The Second Step

[Amoren]

Character Sheet

 

Kaldakaczil
Male Lawful Good Gold Dragon 2, Level 2, Init 1, HP 23/23, Speed 30ft, Swim 30ft
AC 17, Touch 11, Flat-footed 16, Fort 5, Ref 4, Will 2, Base Attack Bonus 2  
  Bite  +4 (1d8+4, x2)
  Chainmail Barding (+5 Armor, +1 Dex, +1 Natural Armor)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 16
Senses Keen Senses (half distance penalties for perception), Keen Low-Light Vision (multiply effective illumination distances for the dragon by 4), Darkvision 120ft.
Conditions

Kaldakaczil's tail thumped against the floor behind him in mention of returning to the depths beneath the city, belaying the dragon's anticipation to get back to their quest. After all, cities were a foreign enough thing for the young wyrm, a city in distress was hard to tell the difference from the typical chaotic thrum that had greeted him upon his arrival. Or maybe it was just everyone's gawking reaction at seeing him slink about... He really hoped he could take the shape of a human or bird again soon. "I'm convinced that the source of these troubles stem from whatever portents have pointed us towards the depths. The sooner we get down there, the better," the dragon murmured, before glancing towards the faux-lair he had claimed from a corner of the rehabilitated inn, and where he had spent much of the week whenever he wasn't working with the craftsmen he hired for the barding. "I'll just... need a minute before we go down to slither into these fake-scales."

[bloodsprite]

    

    Saai Vees asks "Any way we should recognize these headwear pieces, or deck if we come across them? Or special handling instructions if we do? I mean other than not playing cards."

Edited November 23, 2023 by bloodsprite (see edit history)

[Chaz Hoosier]

Mahdi Dawud
المهدي دَاوُوْد
HP: 13/13 AC: 17
Character Sheet--->Here

---

As the others clamor about getting ready for the departure, Mahdi looks to his left, then to his right. Suddenly, he slips through the door to the kitchen as silently as a cat. Some time later he strides out casually like he was supposed to be there.

 

 

OOC

 

 

[Ruess]

Sandpyke

Armour Chapel*The* southmost ward of the city. Several City Watch officers live here.

AdrielFifth weekday, 32th49 days to a month, except Mesha is a day short of MeshaFirst month of the year, out of eight in total.

Early morning 7:24

Yawning Pit Interior (Or was it Yawning Abyss? Yawning Hole?)

 

The Big Table

You spend some time getting ready and finishing the finger foods you have been offered. It is not a full ration but it is enough to keep hunger away for a while.

Doallyn and Racanna go over a plan with Varon one more time, and everyone is reminded of the fact that Doallyn has three hirelings on his payroll. One of them will be following you down into the depths to haul your loot, after you have cleared the way. Looks like you will have a human skirmisher following your group. The other two, a human and a gnoll, don't stay long once you are geared up to leave.

Kaldakaczil is assisted by Roy and an elven gem expert. They need some directions so as to get Kaldakaczil's scales aligned with the barding just so but they all manage. Kaldakaczil looks fierce in his form fitting armor and Roy assures the dragon of that exact fact.

Meanwhile, your new associate Mahdi wanders away from the table. The last you see of him coincides with two elves almost starting an argument over arson. The details, if you hear it right, involve a storage yard and the risk of collateral in the city ward it is located in. Mahdi inevitably joins you before too much is made of his appearance, nowith a hefty wiff of herbs and something frying clinging to is person.

As for the to the question that Saai Vees presents... Not one person in attendance can offer an answer. The color purple is the only hint you have to go by, but the deck is something your associates have some leads to follow on. The rest is a matter of time and luck, frustrating though that is to admit.

Caution is advised, and so is the use of magic detections if you suspect you have come across something suspicious.

Beyond that, use your best estimations and try not to die.

 

 

Into The Darkness

You fall into darkness. It feels almost welcoming after a week of sun and heat. Silence and shadows swallow you.

The Hexagonal Key is safe with your group, and your new assistant leans upon the lift's support beams. You arrive without any trouble.

The vast chamber of darkness and silence is much like you left it... Or so it would seem, but you know better. A second look tells you a tale of destruction.

Bones are scattered herein great numbers, yes, and they surround the lift just as they did before, but where before those bony piles were intact to most degree, now there is a trail of destruction that tears throughout the chamber as though something very large had rampaged in here very recently. There are freshly spilled stains of red in here as well,. and at least four freshly made bodies among the remains. Each of them is trampled well beyond any salvaging or rescue.

What next? Where to?

 

 

A Secret Lies Hidden

Can you manage a DC 20 Awareness/Perception without being overt about it? Roll the dice and pipe up over on Discord if you manage

 

 

[Chaz Hoosier]

Mahdi Dawud
المهدي دَاوُوْد
HP: 13/13 AC: 17
Character Sheet--->Here

---

The rogue (that is, the very respectable, honest, and pious looking citizen) lights the way with the everburning torch he got from Robin. He gives the the crew an appraising look as they descend with a waggles of his eyebrows. "We're bringing servants with us. I should go on missions with nobles more often!" When they reach the bottom he scans the vicinity of the platform for traps or other searchables.

"Which way to the door you found before then? Better look it over again for paranoia's sake. Think we have time for me to search the walls of this place?" He gives spellcasters time to detect any magical issues before going about his work methodically. "Be careful to walk only where I've searched, eh?

OOC

Forget the rolls! Will take 20 to search path to doors and then do circumference of the chamber.

 

Edited November 27, 2023 by Chaz Hoosier (see edit history)

[Amoren]

Character Sheet

 

Kaldakaczil
Male Lawful Good Gold Dragon 2, Level 2, Init 1, HP 23/23, Speed 30ft, Swim 30ft
AC 17, Touch 11, Flat-footed 16, Fort 5, Ref 4, Will 2, Base Attack Bonus 2  
  Bite  +4 (1d8+4, x2)
  Chainmail Barding (+5 Armor, +1 Dex, +1 Natural Armor)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 16
Senses Keen Senses (half distance penalties for perception), Keen Low-Light Vision (multiply effective illumination distances for the dragon by 4), Darkvision 120ft.
Conditions

"Its to the north! The gimmick for the trapped handle we found and bypassed before, then there's a secret path we found on the right hand side. We didn't double back to check, but we think the two paths might converge at a water fountain... Maybe," the dragon speaks, still not quite used to the weight of armor in his true form. He had worn it while in human guise as part of his training with Ser Aluric, and knew in principle how to deploy it in his draconic majesty, but it was still something the beast seemed to be embarrassed over. That doesn't stop him from attempting to boldly step off the lift to retrace their earlier steps, and glance towards the mystery of the destruction that they hadn't wrought themselves, before he's likely stopped by a glare or word from their new compatriot, letting the rogue take point with him following behind and giving a cautious once over himself.

[ArcaneDesperado]

Doallyn McClare

Character Sheet

Male - Neutral Good - Human Wizard (High Conjurer) / Duskblade

Initiative: +1 

Hit Points: 13/13

Speed: 30

Armour Class: 14

Touch: 11 / Flat-footed: 13,

Fort +3 / Ref +1 / Will +5

Base Attack Bonus: +1

Abilities: Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 14

Doallyn mostly rolled his eyes as Mahdi commented about "servants", almost wishing that there was still a chance to find Robin and bring back the cleric.

He is a employee paid for a service. Until we are better equipped for easier moving of loot and items that we find down here, or for that matter getting items without having to go back up to the surface ourselves, his courier services will prove to expedite our exploration. At this stage I trust Dabliss more than you still.

Once the life reached the bottom once again, the mage noted the fresh corpses that had appeared since their last decent into the darkness.

Clearly there are still things moving around down here.

He reached around to the pack and secured the glowing rod again on the back of his bag like a giant radio antenna. While the bodies might not be in any shape of rescue, he did take a moment to check them to see if who, or what they were could be identified. The conjurer's eyes would glow for a moment as he glanced over the area and then the bodies. Giving a brief skim for anything magical in the direct area to pop out, before shifting to the bodies.

 

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by ArcaneDesperado (see edit history)

[Chaz Hoosier]

Mahdi Dawud
المهدي دَاوُوْد
HP: 13/13 AC: 17
Character Sheet--->Here

---

Mahdi merely shrugs at Doallyn's continued hostility, showing no particular interest in being trusted. As he starts looking over the bodies he looks for anything that might help them along the way. "Well lads, your troubles are all over aren't they?" He pulls a silver-pommeled dagger from one of the corpses. "Hey, maybe I'll use this to kill the killer that killed you. Not a bad deal, if you ask me." He plucks a bag from another corpse and gives it a shake to jingle the coins inside. He shakes his head. "Poor sods didn't have much in the world. Maybe the next one will treat them better, eh?" He tosses mostly lowly quality loot in a pile.

 

OOC

Mahdi makes no apparent effort to sneak anything for himself:
Nine backpacks
Thirty-eight torches [six of them have been used up halfway]
Four short swords [Two of them are damaged and need repair]
Eight daggers [One has a silver pommel]
Four spell component pouches
Six Waist Belt Pouches Money pouches full of copper and silver! 23sp, 391cp

 

Edited November 28, 2023 by Chaz Hoosier (see edit history)

[ArcaneDesperado]

Doallyn McClare

Character Sheet

Male - Neutral Good - Human Wizard (High Conjurer) / Duskblade

Initiative: +1 

Hit Points: 13/13

Speed: 30

Armour Class: 14

Touch: 11 / Flat-footed: 13,

Fort +3 / Ref +1 / Will +5

Base Attack Bonus: +1

Abilities: Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 17, Wis 12, Cha 14

 

Doallyn did his best to just keep his opinions to himself as the rogue found himself amongst the bodies as well. Didnt he have traps to go confirm?

Two were wizards, one was a cleric. Whatever was down here was smart enough to take their spellbooks and holy symbols from the bodies.

He glanced at the bodies again.

Energy here is thick on them too. If they stay down here, they'll become undead.

He glanced at Dabliss.

I know corpse removal wasnt part of the original deal. But maybe the families might want to provide a proper burial. Might be a reward. If nothing else it gets them out of here and allow a proper burial and cleansing.

 

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by ArcaneDesperado (see edit history)

[Ruess]

Dabliss hasn't said a word so far. Nor has he done much to do more than look like he does - in fact he looks just as unhappy as he did on the day you were all intoduced to him. He looks very close to frowning and so far he hasn't exactly gone out of his way to impress anyone with his abilities, but in balance that's likely because Doallyn hired the man to carry things.

At being addressed by Doallyn, Dabliss turns those eyes of his upon the mage. Then slowly rolls them over the rest of the group, especially Mahdi who is presently very busy with some remains to find the items therein.

"Sure thing, boss man. Word of caution: clean the corpse spill before your guy get too loot happy. Might carry gutfever or filth shakes"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by Ruess (see edit history)

[Amoren]

Character Sheet

 

Kaldakaczil
Male Lawful Good Gold Dragon 2, Level 2, Init 1, HP 23/23, Speed 30ft, Swim 30ft
AC 17, Touch 11, Flat-footed 16, Fort 5, Ref 4, Will 2, Base Attack Bonus 2  
  Bite  +4 (1d8+4, x2)
  Chainmail Barding (+5 Armor, +1 Dex, +1 Natural Armor)
Abilities Str 16, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 16
Senses Keen Senses (half distance penalties for perception), Keen Low-Light Vision (multiply effective illumination distances for the dragon by 4), Darkvision 120ft.
Conditions

The dragon seemed to be so eager to make their way back in that he had just assumed the collection of fresher corpses that had been assembled back here were other dungeon denizens, maybe even the goblins that had escaped from them the week before. So, when their newfound compatriot and Doallyn give them a closer glance to discover that they were fallen adventurers, the young dragon appeared to be a bit apologetic at so casually dismissing the corpses. No... Ser Aluric would have given him an ear full even for stepping over the bodies of goblins - he had forgotten that lesson in the haze of his atrophied memories it appeared, and the mists over his lessons with the elf, as well as his own parents frequent scoldings, was only just starting to lift with the fraction of his reawakened vitality.

Sulking like a chastised puppy, despite no one in the party currently having done so, the quadrupedal lizard makes his way over to the bodies that Madhi was searching through, before coming to a seat and lifting his head to mutter a prayer in draconic. "Oh merciful Tamara, please take these fallen souls under your protection as Null shepherds their soul to their resting place. Please beseech thy consort, Lendys, to enact his harsh justice upon the ones that had struck down their fledgling lives in their prime, and may your progeny, Xymor, guide us to protect other innocents that they may prey upon."

Unlike most of the times he was learning said prayer before, this time the dragon manages to recite it without growing too impatient, or peeking an eye open to glance towards his mentor to see if he was doing it correctly. At least believing he had done it correctly, he bows his head towards the fallen adventurers, and settles back into position... After helping move or prepare the bodies as directed by others in the party.

Edited November 30, 2023 by Amoren (see edit history)

[Ruess]

The Lights In The Dark

You made a detour to avail yourselves to both surety that there are no traps, as well as to the bounty of fallen adventurers. It is not a king's ransom but it is all adventuring gear, except for coins. You also see to the arrangement of the corpses to the lift. While it is not the easiest of tasks and certainly it leaves a stench uponm all who handled the bodies, it is a task that you see to with enough respect that the bodies are gathered in a group rather than being piled up.

Once that particular deed is covered you draw your focus on the matter of necromantic re-animation. Some discussion takes place and you... Well, you have a plan. You have the gold. The Hexagonal Key allows you to reach Roy, who can convey the message easily. And you have a drow pristess with you, who looks to be good with a sword. All you have to do is make it happen...

But, you leave the ultimate decision on hold for a moment longer. There is another matter demanding your attention with a greater immediacy..

The large doors leading to your previous areas are closed. There are two more dead bodies there. One of them is still clutching a large door handle. A third body can be found with its arms removed at the wrists, right where you recall the door opening mechanism to be. Mahdi, being your sneaksy guy, proceeds with his safety plan and as partial result of it confirms that

A.) These three were attempting to open the door but were set upon by something. And also that they have no loot on them, but a far worse fact is that:

B.) The doors are not going to budge unless someone goes over to dexterously twist a few mechanisms again, because

C.) It would appear that there person with their hands in poor state was not as light of touch as they thought they were, which would mean that they set off a trap hidden within the door's opening mechanism, and by the look of the door handles also primed more than one trap in the process, which in turn means that

D.) Mahdi is going to need time to get the doors open IF you send him to work his magical touch on the mechanism. It is doable, certainly, but Mahdi cannot give promises due to the nature of the mechanism.

 

 

AdrielFifth weekday, 32th49 days to a month, except Mesha is a day short of MeshaFirst month of the year, out of eight in total.

Early morning 8:04

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by Ruess (see edit history)

[bloodsprite]

Saai Vees, having learned the value of thorough investigation and the potential dangers lurking underground, decides to apply her tracking skills to decipher the path of the corpse pillagers. She takes a moment to survey the immediate surroundings, examining the ground for any signs of disturbed dust, moved pebbles, or other subtle clues.

Dropping to one knee, she runs her eyes over the surface, looking for any irregularities. The track skill, honed through her experiences in various terrains, guides her in identifying signs that others might overlook. Saai Vees is meticulous, noting the depth of the dust, the direction they point, and any other distinctive marks left behind.

As she attempts to follow a trail, Saai Vees moves slowly, casting around for the direction they may have gone.

[Chaz Hoosier]

Mahdi Dawud
المهدي دَاوُوْد
HP: 13/13 AC: 17
Character Sheet--->Here

---

Mahdi approaches the door carefully and squints at the mechanism carefully. "Well, I don't think this went how that sap there hoped it would. Let's see if I fair any better. Maybe stand back just in case." He produces a thick wire and a pick and starts working the mechanism carefully.

 

 

OOC

Rolls incoming...

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by Chaz Hoosier (see edit history)

[Ruess]

The Lights In The Dark

 

Mahdi

Mahdi makes the best effort he can pull together while the rest watch from a safe distance. His tools are ready, and they are all laid out before he begins his work.

It is not enough. You all bear witness to a sudden change as with nary a click a wicked blade emerges from the trap mechanism and comes at Mahdi with a speed that the man has no chance to evade. The blade, a scythe, comes upon Mahdi. He evades the loss of his hands at wrist, but his palms are going to need a medic's touch.

Mahdi takes seven points of damage.

 

 

Saai Vees

Saai finds something of interest among the dead, much like you did. By her looks, and since you know her, she seems to have discovered a trail within the carnage. You observe as she begins her work, and wanders throughout the scene, reading it much like one of you might read a book. She follows the trail but stays within your vicinity, knowing perfectly well not to wander by her lonesome.

 

 

AdrielFifth weekday, 32th49 days to a month, except Mesha is a day short of MeshaFirst month of the year, out of eight in total.

Early morning 8:05