless	16	7/9	Rapier	+3	1d6+1	-