Korvosa’s vast graveyard, a place known as the Gray District, is a mournful place even by day. Alone in the city, this place is quiet and calm in the face of the civil unrest, yet this calm is an unnatural stillness in the air, almost as if the graveyard were preparing itself for a vast influx of new dead. Certainly, this ominous feeling is nowhere more noticeable than in Potter’s Ward, the final resting ground for Korvosa’s poor and homeless. Mounds of unmarked
dirt stretch far and wide, indicating sites of mass graves, while crumbling mausoleums from years ago, abandoned by their families as the Gray District expanded to the west, dot the bleak landscape, forgotten and empty. Mourners do not visit here, for the dead buried in Potter’s Ward leave behind few who regret their passing.

Locating the mausoleum described by Elkaris is a relatively simple task. No sign of Gaekhen’s body remains in the area, although Figs finds the presence of a man’s tracks and a wheelbarrow
trail. More interestingly, several smaller humanoid tracks, each bearing only four toes, clutter the site as well. These tracks lead into the mausoleum itself, where Kraw discovers a poorly hidden secret trap door in the floor that leads down into the dark.


Figus, having heritage of the underdark, recognizes the tracks as those belonging to derro. Pale blue fey similar to gnomes yet notoriously wicked and evil. With a weakness to bright lights they make their lairs deep in the darkness. Their twisted little minds give them an uncanny resistance to mental effects and they have an array of small illusionary powers to daze and disorient attackers. Finally, and most importantly, is that the race tends to rely heavily on poison to compensate for their small stature and poor sight, typically favoring a spider venom that weakens attackers and makes them easy prey.

OOC: To translate
- Strong Will saves
- Vulnerability to Sunlight
- Can cast Darkness, Daze, Ghost Sound and Sound Burst
- Weapons, especially ranged weapons, are typically coated in spider venom that does STR damage


Nice passive skill checks rolled all around!

Figus takes a look around and pulls out his Antitoxin. "Bottoms up folks. We are going to need them."

Once everyone, who will be taking a dose, gets theirs out Figus raises his hand in a toast "To life!" and downs it.

Kraw unstoppers his own antitoxin and downs it, happy that he was prepared for this.

Kyra drinks a vial of antitoxin as well before proceeding. She really wishes she took more than vial with her before they came here. "Oh, well..."

Ayeesha as well, leading the way down.

Descending down the stairs the party finds a large room is supported by four wide pillars of stone. The ceiling above arches in a dome nearly twenty feet high. The walls are lined with skeletons caked into the mud, human bones mostly, but here and there smaller bones might be from halfings, or perhaps children. Fifteen-foot-square pits sit to the east and west, each filled with a large heap of hundreds of bones. To the south, a crude hole has been gouged into the wall, providing access to a tunnel.

In the dim light Figus spies a large set of bones that seem oddly organized in the eastern pit while in the western one Kyra spies six human skeletons that seem too perfectly arranged although they do lie motionless.

"If these things animate, we will need blunt weapons to destroy them. I got a mace for such cases, but saps will not do much. Kyra, Kraw, how are you set for that?"

As Figus is talking he draws a mace and a potion of Mage Armor to feed to his dog.

Ayeesha patted her mornign star. "Not the same as the greatsword, but it'll work in a pinch."

Kraw says "any heavy bones around that'll act as a club?"

"Bashing things in melee is not my forte, but I have something else that will work if needed." Kyra takes out a flask of holy water from a pouch. And just in case, she armors herself with a spell before continuing.

Mage Armor up.

Kraw turns back to look for something that will make a serviceable club. Minutes later he comes back with a stout tree branch, picking off side branches as he moves forward. He says "the heavy winds last night left a few branches like this topside. I'm ready to move forward."

Going back down the stairs they see the suspicious skeletons are still in their respective piles.

OOC: We'll keep your positions on the map the same and consider this your surprise round. You can make a single standard action at this point and then we'll enter initiative turn order.

FYI Turn order will be:

Kraw: 14
Kyra: 13
Figus: 11
Ayeesha: 4

You can also use this time to adjust your turn order if you'd so desire

"Some acid, anyone?" Kyra offers flasks of acid to anyone that wishes to take one. Once they are ready and in position she will anoint her magical deck with a holy balm before throwing a flask of holy water where it could do the most damage.

Got 4 flasks of acid if someone wishes one. Best target for Kyra is skeleton at J8 (or J7) to maximize splash damage. That big one on the other side looks like a problem though.

Figus readies a club and his light mace and waits to see if the skeletons animate saving his actions for that moment.

"No thanks, I'm trying to quit," she smirked at Kyra while pulling out her morning star.

"Dibs on the big one," she continued as she moved off towards the larger skeleton, weapon drawn. She was unable to charge it and make sure the bones weren't, erm, attached. So instead she took up position between the big skeleton and her friends.

---

Sorry I've been slow, should be better now.

Move to I16 with morning star drawn I guess I'll roll an attack of opportunity if needed.

15:57, Today: Ayeesha rolled 16 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 11.  power attack of opportunity.
15:58, Today: Ayeesha rolled 10 using 1d8+7 with rolls of 3.  damage +4 strength, +3 2 handed power attack.

Kraw moves to L15 and readies his club. He then looks around in case the skeletons were bait for a different sort of trap.


15:14, Today: Kraw rolled 20 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 10.  Perception .
This message was last edited by the player at 23:14, Thu 23 Jan 2020.

Round 0
Kraw moves into position. He doesn't spy any other traps in this area.

Kyra lobs her holy water and makes a direct hit in the middle of the skeleton pile. The holy water sizzles and burns and the bone it splashes on starts crumbling to dust. The skeletons start scrambling up, grabbing broken blades and armor but two of them don't seem to be able to stand before crumbling.

Ayeesha gets into position to block the large skeleton.
Round 1

The skeletons scramble out, one rushing towards Kraw while the other moves towards Kyra and Figus.

Kraw swings at the skeleton with the barely-familiar weapon.


19:29, Today: Kraw rolled 11 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 5.  Club attack.

19:29, Today: Kraw rolled 4 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 3.  Club damage.

Figus swings with him mace at the skeleton near him, but the attack is weak and unbalanced, and hits at a bad angle. Figus was also not happy that Kraw was out there by himself and coudl be easily surrounded by the undead.

"Alpha, pull it down!" and the faithful wolf moved forward to trip the skeleton on Kraw.

22:30, Today: Figus Dva rolled 20 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 18.  CMB Trip sk4.
22:29, Today: Figus Dva rolled 26 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 19.  Handle Animal Maneuver (Trip) sk4.
22:27, Today: Figus Dva rolled 8 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 2.  Attack sk2.

Kyra backs away from the undead, her hand drawing a card from her magical deck. With a swish the card sails to strike at the skeleton in front of her.

5' step back to E13, throwing a card at skely 2. Assuming a hit (bah, minimal damage), there's a DC 10 reflex check to avoid another 1d4 holy damage next round.
09:19, Today: Kyra rolled 20,5,2 using 1d20+7,1d4+2,2d4 with rolls of 13,3,1,1.  Point blank shot (Attack, damage, holy damage).

OOC: OK following Figus' advice, I rolled a second attack. I'll let you decide whether my last AoO happened or not (I'm guessing not) and whether you want to use this new roll when she moves in and attacks wherever the big skellie ends up.

14:54, Today: Ayeesha rolled 16 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 11.  power attack big skellie.
14:54, Today: Ayeesha rolled 14 using 1d8+7 with rolls of 7.  morningstar damage.

Round 1 cont.

Kraw swings his club and hits the skeleton but doesn't appear to do any damage although with a animated skeleton it's hard to get a gauge on its condition.

Kyra flings a card and while the card doesn't seem to do any damage the burst of holy energy causes a giant portion of its chest and skull to crumble into dust and the rest collapses shortly afterwards.

Another skeleton moves up from the pit advancing on Figus only to get jumped on by Alpha and torn apart as the wolf shakes the rib cage lose of the necromantic magic.

Skeleton #6 advances up and moves towards Kraw.

The big skeleton ignores the stairs and just paws its way up the side of the pit. Ayeesha grips her morningstar with both hands and smashes it down but while she takes a chunk off of it the giant skeleton doesn't seem hampered by the strike.

With a giant swipe of its claws it opens up a pair of lacerations across her cheek, just barely missing taking out an eye.
OOC: Ayeesha takes 7 slashing damage from the claw attack

Ayeesha continues to pound down on the thing with her morningstar but the thick bones just aren't cracking and splitting.

Round 2
A skeleton brings down it jagged blade at Kraw but a quick parry with the club blocks the strike.

Figus uses the pillar as cover to close with the Big Skeleton and wacks it with his mace


23:11, Today: Figus Dva rolled 4 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 1.  Damage.
23:11, Today: Figus Dva rolled 19 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 13.  Attack.

Kyram moves closer to the melee to get a good shot before throwing another card of hers. But this time the card just passes through the skeleton without connecting.

Move to I14, attacking Skely 6. Missed.
08:33, Today: Kyra rolled 13,6,3 using 1d20+7,1d4+2,2d4 with rolls of 6,4,1,2.  Point blank shot (Attack, damage, holy damage).

Kraw, unused to toe-to-toe fighting, keeps the pillar partially between himself and skeleton #6, granting them both partial cover from the other. With a vocalized "a little help here?" he strikes again with his club against skeleton #4.

00:18, Today: Kraw rolled 11 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 5.  Club attack.

00:18, Today: Kraw rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  Club damage.

Round 2 cont.
Kraw engages with the skeleton but doesn't find a good opportunity for a critical strike.

Kyra approaches a skeleton from behind but her card sails over the shoulder of the undead creature.

Figus steps up and cracks his mace down on the big skeletal beast. While it is hard to gauge damage on undead he did take off a chunk of its shoulder blade.

A skeleton takes a sweep at Kraw but he throws up his club in time to intercept. The big skeleton finishes climbing out of the pit and slashes out with its claws landing hits on both Figus and Ayeesha.

OOC: Figus takes 10 damage, Ayeesha takes 7

Ayeesha responds by slamming her morningstar down on the creatures back. It shudders and then starts to fall apart, crumbling to dust.

Round 3

A skeleton strikes at Kraw with its broken blade but Kraw ducks and the skeleton lodges its blade into a crack in the pillar behind Kraw, catching the blade and leaving it momentarily defenseless.



This message was last edited by the GM at 22:09, Tue 04 Feb 2020.

OOC: Shit, sorry I missed last round! Will try to catch up.

Ayeesha, wounded again, watched her opponent crumble to dust for only a second, then whirled, ducked to the North of the pillar and moved to flank one of the remaining skeletons.

---

Move to J13, moving North around the pillar to her left.
17:07, Today: Ayeesha rolled 21 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 14.  bonk skeleton with morning star.
17:07, Today: Ayeesha rolled 11 using 1d8+4 with rolls of 7.  damage.

Kyra moves to the side to get a clear shot at the remaining skeleton.

Moving to L11, attacking skeleton 4.
07:33, Today: Kyra rolled 25,4,4 using 1d20+7,1d4+2,2d4 with rolls of 18,2,3,1.  Point blank shot (Attack, damage, holy damage).

Kraw circles the skelly to flank it, then lays in hard with his club.


02:56, Today: Kraw rolled 25 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 17.  Club attack.

02:56, Today: Kraw rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  Club damage.

+1d6 sneak attack damage if needed.

Despite the wound, Figus moves to help finish off the remaining skeletons

11:33, Today: Figus Dva rolled 9 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 6.  Damage.
11:32, Today: Figus Dva rolled 25 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 19.  +2 more if flanking.

The last of the skeletons crumble to dust leaving the dead warrens once again cold and still. The tunnel to the south splits into two branches. The western branch has a faint sour odor to it of sweat and musk while the eastern branch has the faint stench of death and rot.

By the flickering of torchlight, Kraw examines the ground at the split, looking for recent signs of usage along both passages.

While Kraw does that, Kyra fishes out a wand from her belt to heal what wounds the party has taken. And before they move on, she wishes to examine the piles of dust left behind their undead foes. Not that she really expects to find anything of value, but it can't hurt to check.

5 charges used to completely heal both Ayeesha and Figus. I've already used 2 charges before on... Kraw, I think? So, down to 43 charges.

Using Detect Magic to check for loot.

Ayeesha sighed and smiled at Kyra as the healing energies of the wand washed over her.

"Many thanks," she replied to the smaller women with genuine gratitude as she caught her breath.

At the branch she shrugged and let Kraw do his thing, peering down each passage in the dim light. "One's as good as the other, I'm sure we'll take both brances sooner or later. But I guess I'd rather find life than death, so unless anyone has a strong preference, let's say West first?"

Kyra doesn't find anything of obvious magic in the room however while facing South at the extreme edge of her detection and slightly down at an angle she can detect a faint magical aura of unknown magical type.

She is too far away to tell where it is coming from exactly but if they follow the tunnels South and look for some way to go down about 5' then they should find what she is detecting.

Kyra frowns as she stares south. "There's something magical down here. Maybe an item or spell on our necromancer, or one his minions? As for what tunnel to take, I don't like the smell of either, so it's all equally bad to me."

Still have another holy water, a holy balm and some acid to take on the undead, but the rest of the party may be more effective against something they can take a stab at.

"West it is then, unless there are objections," she replied to Kyra and lead them down the West passage, her greatsword out.

The corridor leads to a larger cavern that is rank with the stink of sweat and mud. Four filthy straw pallets and a low table covered with dice and a miniature maze of carved clay. Two creatures that look like blue gnomes with wipsy white hair are standing around the maze. One is holding a bloody hammer while the other is reaching for something.

They are derro, rare subterranean offshoots similar to gnomes and fey but with a notorious streak for violence and cruelty. There had been rumors of them living underneath the surface of Korvosa and are often used in boogieman tales to small children. "Be careful or the dero will snatch you away."

It seems there is some truth to those tales.

The derro both reach down and grab up strange looking crossbows that have boxes on top of them where the bolts would normally go. They fire at Ayeesha and Kraw then pull down on a lever in a swift motion causing the crossbow to cock the string again.
OOC: Ayeesha takes 6, Kraw takes 11 damage

Round 1




This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Tue 18 Feb 2020.

Kraw whips out a potion of Infernal Healing and swallows it. He then moves forward to V-7, pulling out a pair of daggers.

Pull out potion with Quick Draw. Free action
Swallow potion, Standard action.
Move to V-7. Move action.
Draw 2 daggers with Quick Draw. Free action.

Infernal Healing. Grants Fast Healing I, lasts 10 rounds.

Her greatsword in hand, Ayeesha raged and charged the Derro. Lord only knew what these buggers could get up to if you gave them time to pull their tricks. Best to end them quickly.

---

Free: Enter bloodrage
Full: Charge to U6, attack V5 hits AC 17 for 15. Maybe? 17?
22:27, Today: Ayeesha rolled 17 using 1d20+11 with rolls of 6.  +3 BAB, +5 str (with rage) +2 charge +1 mwk +1 destined strike -1 power attack.
22:28, Today: Ayeesha rolled 15 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 1,4.  hit maybe? +7 from 21 str, +3 PA.

With weapons in hand, Figus moves forward to help Kraw, if there is room, or Ayeesha if there is none.

13:24, Today: Figus Dva rolled 8 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 5.  Damage.
13:24, Today: Figus Dva rolled 15 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 9.  Scimitar.

Kyra runs forward as well to get a clear shot at their assailants.

Move to S5, attacking Derro at V5.
20:14, Today: Kyra rolled 25,5 using 1d20+7,1d4+2 with rolls of 18,3.  Point blank shot (Attack, damage).

Kyra moves forward and fires off a bolt into the closest Derro.

Kraw chugs a potion and advances on the enemy.

Ayeesha puts all of her rage and focus into her strike as she cuts down the derro in a spray of blood. Surprisingly the derro gets back up, silently snarling at her as it clutches its torn chest and tries in vain to stem the blood pouring out.

Figus steps up to slash with his scimitar but the derro throws its crossbow at him spoiling the strike as it falls to the floor.

The heavily wounded derro steps back and fires point blank at Ayeesha. Although dangerous this time around she knows what to expect and while the bolts hurt they aren't quite as deadly as before.

The other derro points its fingers over the shoulders of Kraw and Figus before closing its fingers into a fist and pulling down sharply. A high pitched whine erupts in the party's ears. Alpha starts barking wildly as the noise rapidly increases in intensity soon becoming an incredibly painful ear piercing shriek. Trickles of blood start pouring down earlobes  as ear drums are pushed to the breaking point.

OOC: Everyone (but Alpha) takes 8 pts of sonic damage and must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be stunned

Round 2

Kyra shakes off the effect of the spell and pulls out a wand to heal herself.

I'm not sure anyone besides Kyra is able to use the Wand of CLW, so I have to play it safe and heal up, in case one of them survives to next round and can pull that trick again.

14:25, Today: Kyra rolled 20 using 1d20+1 with rolls of 19.  Fort save.
14:42, Today: Kyra rolled 6 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 5.  CLW.

Ayesha shook off the stunning sound and steeped up, intending to finish what she'd started with that wounded derro.

---

Hits AC 15 for 15... If it hits

22:55, Today: Ayeesha rolled 15 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 2,6.  Damage if hit.

22:54, Today: Ayeesha rolled 15 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 6.  Attack +3 BAB, +5 str (with rage)  +1 mwk .

22:52, Today: Ayeesha rolled 26 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 17.  Raging fort save; 3 base +5 from 21 raging con +1 cloak.

Kraw tells Figus "press him from the front, I'm going over." With the momentum from his previous move, Kraw steps on the low table and launches himself to Y-7, landing behind the Derro. From there, he and Figus can flank the little monster and bring him down.

Fort save 19 (posted in PM)

23:43, Today: Kraw rolled 21 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 11.  Acrobatics to Y-7.

23:42, Today: Kraw rolled 10 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 1.  Dagger attack, flanking.

23:42, Today: Kraw rolled 5 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 1.  Dagger damage.

23:42, Today: Kraw rolled 7 using 1d8 with rolls of 7.  Sneak stab damage.

Round 2

Kyra fights through the vertigo and pain to pull out the wand and tap herself for a bit of healing.

Kraw flips around to the other side of the derro but it is quite nimble and while it can't stop the move it has its crossbow up and ready to block Kraw's stab.

Ayeesha charges forward barreling over the derro and striking hard, cutting the pale grey gnome nearly in half with her sword.

OOC: We'll give you a charge bonus for that extra +2 ;)

Figus steps forward and bashes the creature on its shoulder dealing a strong blow.

---

Round 3
The derro drops its strange crossbow and pulls out a wicked short blade. While barely larger than a dagger it has a channel built into the blade and what seems to be some kind of vial of a clear liquid set into it near the hilt. Drawing the blade from the sheath the vial clips the edge and shatters spreading the liquid along the length of the blade as it turns and stabs at Kraw.

It stabs out and Kraw backpedels, expertly dodging this way and that avoiding the slick covered blade over and over and over again. The creature becomes enraged, focusing all its attention on Kraw and leaving it completely exposed to the others.

OOC: Critical fumble. The derro loses its dex to AC for all attacks this round. Reflected in the stat block below






This message was last edited by the GM at 22:32, Mon 02 Mar 2020.

Kraw takes savage advantage of the opening in the derro's guard...and slashes through its artery in a passing strike.

Sneak stab damage allowed due to flanking and flat-footed condition.


14:48, Today: Kraw rolled 24 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 15.  Dagger attack, flanking.

14:48, Today: Kraw rolled 6 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 2.  Dagger damage.

14:47, Today: Kraw rolled 11 using 2d8 with rolls of 5,6.  Sneak stab damage.

After taking care of herself first, Kyra runs behind Kraw to deliver some healing to him as well.

Derro is likely dead already. Move to Y5 and tap Kraw with the wand.
13:40, Today: Kyra rolled 8 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 7.  Wand CLW.

Ayeesha moved in closer with her sword dripping blood from the last Derro, and proceeded to try to cut this one's head off, with an annoyed look of resignation on her face.

...
Hits AC 19 for 13. If he goes down, she'll drop her rage. Actually either way she will.
16:33, Today: Ayeesha rolled 19 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 10.  attack .
16:33, Today: Ayeesha rolled 13 using 2d6+7 with rolls of 5,1.  damage.

Figus takes advantage of the dwarf's distraction and strikes with his scimitar and mace. The scimitar leaves a scar.

08:41, Today: Figus Dva rolled 4 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 1.  Scimitar damage.
08:40, Today: Figus Dva rolled 21,12 using d20+8,d20+8 with rolls of 13,4.  Scimitar, mace attacks.

With the derro caught off guard the heroes make quick work of the devious little gnome giving themselves a chance to breath. The air was silent and they realized that neither derro had spoken a word, not even crying out in pain as they were cut down.

Looking around the group finds little of value besides the odd crossbows. On the table is an elaborate maze that housed a rat inside of it, running around and around inside of it. Next to the maze were a half dozen ordinary stones with runes cut into them, a hammer and a pair of pliers covered in blood.

Ayeesha and Kyra notice something unusual about the far wall and working together they find a secret tunnel. The tunnel is sized for a derro to crawl through and would be a very tight fit for anyone of human size. Opening up the tunnel lets loose a waft of rank air filled with rot and death causing those smelling it to have to hold back nausea. Wherever the tunnel leads, it does head in the same direction Kyra had noted the magical auras from earlier.

Kraw wraps and packs the crossbows. The weapons were exotic enough to be worth some gold, he guessed.

When the second derro finally falls, Kyra concentrates on healing the wounds party has taken before looking over the newly discovered tunnel.

"I don't like how tight this damn tunnel is. And the stench... ugh. But there could be something magical down there." She casts a spell to light the tunnel, trying to determine how far it goes.

Casting Dancing Lights and having them move down the tunnel as far as they can go. Are those magical auras she detected earlier moving by any chance?

Kraw already got healed for 8 hp, so with his fast healing he should be ok. Kyra taps Figus once for 6 hp, and Ayeesha three times for 15 hp. That takes the wand down to 37 charges, I think. This thing is really paying itself off.

Figus takenthe time to examine the the dagger the derro used and checks both for any more of that strange liquid. For now he will take the dagger and the sheaf, but will hold the dagger in his left hand. If any more of these vile creatures are here, he is planning to give them a taste of thier own medicine.

OOC: How long will the poison stay on the dagger?

HP 17/25. Fast Healing I 7/10 rds left

"My nose says no way," she says, looking down the tunnel following Kyra's dancing lights with her gaze.

"But why else take the trouble to disguise a door if you don't want people to stay out of there? Seems like we need to go down, as tight a squeeze as it is. But yes, healing would be appreciated greatly, Kyra. Whatever you can spare. There are unexpected dangers down here, we must be ready."

Kyra once again senses the magical auras and confirms that as best as she can tell they haven't moved around.

The dancing lights illuminate a narrow tunnel. Judging by the light the tunnel only goes about 20' before hitting a solid obstacle, likely a door similar to the one they just opened.

Figus has no idea what kind of poison was added to the dagger. It likely will not last very long given that the derro had a mechanism to add the poison only upon drawing the blade. Looking close they could see the blade and sheath were designed so the wielder could draw it or sheath it one way to not break the vial insert while drawing it a different way would break it and spread the poison along the blade as it was drawn.

Like the crossbow it is quite the ingenious invention.

Kraw says "I can contort myself to reach that door. But I'd be facing whatever is there alone unless one of you can join me. Still, this is what scouts are for..." Kraw keeps one blade drawn as he makes his way through the tight tunnel. Once there he checks the door for traps or locks.

20:28, Today: Kraw rolled 28 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 20.  Escape Artist .
Natural 20!

20:27, Today: Kraw rolled 14 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 4.  Perception
This message was last edited by the player at 03:28, Tue 10 Mar 2020.

Moving through the tunnel the smell only gets stronger. Opening the door on the other end reveals a large open cavern. The majority of this space contains a nasty-looking stretch of
mud—a partially collapsed sinkhole—kept damp by rivulets of water seeping from the walls. A patch of solid ground extends into the mud to form an island, on which is heaped a reeking
pile of body parts. To the north, a rickety wheelbarrow sits on its side against the wall.

As Kraw scans the room he sees a large creature similar to the ones they faced in the streets during the riots: an otyugh currently happily munching down on a corpse. It pauses every now and then to let loose a belch that causes Kraw's stomach to flip over and over again.

Kraw quietly closes the door and reports "an otyugh feasting on corpses. Nothing we need corcern ourselves with."

Kyra listens to Kraw's report before speaking. "There's probably some other way to get there then. I doubt anyone would go through the trouble of dragging corpses through this tunnel. It might still be worth checking out later, as there does seem to be something magical there."

Looking at the map, I think we got here through entrance at square P13. If so, there's still a passage at S14 and stairs (down? up?) at T13 left to explore. What do the rest of you think?

If we are skipping the tunnel, I'd still like to return later to search the place (after killing the monster, of course).
This message was last edited by the player at 09:30, Wed 11 Mar 2020.

Figus nods "We are here to find the boy. I doubt they would dispose of his body in this way. Lets us circle around."

Kraw points back the way they came. "Look, another passage to the right. It might lead where we are going. Say, I've an idea. Why don't we trade the Otyugh these freshly killed derro bodies in exchange for whatever trinket you detected? Dead dwarves will just rot here, so might as well make good use of them."

"We are here to find the boys BODY! Are we really so sure he isn't in there with the otuyugh? Do we really want to take a chance we'll have to return it AFTER it passed through the otuyugh? I say we kill the beast and search the room. We know there's something interesting in there."

She shrugged at kraws plan. "Not sure we're going to be able to bargain with a carrion-eating monstrosity. I think I'd rather try to take it by surprise, put it out of our misery," she winked.

Kraw points out "to take that thing out, you would all need to squeeze through that small tunnel first. I doubt we could get more than one person through that door and quietly into the room before it noticed us...not unless they were reeeeally stealthy."

Kyra shrugs. "Either way it looks like we will have to deal with that otyugh sooner or later. If we are not going through the tunnel we should look for another way to get there.

Heh, I actually forgot why we were here in the first place. I'm fine with going through the tunnel or circling around. If there's a wheelbarrow there that means there must be another way to get there, possibly through necromancer's lair.

"So that's a 'No' on trading it the Derro bodies?" Kraw asks. He'd been rather proud of the notion.

Exploring the narrow tunnels the party finds more and more tunnels leading to other secret access doors. It appears like the derro have burrowed these tunnels to move around unseen. One of the tunnels leads back to the entrance in one of the skeleton pits. Two other doors are found, one leading South and another leading Southeast.


OOC: Map updated and zoomed out to better show overall map

Kraw checks the first tunnel to the south. Despite the narrowness, it must be passable or the Derro would never have dug it.

It looked like they had a front door into the otyugh pen, but Ayeesha waited for Kraw to check out the southern tunnel, ready to back him up.

"Busy little bastards, aren't they?" Kyra whispers as they explore the tunnels dug out by the derro. She waits for Kraw to report back before continuing.

So, those stairs in the room with derro lead back down to where we are? Also, we still have not explored the main tunnel in the center of the map, right?

OOC: Yeah, they go up and over the main tunnel so the two stair cases connect to one another.

Kraw carefully peaks through the Southern hatch and sees a lone derro working over a corpse on  table. The derro has his back turned so the hatch movement isn't noticed at the moment. The corpse on the table doesn't appear to be the size or markings of a barbarian, instead it looks thin and weathered, likely a vagrant the derro had picked or  retrieved from the gutters.

OOC: Is Kraw able to squeeze through that passage?

OOC: Yes. You won't be able to fight but you can wiggle through it like an air vent :D

Figus signs to Kraw to wait, and then points to the rest of the party and makes a circling motion.

If Kraw nods in understanding, Figus and those who follow will circle around to the entrance of this chamber. Once in position, the plan is to rush the derro and let Kraw come at him from behind.

Kraw nods and waits. Once the group has left he slowly and quietly squeezes through, timing his arrival with the others.

Kyra flicks one end of her shawl over her shoulder and blends into the shadows as she creeps behind Figus.

I suppose we are taking the main tunnel leading southeast?
18:13, Today: Kyra rolled 17 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 2.  Stealth.

The group creeps into place and maintains the element of surprise. The otyugh feasting in the other room makes a lot of noise covering up the sounds of battle and footsteps.


OOC: Surprise round = 1 standard action. Use it wisely :D

Also I've uploaded a second map to Group 1 that is a zoomed out version of the entire map to help you maintain your orientation as you go deeper

Figus take a step towards the dwarf and swings with his scimitar (if in reach, or moves adjacent if not)

---

15:43, Today: Figus Dva rolled 6 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 3.  Damage.
15:43, Today: Figus Dva rolled 11 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 5.  Scimitar attack.
15:41, Today: Figus Dva rolled 12 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 8.  Initiative (+2 if not Urban).

Kyra steps to the side to get a clear shot at the derro before flinging one of her cards at him.

5' step southeast and attack. Probably a miss?

21:23, Today: Kyra rolled 18 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 12.  Initiative.
21:24, Today: Kyra rolled 12,6 using 1d20+7,1d4+2 with rolls of 5,4.  Point blank shot (Attack, damage).

Kraw charges from the cleft to flank the derro and stab deeply.


13:41, Today: Kraw rolled 12 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 2.  Acrobatics .

13:41, Today: Kraw rolled 14 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 5.  Dagger attack, flanking.

13:41, Today: Kraw rolled 6 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 2.  Dagger damage.

13:40, Today: Kraw rolled 4 using 2d8 with rolls of 3,1.  Sneak stab damage.

Almost certainly not able to attack from where she stands while keeping the element of surprise, Ayeesha simply moved in drawing her greatsword as she went.

OOC: Moves to ... well wherever Figus isn't on the left side of the Derro. She's pretty sure the otyugh can't get through to them through the narrow crack, but wants to be closest to it in case she's wrong.

The derro barely has time to react as the adventurers set upon him. Caught unprepared the dark gnome is quickly cut down.

On the table that the derro was working at is a dead body that currently has four stirges attached to it. The stirges are gorging themselves draining the body of blood. Next to the table is a small cage where a few more stirges are buzzing around eager to get their taste of blood.

To the East is a set of stairs that lead to a long hallway where the walls and ceiling are decorated with skulls embedded into them.

To the Southeast is they otyugh that continues to feed. A quick check and Kyra confirms that the magic she is detecting is coming from the pile of bodies the otyugh is standing on top of.

"Guess we have a date with that thing after all," she whispered but obviously meant the Otyugh.

"You wanna try to talk to it Kraw, be my guest. We might be safe in here, I'm not sure but I don't think it can squeeze through that passageway."

OOC: Depending on the answer to Kraw's question about putting the stirges out of their misery, might have to do that first...

Figus nods toward the East. "That would be the way. The Otyugh is just a dumb beast and is probably used to get rid of garbage. They would not go through that room. There is no point in killing it at this point."

In reply to Figus Dva (msg # 86):

"Sure, if you're prepared to ignore whatever magical item the Otyugh is standing atop. The things understand Common. The best Diplomat among us ought to bargain with it. Trade 3 fresh bodies, the three Derro, in exchange for whatever the magic item is. Or, we just kill it and take it. I'm fairly certain that distracted as it is by its meal, I can get a good first strike in on it. Decide, team. East, or magic. And by what means?"

Figus scratches his chin "We are here for a mission. It would be nice to recover some loot, but fighting that thing would just take time and reduce our effectiveness for uncertain gain. Lets save it for later."

"Ah, I'm with Figus on this. We can certainly come back afterwards and still find whatever magical is in that pile of bodies. Well, probably anyway, that thing might eat it first, of course."

She takes a quick covert peek at the beast busy eating corpses before asking Kraw a question in a worried voice.

"Kraw, just how sure are you that this thing understands common? Or any language, or that it is anything but a mindless ravenous beast? I admittedly have no knowledge whatsoever of its kind, but it does not exactly look like the type that would be open to negotiations."

"Our mission is to recover a body. That's what it eats? Among ... other even less appetizing things," she shuddered involuntarily.

"I have no desire to tangle with it, I've had my share of being tangled in Otyugh tentacles for this lifetime. But I am not convinced our Gaekhen isn't in there. Being eaten. Or bits of him at least. Seems this is where they take bodies for disposal. Seems to me even if we push on, we're might be coming back here to fish poor Gaekhen out of an Otyugh belly. I'd rather try to take care of that before it gets that far."

But she shrugged, not wanting to hold things up.

"But hey, if you all want to press on, just saying, you get the first shift sifting through Otyugh guts."

"I doubt the necromancer would have thrown away a freshly bought body away to be eaten, but it is still possible, yes." Kyra shrugs. "Alright, let's check out what the beast has been snacking on. As much as I dislike the idea of rummaging in a pile of corpses now, I hate the idea of searching the beast's stomach later on even more."

This thing looks like it could be nasty in melee. I still got a Web spell, but I'm not sure using it is a right call here? Might do as much harm as good. Btw, do we even know what the dead kid looks like?

"Perhaps if we can talk to it, we can trade it the bodies of the derro to take a look around its den?"

Kraw says "we'll need a good spokesman. Me, I have trouble lying to blind men. They might not see my facial expressions, but they feel them."

"These are not simple animals, nor are they very bright. Here is the plan, we grab the bodies and dump them in the corner of the room, then while its eating them we do a quick search. If the one we are looking for is not in one piece, we failed anyway. If it attacks us, we kill it, but otherwise lets just try to stay out of its way.

Ayeesha, you with that big sword of yours, stay ready to hack if it moves to attack us."

Unless someone objects, Figus goes to retrieve the bodies of the killed derro.

"Hacking I can do," she smiled happy to be tying off this loose end.

She watched Figus heft the Derro and followed him into the otyugh room.

The otyugh is defensive at first. It shuffles to protect its pile of food from interlopers but when presented with more food, and fresher food at that it happily shuffles over to begin inspecting and nibbling on the fresh (and not so fresh) bodies provided.

Still it seems rather defensive when someone tries walking down the steps towards the central pile of bodies. Apparently it viewed anything in the pit as its territory. A cursory inspection of the bodies still uneaten don't show anything matching the description of their quarry. These seem to be more bodies of the poor and homeless judging by thin frames.

OOC: Stealth check vs. DC 15 to sneak down and search for the magic item while the otyugh is distracted. Keep in mind that without detect magic it would be difficult to find valuables in all the muck (DC 25 perception check) but just calling out instructions would instantly fail the stealth check as the noise would attract the otyugh...

Kraw uses a Detect Magic SLA before creeping down to the pile so stealthily that his own team loses sight of him.

Detect Magic

01:30, Today: Kraw rolled 30 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 18.  Stealth .

While Kraw sneaks into the pit, Figus  fingers his weapons and whispers "I thought we are looking for a body not an item? Hope he is not noticed."

"We are, but it does not hurt to check for whatever is giving away that magic signature either." Kyra whispers back as she flicks one end of her scarf over her shoulder before joining Kraw in search of the bodies. While Kraw focuses on searching for the posible magical item, she will focus on looking at the bodies themselves, in the unlikely case the one they are looking for is down here after all.

Likely just wasting time, but since I have +15 to Stealth it's not like I can fail this roll.
22:10, Today: Kyra rolled 31 using 1d20+15 with rolls of 16.  Stealth.

Oh, you just had to push it though!

I believe nat-1s don't auto-fail skill checks, fortunately!

Ayeesha positioned herself as close as she could without antagonizing the beast, but not sneaking in. It wasn't really her style. But she was ready, should the otyugh so much as twitch wrong, to charge in with greatsword swinging.

Kraw and Kyra sneak down and poke around through the pit. They quickly find a wax-sealed vial that radiates magic although neither of them can figure out what kind. It looks important or at least valuable.

While poking around they also find beneath a few recent bodies on top the lower half of a Shoanti warrior. Big powerful legs decorated in tattoos although there is no sign of the upper half. It is possible the otyugh ate the upper half but the legs are cleanly removed with surgical precision so it seems unlikely these are the ragged remains of an otyugh meal.

Covering behind a pile of bodies, Kyra indicates the body part to Kraw. She tries an experimental pull on the legs to see if she can dislodge them from the pile, wrinkling her nose in disgust as she does so.

Kraw shakes his head 'no' and emphatically indicates a retreat is desired. Shifting the bodies would catch the otyugh's attention, and why threaten their success? He starts back out silently.

It is their mission to recover the body, even if it is in pieces. Kyra tests the legs and finds that they can be moved quite easily...well as easily as a large barbarian's severed leg can be moved. Each leg weighs about 30-40lbs. Gaekhen was not a small man.

Kraw recovers his nerve and moves to aid Krya in removing the lower torso from the pile.

With Kraw's help Kyra starts moving the body, or what's left of it, back to safety before the beast returns for dessert.

If the otyugh noticed it didn't seem to mind with the pile of new bodies for it. Kyra took one leg and Kraw took the other and soon the party had pulled the severed legs back to the laboratory near the stirges.

Figus nods "Good job, but I feel it will do us little good without the head, and I do not think that thing eat it. Looks like we need to continue."

Kraw nods. "Look at the surgical precision with which the legs were cut. What use would a necromancer have for specific body parts? Is he trying to build a creature made from several species? Or some undead humanoid monstrousity using the bodies of other dead humanoids?"

"Possibly. It looks like I was wrong about Rolth not throwing away a fresh corpse. Or part wrong anyway." Kyra says as she examines the recovered body parts. "Hopefully the grandfather will not be too angry when the body is returned in pieces. Oh, well, not our problem. Kraw, mind if I take a look at what you found there before we continue?"

If Kraw does not mind, Kyra will try to use Detect Magic to determine what they found.
20:02, Today: Kyra rolled 18 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 10.  Spellcraft.
With this roll she'll only do so if whoever made it had caster level 3 or less.

Do we carry the legs with us? Or stash them somewhere until later?

Kraw hands over the tube as requested.

OOC: Is there some sort of knowledge[shoanti] roll I can make to know what would be acceptable on a recovery like this? Given that I'm not training in ... umm .. anything?

Ayeesha just looked a little smug, and looked like she was trying not to, as the legs were recovered.

"Might as well leave the legs here, no point in dragging them along. When we find the rest of him, we can grunt them back to the Field Marshall."

She nodded down the passageway to the East, deeper into the Warrens. "Kraw, you wanna do the honors and take a sneaky peek to see what's ahead? Or want me to just glomp on through?"

Kraw nods to the lively battlerager. After a quick search of the dissection room, he leads the way out the east passage, quietly and observant.


02:03, Today: Kraw rolled 28 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 16.  Stealth .

02:02, Today: Kraw rolled 22 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 12.  Perception .

The walls and ceiling of this tall hallway are encrusted with dozens of yawning skulls, their mouths open into dark holes in the walls. Most of them are human or humanoid although there some unusual ones. Kraw sees some big toothy ones that look like orcs or particularly tusky half-orcs. He sees three skulls with snake-like fangs jutting out. One skull even looks like a dragon's skull but smaller and compressed.

At the end of the tunnel is a doorway but it is closed and Kraw does not hear anything moving behind it.

Figus shakes his head "I do not like this at all. This just smells like one big trap. What do you guys think?"

Kraw says "so far the derro we have encountered were not organized defensively. I highly doubt this is a trap. Hang back if you must" he adds as he looks over the door for (you guessed it) traps.


13:18, Today: Kraw rolled 12 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 2.  Perception .

13:17, Today: Kraw rolled 23 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 11.  Disable Device .
This message was last edited by the player at 20:18, Wed 08 Apr 2020.

"No one sad anything about hanging back. I am just saying that we need to be extra cautious."

16:36, Today: Figus Dva rolled 10 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 1.  Perception.

Kyra is all too happy to leave the body parts here for later. And she has no problems with hanging back until party experts can check the place for surprises.

Ayeesha was usually at the front, but in this case, traps really weren't her forte. She hung back with Kyra, letting Kraw sniff it out.

Kraw finds the door is unlocked and swiftly unlocks it. As far as anyone can tell there is nothing unusual about the corridor except for e creepy skulls on the walls.

Kyra dislikes those creepy skulls starring at her, so she double checks there's nothing funny here before continuing forward.

Call me paranoid, but this place is strange. Detect Magic on, looking over the skulls and the corridor. Any magic around here?
07:52, Today: Kyra rolled 23 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 14.  Perception.

Kraw, somewhat unnerved by the skulls, uses his Detect Magic as he looks over the decorations for signs of movement. It would not be difficult to obscure a skeletal guard among the stationary skulls.

00:25, Today: Kraw rolled 14 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 4.  Perception .

Figus commands Alpha to stay and waits for Kraw and Kyra to finish their observations of magical and mundain.

There doesn't appear to be anything magical in this corridor or in the rooms beyond the door near Kraw.

"Yeah ok it's creepy. But if we don't see anything, best we just get on with it, no?" she whispered to the group, but hadn't go into the hall yet.

A little embarrassed by his caution, Kraw moves forward silently. Alert for any movement or sound.


00:01, Today: Kraw rolled 19 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 7.  Stealth .

00:00, Today: Kraw rolled 27 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 17.  Perception .

OOC: To clarify, Kraw has passed through the creepy skeleton head hallway and is at a door that he then unlocked. Is Kraw opening up the door and proceeding?

Everyone else is clustered by the entrance to the hall looking around making repeated perception checks but nobody is following Kraw.

The map has been updated accordingly.

Figus and Alpha are moving in to the room to back up Kraw.

Kraw opens the door and proceeds (using those rolls for stealth and Perception).

Kyra enters the corridor as well, still uneasy about those damn skulls. She creeps up next to the door Kraw has just entered.

Moving to top-right corner of the corridor.
09:34, Today: Kyra rolled 30 using 1d20+16 with rolls of 14.  Stealth.

The rest of the party moves into the corridor and about halfway through the hallway several skulls on the wall start to quietly move. The snake-like human skulls pull away from the wall revealing hidden alcoves where a bony snake-like body had been curled up inside.

They silently descend down the walls and move forward to attack...


As this is happening more skulls open their mouths and a greenish acidic mist starts spraying out dousing the hallway with stinging acide. Kraw and the skeletal snakes tucked into alcoves avoid the the spray. Krya is also able to gain shelter by what appears to be a partial ogre skull.

OOC:
Ayeesha takes 3 pts of acid damage
Figus takes 3 pts of acid damage
Alpha takes 4pts of acid damage</orange>

---

Round 1

Figus lets out a hiss through his teeth, of course this corridor was trapped. He quickly grabs a Tanglefoot bag and throws it at the nearest creature/trap or whatever these things are.

---

Draw Tanglefoot and throw it at T22

14:46, Today: Figus Dva rolled 23 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 18.  Range Touch attack (Tanglefoot).
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Wed 15 Apr 2020.

She swore as the acid burned her, the inevitable trap triggering and sending them into peril. Moving south, she let her rage overtake her, then assaulted the closest snake-thing, hoping to give Kyra some protection.

---

Moving to Y23, but avoiding X23 and the attack of opportunity. Draw greatsword as part of move.
Free: Rage - +4 strength and con, -2 AC +2 will
Standard: Attack with greatsword, hits AC 17 for 14 damage


22:09, Today: Ayeesha rolled 14 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 3,1.  damage +7 str +3 PA.

22:09, Today: Ayeesha rolled 17 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 8.  attack with greatsword, +3 BAB +5 str +1 Mwk +1 destined strike -1 PA.

"Eeeek!" Kyra yelps as the snakes descend on them. She digs out a vial from her pouch and throws it at the easiest target she can spot.

Acid vial on snake 2 (snake 3 has cover from her). Miss because of range (unless their AC vs touch attacks is lower), 1 point of splash damage only.
07:58, Today: Kyra rolled 13,3 using 1d20+3,1d6 with rolls of 10,3.  Acid vial (Attack, Damage).

Can't get Web off right now as I can't catch two of them without also getting Ayeesha. I'll default to throwing stuff and healing the party. Maybe that's for the best, Web could come in handy later.

Kraw moves to S-23 and tries to hit necrosnake #1 with his club. He says "these things are like skeletons. Blades don't hurt them as much as maces and clubs. Someone help me here?"


00:24, Today: Kraw rolled 23 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 17.  Club attack.

00:24, Today: Kraw rolled 4 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 3.  Club damage.

Round 1
Acid mist dripped down from bleached bone and the fumes stung the nostrils of the living. Watery eyes revealed the bone white snakes slithering forward, dripping fangs bared to strike.

Kraw ran up and smashed a necrosnake, cracking some of its bony spine.

The necrosnake snapped back at Kraw but the tengu swept his wing and the snake only hit air.

The other two snakes cautiously moved up, swaying and snapping their maws but not striking yet.

Ayeesha roared with rage, sweeping blade down and nearly severing a skeleton...but the bone's didn't break and the magic binding it didn't snap and it was still moving and slithering across the ground although with the snake version of a limp.

Figus flings out a tanglefoot bag entagling one of the slithering snakes.

Kyra takes a step back before flinging a vial of acid at the wounded snake. It bursts on the ground near it spraying it with droplets of acid that sizzle and burn on the exposed bones.



*Raging - +4 STR, +4 CON, -2 AC, +2 Will
*Entangled - -4 DEX, -2 attack

"Kind of got our hands full down here at the moment!" she cried up to Kraw.

"That one's entangled, isn't it? Stuck to the floor with Figus' bag? If so, come down here and help us with these, then we can swing back up and finish yours off later."

She swung again, stepping in between the two snakes to make some room for Figus or Kraw. She heard what Kraw said, but it seemed that there was enough of an advantage with her greatsword compared to her morning star that it made sense to just keep swinging and hope to bash through any resistances they had.

---

5 foot step to X24 to make room for Figus and /or Kraw and block Kyra
Hit the one she hit before (X23?) for 14 (minus whatever DR they have)

16:29, Today: Ayeesha rolled 24 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 16.  GS attack with +3 BAB +5 str +1 mwk -1 PA.
16:29, Today: Ayeesha rolled 14 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 3,1.  damage +7 str +3 PA.

Kraw presses the attack, slamming the necrosnake again in the skull.


16:03, Today: Kraw rolled 16 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 10.  Club attack.

16:03, Today: Kraw rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  Club damage.

Kyra pulls back from the snake. She does not like the look of those fangs at all.

Sorry about that, I did not notice Figus was waiting on the snakes. Gotta just pull back in that case (unless Alpha's square becomes available).

Withdraw to U24.

The snakes go altogether. The combat should just be they go, we go, they go, etc.

Round 2

Kraw strikes a snake with his club cracking bony spines along the side.

The snake strikes back but Kraw dodges the attack.

Another snake moves up and strikes at Kyra but its fangs are stopped by her magical armor.

The third one rises up, swaying back and forth rhythmically, back and forth...back and forth... it is almost hypnotic in its movements and Kyra, Ayeesha and Figus find themselves entranced by its movements...

OOC: Kryra/Figus/Ayeesha make a DC 11 Will save. I will continue the update once I know the results.



*Raging - +4 STR, +4 CON, -2 AC, +2 Will
*Entangled - -4 DEX, -2 attack

Figus is not ... swayed by such tricks and resists the charm

17:01, Today: Figus Dva rolled 16 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 12.  DC 11 Will save (assuming its a charm).

23:29, Today: Kyra rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12.  Will save.

Well poop

22:16, Today: Ayeesha rolled 7 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 3.  +2 from rage.

Kraw batters at Necrosnake #1 again, then steps back to T-24, hoping to draw it into the open.


01:13, Today: Kraw rolled 17 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 11.  Club attack.

01:13, Today: Kraw rolled 3 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 2.  Club damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:16, Thu 23 Apr 2020.

Kyra and Figus shake off the distraction but Ayeehsa finds herself drawn in, barely able to concentrate on anything else.

Ayeesha continues to stare at the swaying snake.

Figus smashes the snake next to Kraw splintering it further.

Kyra puts some space between herself and the snakes.

---

Round 3
Kraw continues smashing the snake over and over again with his club. It is looking very badly cracked and many of its spines are missing or broken but it still continues to move and try to atack back.

The snakes snap and strike but because they have to coil up before striking it is easy for the adventurers to judge when an attack is coming and even Ayeesha with her mind fogged from magical means is able to keep the snakes out of striking range with sweeps of her sword.


*Raging - +4 STR, +4 CON, -2 AC, +2 Will
*Entangled - -4 DEX, -2 attack
*Dazed - cannot take actions, no penalty to AC though

"Pretty... pretty ... snake."

With Ayeesha out of action Figus has no choice, but to as Alpha to help. The faithful hound sinks its teeth into one of the unnatural snakes and tries to pull it down. Meanwhile, Figus smack the snake next to him with his mace. Hopefully it will be enough to put the thing down for good.

---

Move Action: Handle Animal
Standard Action: Attack

Alpha moves and attacks

16:17, Today: Figus Dva rolled 14 using 2d6+6 with rolls of 5,3.  Damage.
16:16, Today: Figus Dva rolled 26 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 20.  Confirm.
16:16, Today: Figus Dva rolled 26 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 20.  Mace attack.
16:15, Today: Figus Dva rolled 4 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 3.  Damage.
16:15, Today: Figus Dva rolled 13 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 11.  CMB Trip.
16:14, Today: Figus Dva rolled 5 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 3.  Confirm crit.
16:13, Today: Figus Dva rolled 22 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 20.  Alpha attack.
16:12, Today: Figus Dva rolled 13 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 6.  DC 12 Handle Animal (Attack x2).

With no clear target for her ranged attacks, Kyra falls back to trying to keep the rest of the party alive through this. She draws a wand from her belt and starts healing.

Draw wand of CLW, 5' step to V24, tap Ayeesha first, as she is in greatest danger.
07:25, Today: Kyra rolled 3 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 2.  CLW.

Kraw smacks the necrosnake again but his strikes are getting weaker with time.


00:19, Today: Kraw rolled 14 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 8.  Club attack.

00:19, Today: Kraw rolled 2 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 1.  Club damage.

Round 3 cont.
Ayeesha continues to be memorized by the movements of the snake.

Alpha isn't particularly happy that the bones he loves to chew on are now moving but Figus convinces him to make a game of it and he jumps up, latching onto a large spine and ends up wrestling the snake to the ground as Alpha tries to rip it off.

Kyra taps Ayeesha and the last of the barbarian's wounds heal.

Round 4

Kraw is able to flip over the dog and the snakes to set himself up for a flanking maneuver next round.
OOC: I took some liberties here but the roll passed. If you'd rather stay in the back be my guest. As an alternative someone can spend a move action to drag Ayeesha back a square. She'll take an AoO however that does get her out of the way. Up to you.

If you flip over though it consumes your whole movement due to the distance involved.


The downed snake gets back up and Alpha tries to bite it again but fails. The snake bites back at Alpha but the wolf jumps back out of the way of the strike.

The other snake bites down on Ayeesha's thick calf and starts scratching her leg.
OOC: Ayeesha takes 1 pt of damage and must now make a DC 11 fort save


*Raging - +4 STR, +4 CON, -2 AC, +2 Will
*Entangled - -4 DEX, -2 attack
*Dazed - cannot take actions, no penalty to AC though

Figus will drag Ayeesha out of the way and step up to fight the snakes.

Still dazed, she didn't even notice that the snake had wounded her. Fortunately it didn't seem to bother her.

21:17, Today: Ayeesha rolled 14 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 8.  fort. save.

Kraw assists Alpha by slamming his club at a critical joint on the necrosnake between them.


22:01, Today: Kraw rolled 24 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 16.  Club attack, flanking.

22:01, Today: Kraw rolled 7 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 6.  Club damage.

22:00, Today: Kraw rolled 3 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,1.  Sneak stab damage.

Kyra continues healing the party, focusing on the most vulnerable member of the party first.

Hitting Alpha with the CLW wand next. Another 1, bah.
13:56, Today: Kyra rolled 2 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 1.  CLW.

Round 4 cont.

Ayeesha shakes off the poison without even realizing she was bit.

Figus pulls her away and she takes another bite in the process but is now safe from the front lines.
OOC: 2 damage. Also another fort save DC 11 please

Kyra hits Alpha with a little curing magic to heal the wolf's wounds.

Round 5

Kraw smashes a necrosnake right in the back of its spine and while it does a lot of damage the thing is still up and active.

The snakes snap at Alpha and Figus but both the ranger and his pet evade and avoid the snake bites.



*Raging - +4 STR, +4 CON, -2 AC, +2 Will
*Entangled - -4 DEX, -2 attack
*Dazed - cannot take actions, no penalty to AC though


This message was last edited by the GM at 18:29, Thu 30 Apr 2020.

"Lets finish one then the other." Figus exclaims as he swings at the one in front of Alpha. He hits, Alpha misses.

---

16:38, Today: Figus Dva rolled 4 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 1.  Damage.
16:37, Today: Figus Dva rolled 21 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 15.  Attack.
16:37, Today: Figus Dva rolled 5 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 1.  Alpha attack.

Kraw wades in, finishing the necrosnake biting at Alpha.

15:01, Today: Kraw rolled 19 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 11.  Club attack, flanking.

15:01, Today: Kraw rolled 6 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 5.  Club damage.

15:01, Today: Kraw rolled 4 using 2d4 with rolls of 2,2.  Sneak stab damage

With nothing better to do, Kyra keeps healing those actually in combat.

Wand of CLW on Figus.
09:45, Today: Kyra rolled 4 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 3.  CLW.

Round 5 cont.

Ayeesha continues to stare into space.

Alpha looks for an opening but can't find one and just snaps.

Figus smashes a snake...

Round 6

...and Kraw finishes it off, smashing the skull wide open and the rest of it falls to the ground.

The last snake lets out a few bites at Figus but nothing comes close to hitting.


*Dazed - cannot take actions, no penalty to AC though

Dum dee dee.

Kraw steps to Y-23 and crushes the last ne rosnake with his club.

00:06, Today: Kraw rolled 15 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 7.  Club attack, flanking.

00:05, Today: Kraw rolled 5 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 4.  Club damage.

00:05, Today: Kraw rolled 8 using 2d4 with rolls of 4,4.  Sneak stab damage.

Figus and Alpha both attack and hit.

---

12:34, Today: Figus Dva rolled 5 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 3.  Trip.
12:33, Today: Figus Dva rolled 3 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 2.  Damage.
12:33, Today: Figus Dva rolled 20 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 18.  Alpha attack.
12:32, Today: Figus Dva rolled 3 using 1d6+1 with rolls of 2.  Mace damage.
12:32, Today: Figus Dva rolled 7 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 4.  Scimitar damage.
12:31, Today: Figus Dva rolled 25,21 using d20+6,d20+6 with rolls of 19,15.  Mace, Scimitar; with flanking.

Healing Ayeesha again. Bit of a waste, but if we are approaching a boss battle every hp might be important. Not like I can do much else right now anyway.

09:57, Today: Kyra rolled 8 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 7.  CLW.

Kraw and Figus batter down the last of the necrosnakes and the hallway goes silent once more.

OOC: Combat has ended.

Kraw: 25/25 HP
Figus: 24/25 HP

Alpha: 10/13 HP

Kyra: 12/15 HP

Ayeesha: 25/25 HP

"Well, that was a different kind of trap. This place ... I really, really hate it."

Figus puts away his scimitar. It has just not been as useful here as he was used to. With his mace in hand he pokes around the remains of the things to see if there is anything which may be worth salvaging.

After a few moments Ayeesha comes out of her trance. "What? Where? Where'd they all go? The snakey thingS?"

Kraw says "we crushed them. You okay, Ayeesha? You looked mesmerized for a minute there....."

Kyra heals Figus' animal companion before healing herself for good measure. She then creeps up to the passage to see if the fight has attracted any attention.

12:38, Today: Kyra rolled 2,7 using 1d8+1,1d8+1 with rolls of 1,6.  CLW (Alpha, Kyra).

Taking a peek in a new passage.
12:40, Today: Kyra rolled 23,29 using 1d20+15,1d20+9 with rolls of 8,20.  Stealth, Perception.

Peeking through the next door Kraw spies another derro hard at work. Overall the room looks like some kind of laboratory with wooden tables stacked with vials, beakers, and other alchemical gear. A table to the south is heaped with broken vials and the derro is at work replacing a broken leg with a crude piece of scrap.

Three large cauldrons sit against the east wall, one of them upended. Its foul, rancid contents of rendered fats have spilled over the floor.

Figus touches Kraw lightly and whispers "Let me go first. I will cut off his retreat into the entryway he is by. you make sure he does not get to the other exit in the south."

Assuming Kraw agrees, Figus moves quickly into the room and activates the magic of his shirt to move behind the derro.

Kraw agrees, then taps Ayeesha on the arm. "There is a doorway to the north as well. When I rush in to cover the south door, you go north. We will box him in then take him down."

"Sure thing," she nodded more than spoke. Then she followed Figus and Kraw in, taking up a position NW of the Derro.

OOC:What's Figus' shirt?

Kyra nods as well and gets ready to follow the party inside. She puts the wand back under her sash and draws a card from her deck instead.

The element of surprise is complete. Figus is able to run behind the Derro before it even gets a chance to draw its weapon. Kraw and Ayeesha finish the encirclement while Alpha and
Kyra stay in the back.

Kraw uses Quick Draw to draw two daggers as he says "we're here for the body of the Shoanti. Give us that, and you might survive the next minute."

Figus does not tale any chances with the hard fought for surprise and strikes the Derro with both weapons.

---

15:05, Today: Figus Dva rolled 6,5 using d6+3,d6+1 with rolls of 3,4.  Scimitar, mace damage.
15:04, Today: Figus Dva rolled 12,14 using d20+6,d20+6 with rolls of 6,8.  Scimitar, mace attacks.

Not ready to go all out on the little derro, Ayeesha attacks without raging. It is less effective than it could have been, but still leaves a mark (if it hits).

---

Hits AC 12 for 9 if... yea guess it hits somehow? This guy seems suspiciously weak...
21:47, Today: Ayeesha rolled 9 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 1,4.  GS damage.

21:47, Today: Ayeesha rolled 12 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 5.  attack with GS.

Kyra moves to the side of the room to throw her card at the derro.

Sorry about only posting now, for some reason I forgot I did not post yet.

Move to T30, attacking. No idea if cauldrons provide some kind of cover to it.
19:54, Today: Kyra rolled 24,4 using 1d20+7,1d4+2 with rolls of 17,2.  Point blank shot (Attack, damage).

Round 1
Figus brandishes both his weapons but the derro grabs a vial from a nearby table and throws it in Figus' face. The chemical smells horrible but doesn't seem to do any lasting damage other than ruining Figus' attack as he has to step back to wipe the stinging liquid from his eyes.

Kraw speaks to the Derro but the Derro doesn't react or respond, glaring silently at the bird.

Ayeesha steps forward and the Derro ducks under a table and the heavy wood takes the chop instead.

The derro is trapped but instead of surrendering or even considering it he grabs a shortsword at his belt and turns to stab Figus. The blade is small but wicked sharp and the derro can slash out rapidly with it scoring three small cuts across Figus' chest.
OOC: Figus takes 3 points of damage


Krya takes position behind a large cauldron and braces her crossbow against the edge letting her get a solid shot in that hits the Derro in the gut.





This message was last edited by the GM at 19:30, Mon 11 May 2020.

Kraw Quick-draws a second dagger, and tries to bury both daggers and his beak in the Derro's back as he faces Figus.

Quick Draw, 2 weapon fighting

11:39, Today: Kraw rolled 15 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 8.  Dagger attack, flanking.

11:39, Today: Kraw rolled 6 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 2.  Dagger damage.

11:38, Today: Kraw rolled 9 using 2d8 with rolls of 8,1.  Sneak stab damage.

11:38, Today: Kraw rolled 21 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 14.  Dagger attack, flanking.

11:38, Today: Kraw rolled 5 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 1.  Dagger damage.

11:38, Today: Kraw rolled 8 using 2d8 with rolls of 5,3.  Sneak stab damage.

12:04, Today: Kraw rolled 15 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 12.  Beak attack, flanking.

12:04, Today: Kraw rolled 2 using 1d3+1 with rolls of 1.  Beak damage .

12:03, Today: Kraw rolled 10 using 2d8 with rolls of 7,3.  Sneak stab damage.

Derro takes 40 damage from the pair of daggers and the beak.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:06, Mon 11 May 2020.

Kraw eviscerates the derro into a bloody mess.

The group sees a hatch to the north that is half-sized similar to the tiny tunnels they had crawled through earlier.

To the south is a door and to the east are more tunnels, these ones taller and wider allowing one to stand mostly tall.

Figus spits out a bit of liquid which made its way into his mouth and renews his attacks on the derro, but the little fellow manages to avoid his strikes.

---

15:40, Today: Figus Dva rolled 8,14 using d20+6,d20+6 with rolls of 2,8.  Scimitar, mace attacks w/flanking.

Kyra throws another card at the derro caught between Figus' and Kraw's blades.

19:33, Today: Kyra rolled 26,6 using 1d20+7,1d4+2 with rolls of 19,4.  Point blank shot (Attack, damage).

No idea if derro is already dead or not, so I'm defaulting to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TuPell1Y0c

"Big doors before small doors, right?" she motioned to the South door. She moved towards it and got ready to open it.

"Ready?"

If they were, she opened it.

---

Just in case, but doubt it's needed.

11:47, Today: Ayeesha rolled 22 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 13.  attack with flank.
11:47, Today: Ayeesha rolled 13 using 2d6+4 with rolls of 4,5.  damage, if there's anything left.

The door to the South looks to have been partially damaged and then a large number of boards were nailed across it hastily sealing it shut. It could be possible to wrench it open (DC 24 strength check) or else the boards can be removed one by one with a few minutes of work.

Kraw cautions "Stop, Ayeesha! Think a moment. We found the bottom half of the Shoanti in the Otyugh's lair. Where's the top half? These Derro seemed interested in alchemical and possibly necromantic practices. That south door appears to have been battered down by something immensely powerful,  then hastily barricaded up. Might it be possible that these Derro took the upper body of the Shoanti and combined it with other creatures, then made it alive? And that's what is behind that door?"

"And? What's your point? You're not suggesting we give up because we found a broken door, are you?"

But she held off, waiting for everyone to be ready and in agreement before trying to open the door.

Kraw shakes his feathered head. "No, but I suggest we approach with caution, and together as a group. Did anyone find any sort of restraints or nets in this room?"

"Why go this way, then there is another way to explore? Whatever is in there, will not be escaping anytime soon."

Figus stays by the passage to the east.

Kraw nods. "We save the boarded up area for last, okay?"

Kyra looks over the nailed doors. She is a bit skeptical about Kraw's reasoning here, but agrees to leave this passage alone for now. "Something battered these doors alright, but there is no way to tell what that was. It could be just another corpse eater of some kind trying to get in, this place is lousy with them. But yes, let's explore the other passage first."

Ayeesha shrugged. "I was hoping to avoid crouching for a bit, but ok. I guess it makes sense, leave the boarded up part for last. "

She was ready to move through the open passage then, weapon out and ready for trouble.

The party heads East and finds themselves in a junction of tunnels. Coming from the South is a very foul stench of excrement and decay while from the North is the smell of pungent chemicals.

Guessing another scavenger was to the south, Kraw leads the group quietly to the north, Blade readied.


01:48, Today: Kraw rolled 29 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 17.  Stealth .

This message was last edited by the player at 08:50, Sun 17 May 2020.

Kyra nods and follows after him, dancing from shadow to shadow.

18:49, Today: Kyra rolled 30 using 1d20+16 with rolls of 14.  Stealth.

Kyra and Kraw come upon a a foul-smelling cavern bordered on three sides by 10' deep pits. It is from these pits that the rancid smell of excrement and decay fills the air. Each pit contains a few heaps of moldy straw, a wooden trough of filthy water, a few rotting body parts, and a couple still living prisoners. Each pit has two frightened, malnourished and sickly humans cowering inside of them.

Watching over them is an ugly, misshapen guard.



Lumpy and mishapen with growths all of his body, especially his head, it is difficult to even tell what it originally was. Whatever it is, it looks strong and mean and if any of the prisoners whimpers he picks up a pebble and flings it at the offender.

The guard doesn't seem to have noticed Kyra or Kraw.

Kraw quietly points back towards their companions for Kyra, making a walking motion with his fingers. He mimics a buff person swinging a two-handed weapon, pointing at a space just north of where the eastern side passage splits off. He then points at the monstrosity and makes a pulling motion, indicating he is to be pulled past the side passage. Once she pulls back to (hopefully) follow his lead, Kraw moves backwards into the crevice, silently hiding for an ambush from behind. His blade is hidden in the shadows.


20:22, Today: Kraw rolled 13 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 4.  Escape Artist (for negotiating crevice).

20:21, Today: Kraw rolled 19 using 1d20+12 with rolls of 7.  Stealth .

20:21, Today: Kraw rolled 15 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 5.  Perception .
This message was last edited by the player at 03:22, Mon 18 May 2020.

Kyra nods and pulls back to wait in a nearby shadow while others get in position. From her deck she draws a card, ready to fling it at the misshapen creature.

edit: I only now took a look at the map. Yeah, I better pull back a bit if this is to work.

Move to U38?
07:46, Today: Kyra rolled 24 using 1d20+16 with rolls of 8.  Stealth.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:47, Tue 19 May 2020.

Ayeesha looked at Kraw puzzled at his pantomime for a moment. She puts a hand on her chest and mouths the word 'me?' at his description. But she gets it eventually and recognition dawns on her face. Oh! She nods and makes an OK sign.

Then she draws her sword,and moves a little closer. Once she is in position, she calls to the creature, waves and plants her feet, waiting for him to come.

---

My intent is to move somewhere where I can get the big ugly's attention but still deny it the ability to charge me, and be North of Kraw's hidey hole. I think if I move 2 squares East it accomplished that.

Move: into position
Free: call to monster. Also enter bloodrage
Standard: Ready a power attack for when he gets into range. Ouch... if he decides to come fight that's going to hurt! Hits for 22 or crits AC 20 for 44.

15:47, Today: Ayeesha rolled 28 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 20.  Greatsword attack (readied) +3 BAB +5 str +1 mwk -1 PA.
15:47, Today: Ayeesha rolled 20 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 12.  crit confirm.
15:48, Today: Ayeesha rolled 22 using 2d6+10 with rolls of 6,6.  GS damage (doubled if crit).

Figus just gets ready for the fight once it starts. Alpha is by his side, scimitar in his right hand and the silver mace in his left.

The party gets into position with Ayeesha and Kyra going to the north, Kraw squeezing into the tunnel to the east and Figus staying in the West. Ayeesha calls for the guard and the guard responds. The ground seems to rumble a bit with each of its steps and it moves far faster than a thing of its size should go.

"YOUSE BETTER GET BACK IN THE PIT!

He runs right up and swings a big meaty fist at Ayeesha blasting her in the gut. In her rage though she barely feels it.
OOC: 6 pts of damage to Ayeesha




*Blood Rage: +4 STR, +6 CON, +2 Will, -2 AC

Figus steps up from his concealment and attacks with both weapons, which seem to bounce off the creature.

'Well at least Kraw should have a chance at its back.'

---

17:21, Today: Figus Dva rolled 15,7 using d20+4,d20+4 with rolls of 11,3.  Scimitar, mace attacks.

Kraw slides out of concealment. Coming up behind the monster, Kraw quick-draws a second dagger and tries to plant both blades in its back.


17:04, Today: Kraw rolled 15 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 8.  Dagger attack #1, flanking.

17:05, Today: Kraw rolled 5 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 1.  Dagger damage.

17:05, Today: Kraw rolled 7 using 2d8 with rolls of 1,6.  Sneak stab damage.

17:04, Today: Kraw rolled 17 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 10.  Dagger attack #2, flanking.

17:05, Today: Kraw rolled 6 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 2.  Dagger damage.

17:05, Today: Kraw rolled 14 using 2d8 with rolls of 7,7.  Sneak stab damage.

On seeing Ayeesha hit, Kyra abandons her previous plans and again draws her wand to keep the rest of the party alive.

I likely don't have a clear shot from here anyway, and it does not look like Blindness would do much good on this guy. CLW on Ayeesha.

Oh ffs.
07:45, Today: Kyra rolled 2 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 1.  CLW.

OOC: So.. umm ... can I use my last rolls that I guess didn't count when I posted them?

OOC: Retcon...

The giant runs forward and just as he pulls back to punch Ayeesha in the head the raging barbarian swings her sword and hits it right in the neck, slipping between the bones and slicing his head clean off. The giant still goes to swing but without eyes to direct it the punch goes wild. The head sits on the ground blinking with one eye while the body just stands there waiting for the next command that would never arrive.

It takes an unnerving amount of time for the light to go out in the giant's one good eye but eventually the body collapses and the eye rolls up.

Kraw pulls his daggers out of the giant's back just in time to stare stupidly at Ayeesha over the severed neck. As the body slumps to the ground, he squawks "nice blow", a little weakly. He then pats down the body for keys to the prisoners' shackles as he says to the group "there's a few prisoners in pits here. Help me get them out."

Figus shakes his head as though clearing his vision.

"For a second there, I thought we would have a devil of a time dealing with this thing. I had visions of it shrugging off my blows and Kraw's daggers just not penetrating its blubber. Well, thank all That was an awesome work Ayeesha. Really impressive.

Anything magical on it Kyra?"

He then goes to help Kraw to check on the prisoners.

Kyra scans the body...

"On it. Should we get the prisoners moving out of here now? Or have them wait for us?" Kyra checks the body of the slain giant, impressed by Ayeesha's killing blow.

"Its armor is magical. One of you could make good use of it, if you can stand the stench of this thing. I'd recommend washing it the first chance you get."


Studded leather armor +1. Guess I did not have to use that CLW charge then.

Kraw answers "I could. And you're talking to a race that thrives on carrion, so the smell isn't much of an issue. Still.....some of you magic folks use Prestidigitation a lot. Can't it clean a suit of armor and de-stench it?"

"I'm just surprised it'd fit," she shrugged, but had no interest in the armor.

She followed Kraw back into the room to help him haul prisoners out of the pits.

"So, you're free to go, though you might want to wait until we finish clearing things out before you run off on your own. So, which way is big ugly's boss then?" she asked the prisoner who seemed the most lucid. "Anything you can tell us about what to expect?"

"Sadly, I don't have that spell to cast. You'll have to wash it the hard way." Kyra answers Kraw as she wrinkles her nose at the arnor. You could not pay her to wear this thing.

One of my favourite spells, but it's not on the witch spell list for some reason. Anyway, on the topic of armor, you guys don't have to decide right now. Just have one of you wear it until we deal with this mess, then we can split the loot afterwards. Whoever gets the armor can take less of the other loot, so maybe the other guy can buy armor from his cut?

Also, I think Kyra still owes some gold to Kraw for the CLW wand she is using? I have to check the old threads to see how we even got this thing.

The prisoners in the pit just stare at the party as if they're mad. By the looks of it they have been down here for weeks, underfed and several look diseased. They were not imprisoned in a way that promotes longevity. Most of them cannot even talk as they are so dehydrated.

One of them, the cleanest, healthiest one of the bunch (and that is not saying much) is able to speak in a hoarse whisper.

"Thank you! My name is Tiora I was out at night and suddenly everything went dark. When I woke up I was here along with the others. Please...we haven't eaten or drank anything in days. Some longer..."

Figus does whatever is needed to get the prisoners out and shares some food and water with them

"Here, have some. Not too much or you will get sick. you have been done a great injustice. I only wish that we could have found you earlier."

Ayeesha also opened and shared her canteen with any who needed. Just enough to get them a little restored. They didn't have too long to linger tending to them.

"You all should probably wait here, unless you feel confident that you can get topside. We can come lead you out once we're finished with our business."

Kraw nods. "Yes, stay here. None of you are in any condition to run if you accidentally stumble across the otyugh or another derro."

Above the prisoners near where the guard was stationed is a bucket of stagnant water and a loaf of moldy bread.

The prisoners take what sustenance they can and agree to stay here until they can be escorted out although they do insist to be removed from their pits in case the adventurers don't return.

The tunnel to the right that Kraw hid in narrows down past the point where even he can slide through.

Heading up the stairs to the north the smell of chemicals gets stronger and stronger. They reach a door but there doesn't sound like any movement coming from the other side so poking the door open reveals a horrific sight.

The nauseating mixture of decay and strange chemicals fills the air of this large room. Glinting saws, pliers, long stitching needles, and other surgical equipment are organized on shelves and benches along the walls. A sturdy wooden table in the center of the room supports a large humanoid shape—a thing stitched together from a patchwork of dozens of different bodies. The thing would stand nearly seven feet tall if it rose.

The head is small compared to the body and has a distinctive scar across its cheek. It appears they have found the head of Gaekhan.



Assuming they can remove it from the body. All that is missing now is the torso and arms.

Kraw says "I suggest we strap that body down before we try recovering the head. If the Derro succeeded in creating a creature from mixed body parts, I for one don't want to deal with its objections to us taking its head." He looks around the lab for straps or other types of restraints.

Figus takes a look around to see if there are any other exits out of the room and casts a Detect Magic to make sure unseen threats are not present

"Good idea, but where is the man who did this?"

Figus doesn't sense any magic in this room.

Kyra wholeheartedly approves of Kraw's suggestion. "Indeed. And let's be ready to act should it wake up before we can tie it down."

Ayeesha was ready with her greatsword.

"Should do for taking the head off. We ready for this?" If they were she'd swing and try to remove head from shoulders.

Taking full precautions the party strapped the body down before Ayeesha swung her sword.

Her sword raised up over her head before slashing down cutting first through the air then the thick muscles and stitching holding the head onto the body. It ended up taking Ayeesha two more swings to sever it but the thing on the table didn't move.

There are stairs leading up a small corridor as well as a closed door.

Kraw looks for some burlap, or even the dead derro's clothing to wrap the head in. Once secured, Kraw hands it over to anyone who can carry it without being too burdened.

"Could we leave the head here and pick it up later?" Kyra is not exactly enthused about carrying body parts.

"Where to next, the door or the stairs up?"

She also does not have a backpack to carry it in.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:35, Wed 03 June 2020.

There is a sack nearby that the limbs can be stashed in. All you have to do is dump out the severed body parts already inside...

Figus moves to investigate the door.

Take 10 Perception for a 19 and cast Detect Magic to see if it is protected in anyway.

Kraw dumps out the body parts, examining each to see if they might match the coloration and body art of the dead Shoanti they were sent to recover.

None of the other body parts are a match in size, coloration, or tattoos. Kraw figures there looks to be parts from two different people in the bag. Whoever operated this place appeared to be using them for spare scraps of skin given how they were partially flayed.

Figus detects a lot of magic however it is all located in his companions' pockets.

Figus, ignoring the magic in his friends pockets, opens the door and looks inside.

Ayeesha follows along, close behind Figus, waiting to see what's coming next.

Kraw watches behind, wondering how much further these catacombs could go.

Creaking open the door the group finds itself in a crude, makeshift library. Two wide, freestanding bookshelves stand in this room, the shelves filled with row upon row of tomes and scrolls.

A quick glance reveals the books and scrolls are mostly treatises on necromancy or the art of crafting golems, but there’s also a surprisingly large number of books about diseases and plagues here as well.


OOC: Knowledge checks made on these topics while using these books as resources gain a +2 circumstance bonus. There are a lot of books (about one bookshelf's worth) that would need to be taken to gain that bonus.

In addition Figus detects two magical scrolls while scanning the bookshelf. Although no one is able to magically read the scrolls Kyra is able to decipher them to understand them as a Scroll of Identify and a Scroll of Command Undead.

Kraw says "a rich find for scholars of these arts. We should take time on our way out to grab as many of these as we can."

"Indeed. These treatise on diseases might be of use even to me. Which is more than I can say for these scrolls, I'm afraid." Kyra regretfully stuffs the scrolls they found in her pouch.

Other passage then?

Command dead sounds like it would come in handy in a fight with a necromancer, except it's not on the witch spell list. And DC for Use Magic Device is just too high to consider.

Walking up the stairs leads to a large chamber that holds a large four-poster bed and a simple writing desk, along with a full-length mirror propped up against one earthen wall.

While the furniture is nice there doesn't appear to be anything of value and it seems very utilitarian as just a place to rest and not a place to store anything of value.

There is another side passage leading off of the room though.

Just in case, Figus casts a detect magic and scans the room before approaching the side passage and taking a peek.

Kyra creeps inside as well and takes cover behind the bed.

Figus detects four auras of magic, moderate. The area is completely dark and by resorting to darkvision all that Figus can tell is there something about two or three feet long twitching on a table down the passageway.

Figus continues to concentrate on the Detect Magic to get a better location on what he sensed.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:31, Tue 16 June 2020.

There isn't enough room to start triangulating positions. They all feel to be in the next room.

Without darkvision it is impossible to see anything further without bringing a torch to bear however one can hear something moving around.

Kraw takes out his burn-out ioun stone and taps Figus on the shoulder. "Allow me" he says, and activates the ioun torch as both hands move to his knives. The ioun torch lights up the passage as Kraw moves forward, daggers ready to go to work.

The light flares up and a voice speaks up in surprise.

[Language unknown: "Tin miom? Omeencntihas? Eint?"]

A derro pokes out wearing a black robe with stylized bones embroidered on it. It shrieks out a spell and a magical glowing barrier appears in the air in front of it. It holds a nasty looking dagger in one hand and a long thin wand that looks like it is made of bone in the other.

Next to the derro is a man’s torso, the chest bearing numerous tribal tattoos and with the right arm still attached. It lies on this bench and the arm periodically thrashes and clutches at the air as if it were alive. There is a sense of magic, most likely necromantic, coming from this torso.

Figus tries to identify the spell the derro cast which he believes to be a Shield spell. Figus actions for the round will be determined based on Ayeesha, who goes before him.

---

11:11, Today: Figus Dva rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Spellcraft to Identify spell as it is being cast.

Kraw moves forward into the room, launching himself in the air past the derro (using the chest at E-33 as a apringboard) to land in D-35. He turns to slash at the derro necromancer.


08:27, Today: Kraw rolled 20 using 1d20+10 with rolls of 10.  Acrobatics .


08:33, Today: Kraw rolled 24 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 17.  Dagger attack.

08:32, Today: Kraw rolled 6 using 1d4+4 with rolls of 2.  Dagger damage.

20:54, Today: Kraw rolled 8 using 2d8 with rolls of 3,5.  Sneak stab damage.

This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Sat 20 June 2020.

Kyra starts chanting a spell of her own in response to the derro spellcaster.

Blindness, Fortitude DC 15.

OOC: Did we forget to heal up after one of the fights? I think Ayeesha should be full health, but perhaps it's an oversight?

Seeing that derro and remembering the darkness that the others had brought down, Ayeesha decided to forego the greatsword for now. She raged and rushed in Hoping to tackle the little blue guy, grab him and keep him restrained.

---

Rage
Move in next to Derro, start to grapple attempt. I don't have improved grapple so I'll eat an AoO from the dagger.

Grr! Waste of a good 20! Should have the bugger grappled though, unless he crits with his dagger on the way in. Kraw, this may have an impact on your attacks maybe? Since I'm first in initiative? I guess grappled doesn't mean flat-footed...

15:06, Today: Ayeesha rolled 29 using 1d20+9 with rolls of 20.  Grapple derro CMB +9 (+3 BAB +5 str +1 trait).

Seeing that Ayeesha is trying to grab the derro, Figus moves forward (D33) and casts a Faerie Fire spell to highlight him in a purple glow.

Round 1 cont.

The derro pumps his arm and stabs Ayeesha repeatedly in the side but that doesn't slow the giant bloodrager down in the slightest as she wraps the wizard up.

OOC: Ayeesha takes 1 piercing damage. Ayeesha and wizard are now grappled

Figus runs up and highglights the derro in the darkness.

Kyra weaves her magic but the derro's tough fey roots shakes off the magical blindness.

Kraw leaps over the derro and starts stabbing him in the back around Ayeesha's arms.

Round 2

The arm and torso next to Figus suddenly lashes out, striking him hard across the back.
OOC: Figus takes 4 NL

The wizard twists and squirms but cannot escape Ayeesha's iron grip.

OOC: LOL RIP




*Grappled