presently… Chapter 6 — The Way Back Down

[athedia]

Keshka

Keshka tried to follow along, her confused look only growing. "Slow down. Skulks? Sef? What are beep boop cards? Big chi-Barhuce okay... you know nicknames are usually shorter than someones actual name right Violet?" At the mention of a metal wall Keshka's eyes lit up. Finally something that felt more... familiar wasn't the word. More in her wheelhouse. "This hole in the wall, could you elaborate?"

Statblock

[b][url=/sheets/?id=2857070]Keshka[/url][/b] [i]Changeling (Winter Hag) Galvanic Saboteur (Ranger) 2 NN[/i] [b]HP[/b] 12 / 12 [b]Speed[/b] 30 ft [b]Init[/b] 3 [b]AC[/b] 17 [b]Fort[/b] 4 [b]Ref[/b] 6 [b]Will[/b] 1 [b]CMB[/b] +4 [b]BAB[/b] 2 [b]Claw[/b] +3 (1d4+2, x2) [b]Longbow[/b] +5 (1d8, x3) [b]Str[/b] 14 (2) [b]Dex[/b] 17 (3) [b]Con[/b] 12 (1) [b]Wis[/b] 13 (1) [b]Int[/b] 10 (0) [b]Cha[/b] 9 (-1)

Keshka Changeling (Winter Hag) Galvanic Saboteur (Ranger) 2 NN
HP 12 / 12 Speed 30 ft
Init 3 AC 17 Fort 4 Ref 6 Will 1
CMB +4 BAB 2
Claw +3 (1d4+2, x2)
Longbow +5 (1d8, x3)
Str 14 (2) Dex 17 (3) Con 12 (1) Wis 13 (1) Int 10 (0) Cha 9 (-1)

Text

Hide this

 

 

Commonly Used Skills/Special notes

Favored Enemy: Constructs +2
+X Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks
+X bonus on weapon attack/dmg
Can make untrained K skill checks to identify creatures with type

Perception: +5, +7 vs constructs

 

[farothel]

 

Statblock

Vrilundass ‘Vri’ Arund
Female NG Half-elf Swashbuckler, Level 2, Init 3, HP 17/17, Speed 30ft
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 17, CMD 16, Fort 2, Ref 6, Will 3, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 2
silversheen, MC rapier +6 (1d6+1, 18-20/x2)
cold iron dagger +5 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
shortbow (20) +5 (1d6, x3)
Studded Leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 15
Condition None
hero points: 0/1

Vri didn't know the gentleman in question, but Val had lived here her entire life, so she wasn't going to discuss about the identity. She quickly attached a rope under the body's arms so they could haul it up the little cliff.

"Maybe we should borrow the crossbow," she suggested, "we can always hand it back to his widow later, but for now it can be a very useful weapon against whatever we find in here. And if it fits, the same goes for that chainshirt. It's good quality material."

 

OOC

 

[Inash]

Barhuce

Barhuce nods. "And we should leave him either here, or by the water. So we can deal with the corpse on our way back out. It's too soon to head back out and we certainly don't want to carry him. Val, was Gerrol someone who was likely to be with your father?"

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 9/9, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 13, [B]Fort[/B] 3, [B]Ref[/B] 4, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +1, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 0 [B]1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) [/B] 3 (1d4+4, x2) [B] light Mace [/B] 1 (1d6+1, x2) [B] Dagger [/B] 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2) [B] Lamellar Cuirass[/B] (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect) [B]Abilities[/B] Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10 [B]Condition[/B] None

Barhuce
M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), Level 1, Init 4, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 13, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 0, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus 0
1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) 3 (1d4+4, x2)
light Mace 1 (1d6+1, x2)
Dagger 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Lamellar Cuirass (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Condition None

 

Actions Crunch

Fort save:

Free:

Standard:

Readied action:

[iantruesilver]

Black Hill Caves — Mold-Ridden Tunnel

"Yeah, good idea." Val helped the others haul Gerrol's body up the cliffside, "Maybe we should leave him where we found Parda for now."

 

"It's possible." Val conjectured in response to Barhuce's question, "Dad's pretty well-liked around town, he has enough pull that people would do things if he asked."
 

"Oh, yeah. There's a group of skulks living over there just past that tunnel." T'Sarra tried her best to fill in the gaps for Keshka, adding as she pitched in to help haul the body, "There was a frog-thing back that way too, probably some poor sap before we got here. Oh and a few stinking mounds of mold round the corner, we took care of those. Oh and well you saw the oversized bugs back at the beach."

 

"Oh, yeah Sef is the skulks' current chief. They're pretty skittish about visitors, but they've promised us safe passage for taking care of the gremlins for them." T'Sarra continues, explaining anything that Violet had left unclear, then fishing a rectanglar card-like object with a brown stripe out of her bag, she says, "We were given a few cards that look like this. Val figures they might be some kind of door key or something."

 

At this point Violet seems to have fallen silent, content with simply letting the tiefling take the lead in explaining the rest.

 

"There's this wall on the far end that's probably made of skymetal, Val can confirm that. There was this one circular doorway or something past where the gremlins were that we couldn't open." T'Sarra continued to elaborate, "The other one from the far end of the skulk's cave though, that one was already open when we found it. That was where we found the other robot."

 

 

[[ Map — Black Hill Caves ]]

(( You find the following items on Gerrol's body: Masterwork chain shirt, Masterwork hand crossbow, Crossbow bolt (5), Masterwork thieves' tools, Empty vial (4), 75gp. ))

Edited February 23 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[farothel]

 

Statblock

Vrilundass ‘Vri’ Arund
Female NG Half-elf Swashbuckler, Level 2, Init 3, HP 17/17, Speed 30ft
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 17, CMD 16, Fort 2, Ref 6, Will 3, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 2
silversheen, MC rapier +6 (1d6+1, 18-20/x2)
cold iron dagger +5 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
shortbow (20) +5 (1d6, x3)
Studded Leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 15
Condition None
hero points: 0/1

Vri agreed with leaving the body to pick up on the way back. Then they moved back towards the cave with the skulks, being careful in her approach so they could hear them coming from far away. She would talk to them if they were inclined, otherwise she would head towards the skymetal doors in the skulk cave and back in there.

 

OOC

 

[Inash]

Barhuce

Barhuce pauses when they reach the skull village and asks. "Everything still ok? Did the gremlins come back? If not, you might be able to move some of that mold to their old homes."

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 9/9, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 13, [B]Fort[/B] 3, [B]Ref[/B] 4, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +1, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 0 [B]1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) [/B] 3 (1d4+4, x2) [B] light Mace [/B] 1 (1d6+1, x2) [B] Dagger [/B] 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2) [B] Lamellar Cuirass[/B] (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect) [B]Abilities[/B] Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10 [B]Condition[/B] None

Barhuce
M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), Level 1, Init 4, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 13, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 0, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus 0
1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) 3 (1d4+4, x2)
light Mace 1 (1d6+1, x2)
Dagger 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Lamellar Cuirass (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Condition None

 

Actions Crunch

Fort save:

Free:

Standard:

Readied action:

[iantruesilver]

Black Hill Caves — Vast Chamber

Having moved Gerrol's remains to the narrow spelothem-choked tunnel, you agree to take his useful possessions with you for safeguarding. Heading back through the caves, you arrive at the vast chamber inhabited by the skulk tribe.

 

As before, the ceiling of the vast dark chamber rises nearly thirty feet overhead. A five-foot-wide ledge runs along the western wall as you enter here through the tunnel, sloping down to the cave floor ten feet below. Four ramshackle huts made of what appears to be strips of metal, hides, and some sort of fibrous plant matter sit in the cave, while to the south yawns a dark pit.

 

Toward the far end of the cave to the east, stretches a strange metal wall, smooth and gray.

 

Meeting the group at the ledge, Luepel nods in an acknowledging fashion, coming across less aggressive than she had done before. In her scratchy, high-pitched whisper, she says matter-of-factly as she happens to be weaving something at the side of her little hut, "Cave ratses gones nao."

 

 

[[ Map — Black Hill Caves ]]

Edited February 28 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[Inash]

Barhuce

Barhuce nods back. "Good. I hope they stay that way. Anything happen while we were above?"

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 9/9, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 13, [B]Fort[/B] 3, [B]Ref[/B] 4, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +1, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 0 [B]1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) [/B] 3 (1d4+4, x2) [B] light Mace [/B] 1 (1d6+1, x2) [B] Dagger [/B] 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2) [B] Lamellar Cuirass[/B] (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect) [B]Abilities[/B] Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10 [B]Condition[/B] None

Barhuce
M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), Level 1, Init 4, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 13, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 0, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus 0
1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) 3 (1d4+4, x2)
light Mace 1 (1d6+1, x2)
Dagger 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Lamellar Cuirass (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Condition None

 

Actions Crunch

Fort save:

Free:

Standard:

Readied action:

[athedia]

Keshka

Keshka trailed behind the group, feeling a bit awkward. Interacting with other people was already stress inducing, but interacting with neighbors she hadn't even known about? And ones that apparently were friendly with the rest of the group she was with just made it even worse. She tried to remember the lessons that had been ground into her at the temple for 'polite behavior'. This resulted in a half bow - terminated when Keshka decided that was to formal and replaced with an awkward hand stuck out to shake. "Uh hi, Keshka. Nice to meet you, Sef???" The name came out as a question more than a statement as she tried to remember who T'Sarra had said the chief of this group was.

Statblock

[b][url=/sheets/?id=2857070]Keshka[/url][/b] [i]Changeling (Winter Hag) Galvanic Saboteur (Ranger) 2 NN[/i] [b]HP[/b] 12 / 12 [b]Speed[/b] 30 ft [b]Init[/b] 3 [b]AC[/b] 17 [b]Fort[/b] 4 [b]Ref[/b] 6 [b]Will[/b] 1 [b]CMB[/b] +4 [b]BAB[/b] 2 [b]Claw[/b] +3 (1d4+2, x2) [b]Longbow[/b] +5 (1d8, x3) [b]Str[/b] 14 (2) [b]Dex[/b] 17 (3) [b]Con[/b] 12 (1) [b]Wis[/b] 13 (1) [b]Int[/b] 10 (0) [b]Cha[/b] 9 (-1)

Keshka Changeling (Winter Hag) Galvanic Saboteur (Ranger) 2 NN
HP 12 / 12 Speed 30 ft
Init 3 AC 17 Fort 4 Ref 6 Will 1
CMB +4 BAB 2
Claw +3 (1d4+2, x2)
Longbow +5 (1d8, x3)
Str 14 (2) Dex 17 (3) Con 12 (1) Wis 13 (1) Int 10 (0) Cha 9 (-1)

Text

Hide this

 

 

Commonly Used Skills/Special notes

Favored Enemy: Constructs +2
+X Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks
+X bonus on weapon attack/dmg
Can make untrained K skill checks to identify creatures with type

Perception: +5, +7 vs constructs

 

[iantruesilver]

Black Hill Caves — Vast Chamber

"Brath founds bugses, Luepel thinks they juicy sweet, nice for eat." At Barhuce's question, the skulk tipped her head backward toward another of the huts to indicate one of her tribespeople, then pointed to another close by, "Yadriss weaving reedses for wears."

 

Then as Keshka made her own awkward introduction, the bald gray-skinned woman raised an eyebrow, then spoke not to the changeling, but instead to the half-elf, and using another language at it to boot. "Vriloo, usstan wund'akh ulu dos?"Undercommon: "Vriloo, this one belongses to thems?"

 

 

[[ Map — Black Hill Caves ]]

Edited February 29 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[farothel]

 

Statblock

Vrilundass ‘Vri’ Arund
Female NG Half-elf Swashbuckler, Level 2, Init 3, HP 17/17, Speed 30ft
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 17, CMD 16, Fort 2, Ref 6, Will 3, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 2
silversheen, MC rapier +6 (1d6+1, 18-20/x2)
cold iron dagger +5 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
shortbow (20) +5 (1d6, x3)
Studded Leather (+3 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 15
Condition None
hero points: 0/1

"nau, il's xuil udossaNo, she's with us," Vri replied in the same language, il's ghil ulu xxizz udossa. Jalbol uri'shoelt ulu lil' skymetal doboren?she's here to help us. Anything happened to the skymetal doors?

 

 

OOC

 

[ccanary]

T'Sarra Khonnor 

T'Sarra Khonnor — Tiefling Oracle 2
AC/T/FF 18/13/15 | HP 19/19 | Init +3 | Speed 30ft | Fort/Ref/Will 3/3/3 | Darkvision
Hero Points ??

Active Conditions: none
Spells:

1st: (5/5) Cure light wounds, Bless, Inflict Light Wounds, Fumbletongue
Cantrips: (unl) detect magic, mending, guidance, create water, read magic

At the skulks

"Oh yeah, and the skulks make some questionable choices in fashion."

T'Sarra leaned in to Keshka and spoke in a low voice. But there really wasn't much else to talk about. She was ready to move onto the door, once Vri got her questions answered. Whatever it was she was talking about.

Mechanics

Move:
Standard:
Free:

Trained Skills

Acrobatics*	-2
Climb*	+4
Diplomacy	+8
Handle Animal	+5
Heal	+4
Knowledge (history)	+4
Knowledge (nature)	+4
Linguistics	+1
Perception	+7
Spellcraft	+4
Survival	+4
Swim*	+4
* -1 ACP to str and dex skills

 

 

[Inash]

Barhuce

Barhuce waits quietly for the conversation between Vri and Luepel to end.

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 9/9, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 13, [B]Fort[/B] 3, [B]Ref[/B] 4, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +1, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 0 [B]1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) [/B] 3 (1d4+4, x2) [B] light Mace [/B] 1 (1d6+1, x2) [B] Dagger [/B] 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2) [B] Lamellar Cuirass[/B] (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect) [B]Abilities[/B] Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10 [B]Condition[/B] None

Barhuce
M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker), Level 1, Init 4, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 13, Fort 3, Ref 4, Will 0, CMB +1, Base Attack Bonus 0
1d8 v undead or constructs, DC 14 Alkahest Bomb (5/day) 3 (1d4+4, x2)
light Mace 1 (1d6+1, x2)
Dagger 1 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Lamellar Cuirass (+2 Armor, +2 Dex, +1 Deflect)
Abilities Str 12, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 10
Condition None

 

Actions Crunch

Fort save:

Free:

Standard:

Readied action:

[iantruesilver]

Black Hill Caves — Vast Chamber

"Anulo… drostan? obsul?"Undercommon: "Sky… metal? door?" It seems to have taken the skulk some moments to connect the words and understand the meaning of what was actually said, before she finally gave an expression of comprehension to Vri. "Nau, nau thir'ku."Undercommon: "No, no change."

 

Content to let the group pass through with their new addition, Luepel went back to whatever she happens to be doing at the time, climbing up the ledge and moving past your group to make her way up the tunnel. On the way, she cast the changeling a side glance and sniffed at the air close to her, before she continued on her way.

 

Making your way east, you reach the strange metallic wall at the far end of the skulk cave, finding it more-or-less unchanged since the day before.

 

This wall, bisecting the entire width of the cavern here from north to south, looks to have been made of some smooth, dark grey metal, pitted and scorched here and there but looking still quite solid in its expanse. A strange, circular opening pierces the wall five feet off the ground, allowing access to some sort of hallway on the other side.

 

 

[[ Map — Black Hill Caves ]]

Edited March 1 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[ccanary]

T'Sarra Khonnor 

T'Sarra Khonnor — Tiefling Oracle 2
AC/T/FF 18/13/15 | HP 19/19 | Init +3 | Speed 30ft | Fort/Ref/Will 3/3/3 | Darkvision
Hero Points ??

Active Conditions: none
Spells:

1st: (5/5) Cure light wounds, Bless, Inflict Light Wounds, Fumbletongue
Cantrips: (unl) detect magic, mending, guidance, create water, read magic

At the skulks

"Nothing else to discuss really then," T'Sarra said, knowing that the skulks probably couldn't understand it all. Didn't matter. Time to move on. She crossed the cavern, climbed the ledge and went through the portal into the hall to the point where they'd fought the machine the day before.

Mechanics

Move:
Standard:
Free:

Trained Skills

Acrobatics*	-2
Climb*	+4
Diplomacy	+8
Handle Animal	+5
Heal	+4
Knowledge (history)	+4
Knowledge (nature)	+4
Linguistics	+1
Perception	+7
Spellcraft	+4
Survival	+4
Swim*	+4
* -1 ACP to str and dex skills