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Chapter 000 - Pre-Game Staging.

Posted by Dungeon MasterFor group 0
Dungeon Master
GM, 9 posts
Eyes Only
Mon 27 Apr 2015
at 01:04
  • msg #1

Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

When we finally get the whole group together, we'll start here:
---------------------------------------------------------------

Days ago, your group of adventurers joined a desert caravan.  Halfway across the desert, a terrible sandstorm struck, separating your party from the rest of the caravan.  When the storm died down, you found you were alone.  The caravan was nowhere in sight.  The desert was unrecognizable, as the dunes had been blown into new patterns.  You were lost.

You headed east, the same way the caravan was headed before the storm.  Days passed.  Your mounts died and you soon drank the last of your water.  The end of the desert was not in sight.

The second day after your water ran out, you stumbled up one a number of stone blocks sticking out of a sand dune.  Investigation showed that the sand covered the remains of a tall stone wall.  On the other side of the stone wall was a ruined city.

The stone blocks of the city had toppled and cracked with the passing of time.  Sand had covered most of the buildings.  The stones that remained uncovered had been scoured smooth by the blowing sands.

In the center of the city towered a step-pyramid.  It had five step-like tiers, each 20' high.  The bottom-most tier was almost completely covered with sand.  On top of the highest tier were three 30' tall statues.  The statue on the left was of a strong, bearded man holding a balance in one hand and a lightning bolt in the other.  The middle statue was of a winged child with two snakes twined about its body.  The child held wand in one hand and a handful of coins in the other.  The statue on the right was of a beautiful woman.  In her hands she held a sheaf of wheat and a sword.

On the south side of the pyramid, a ramp with stairs led from the ground to the top of the highest tier.  A quick search of the ruins revealed no source of food or water, so you decided to climb the pyramid.  In the side of the ramp, level with the floor of the top tier, you found a secret door...
Sherborne
player, 7 posts
Sat 2 May 2015
at 03:17
  • msg #2

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

"Well, it seems the Gods may have blessed us, or cursed us.  Only time will tell", Sherborne says as he moves with the group near the secret door.  "It does seem though that we really only have one choice but to enter and hope it is a blessing."
Greyband
player, 9 posts
Sat 2 May 2015
at 03:29
  • msg #3

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Standing next to Shareborne is a figure in very, very dusty underclothing. Propped on his back, separated from his flesh by an impromptu harness made of rope, was a suit of plate mail armor, positioned carefully to be as shaded as possible.

The man--tall and muscular, with clear grayish eyes and a stern expression--looks down and nods, adding with dry lips, "Inwards."

He then straps on his plate mail gingerly, trying to avoid the hotter spots and stowing his rope in his backpack before hefting his pack back on his back.
Roak The Quick
player, 17 posts
Hobbit Fighter
Sat 2 May 2015
at 03:59
  • msg #4

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

The halfling named Roak listened to the two talk, one a cleric of the faith the other a tall fighting-man, then nodded to his companion, the elf Silverglade.

"No doubt better than baking in the sun yet, mayhaps we should discuss such things as who leads, who follows, and the rest betwixt the two. Mayhaps someone with dark-sight to the front and to the back, with those who have neither in the middle."

He looked toward the secret door with squinted eyes.

"Could be trapped? Wot say ya Silverglade?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:00, Sat 02 May 2015.
Vsaati
player, 5 posts
Human Thief L1
6/6 HP 5 AC
Sat 2 May 2015
at 04:13
  • msg #5

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Vsaati takes her bow from her back and nocks an arrow, watching their flank for any sign of trouble before entering the secret door. She will be the last to enter unless someone asks her to check for traps first, in which case she carefully checks the entrance for traps or noise (which she fails to do)"Careful there, we have no idea what to expect and I don't fancy dying hungry and thirsty!"

[Detect traps 15% (failed), hear noise 3 (failed)]
Dungeon Master
GM, 20 posts
Eyes Only
Sat 2 May 2015
at 19:43
  • msg #6

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

I'm going to wait until a few more people chime in, then bump us along here.
Silverglade
player, 5 posts
Sat 2 May 2015
at 21:47
  • msg #7

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

The tall elf nods in answers to Roak's question. "You're right, it will be good to get out of the sun," he says, glancing up at the blazing orb above. He too begins to put his armor on, and the elven designed plate mail glisters like gold.

He turns to Vsaati. "Can you check for traps, as my friend suggests? he asks. "You, ahem, seem the ... type."

He takes up a place further down the pyramid than most, ready to guard the party's back. The large bow strung over his back makes it clear that he'll also be able to assist those at the front.
Vsaati
player, 6 posts
Human Thief L1
6/6 HP 5 AC
Sun 3 May 2015
at 01:35
  • msg #8

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

(She checks and fails as described above, whatever time that took is up to DM) "I looked but could not find anything, watch your tongue next time friend lest you find yourself missing a few coins." She winks at Silverglade and looks out at the scene behind them, looking for any sign of trouble or ambush.
Elboc Ice Eyes
player, 10 posts
Sun 3 May 2015
at 02:39
  • msg #9

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

  Elboc, watched Silverglade step to the rear of the party and decides he doesn't wish to allow this elf behind him, thinking,...'Something about his eyes'. Unslinging his long bow and stringing it, readying an arrow he walks to stay near but not close to Silverglade but slightly further to the rear of the party.
  He says, "I will watch from the rear". Matter of factly to no one in particular.
Greyband
player, 10 posts
Sun 3 May 2015
at 03:18
  • msg #10

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Greyband lowers his visor. "I will lead the way. Who wants to carry the torch?"
Dungeon Master
GM, 21 posts
Eyes Only
Sun 3 May 2015
at 03:43
  • msg #11

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Up to this point there has been just a hint of a breeze, giving the barest of relief from the punishingly hot sun.  As you stand, deciding how to proceed and in what order, the breeze stops completely and you are subjected to the full force of the desert sun.  The step pyramid is not steep enough to provide any meaningful shade, and the statues on the top just aren't wide enough to do so either.

You're all beyond thirsty, with eyes that feel as if they have grit in them all of the time, and lips and nostrils cracking from the withering heat.

Let me know when someone tries to open the door.  I'll need positions for everyone when that happens.
Roak The Quick
player, 18 posts
Hobbit Fighter
Sun 3 May 2015
at 03:56
  • msg #12

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

In reply to Greyband (msg # 10):

Roak gave Silverglade a nod and wink. "Watch my back will ya?"

The halfling raised his hand and marched up to stand next to Greyband. Roak retrieved his lantern from his backpack and filled it with oil. Making sure the wind had died down then struck flint to steel to set it alight.

"Ready ta go Greyband. Ready ta find sum water and mayhaps someth'in ta eat."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Sun 03 May 2015.
Elboc Ice Eyes
player, 12 posts
Mon 4 May 2015
at 05:16
  • msg #13

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 11):

<position... Elboc would like to stand to the right of the group, in the rear, with bow in hand and arrow nocked, also, his spell that is readied is the magic missile.
Sherborne
player, 8 posts
Cleric
...with a hammer
Mon 4 May 2015
at 11:26
  • msg #14

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Sherborne stands near the front hammer at the ready.
Albricht Burghammer
player, 9 posts
Dwarf
Water Finder
Mon 4 May 2015
at 12:50
  • msg #15

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Albricht was confident that they were in the right spot. There was always a path and the path had led them to this very pyramid, and this very not-so-secret door. He glared at the one that found it knowing full well had he been in front he would have done so as well - for there had to be one.

He knelt on the weathered pyramid stone and contemplated as the others discussed their tactics. From a pocket he pulled a dark speckled pebble which he wetted with the remainder of his water. His lips and mouth were dry, but the sensation was familiar to a Finder. "The choice of first to last should not be taken lightly it reveals a lot about who we are."

The dwarf placed the pebble to his lips and appeared to mumble some sort of prayer or incantation. "There is water here. I can feel it.". He glanced up at the three figures that guarded the water source. Their meaning was lost to him, but he hoped that they understood.

He too prepared his lantern. "My place is in the middle of the group."
Dungeon Master
GM, 22 posts
Eyes Only
Tue 5 May 2015
at 02:31
  • msg #16

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Let me know who advances and tries the door.
Roak The Quick
player, 20 posts
Hobbit Fighter
Tue 5 May 2015
at 03:13
  • msg #17

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

Roak approached the door, after glancing back at Silverglade.

"Here goes nuth'n!"

The halfling first looked for a latch or handle. If none is found then the halfling put his shoulder to the door and tried to push it open.

OOC:
22:09, Today: Roak The Quick rolled 4 using 1d6. Try To Open The Door.

Elboc Ice Eyes
player, 13 posts
Tue 5 May 2015
at 05:15
  • msg #18

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

In reply to Roak The Quick (msg # 17):

 Ready with bow pulled back and aiming at the middle of the doorway, Elboc is waiting.
Dungeon Master
GM, 23 posts
Eyes Only
Tue 5 May 2015
at 05:50
  • msg #19

Re: Pre-Game Staging - Chapter 000

The door seems to initially resist Roak's efforts, then slowly gives, a foul smell issuing from behind it.  A dead body, apparently that of a hobgoblin, is slumped against the door from the inside.  It has a crossbow bolt sunken deeply into its chest, which is fairly obviously what killed it.  From inside a mechanism can clearly be seen which triggered a now-empty crossbow on the wall opposite the door.

A short passage runs 20' into the pyramid, perpendicular to the steps that ascend the ziggurat, then turn left (north) for another 20', at which point the passage ends at a closed door with no obvious latch or handle.

While just as dry inside as out, the interior passage gives some relief from the smothering heat outside.  Even the smell of weeks-old dead hobgoblin isn't enough to overpower the sense of relief you feel being able to get out from under the punishing sunlight.

I'm going to start another thread for exploration.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:51, Tue 05 May 2015.
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