presently… Chapter 6 — The Way Back Down

[iantruesilver]

Combat — Round 2

Initiative Order

PCs: Average (Va 23, K 17, B 12, T 11, Vi 8, Vr 5) = 12.67

Creature: 9

[[ Mood Music ]]

"Shit! Damnit it's sticking to my boots!" Val's efforts in struggling free prove to be detrimentally unsuccessful, her feet seeming to get gummed up with the sticky substance some more. Panicking, she points the pistol at the mass of writhing tentacles and fires a shot, trading blows with one of the whipping appendages smacking her in the forearm.

 

Keshka's second shot strayed up a little too far, its shaft immediately shattering as the force of the arrow strikes the stone cavern beyond.

 

Barhuce's mace contacts one of the tentacles, brusing it a little as metal strikes purple flesh.

 

T'Sarra's spear on the other hand, ends up stabbing a bit of air as the tentacular mess shifts unexpectedly.

 

Violet takes a step back away from the strange sticky fluid and begins loading her blunderbuss with another bullet from her wrist sheath.

 

Her own boots getting stuck in the fluids spilling over onto the metal floor, Vri manages to stab one of the tentacles before the whole moist, slithering mass retreats back into the shelter of its protective carapace.

 

[[ Map — Staging Area ]]

(( Val and Vri are entangled for 4 more rounds. All those who have not moved away from the fluid please roll another Fortitude save. Onward to Round 3! ))

Edited March 15 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 entry hall

"Brigh's boots, where did it go? Into the shell? Fine, we can hit that instead if you prefer. " She aimed to poke the shell since there were no tentacles available to see.

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

 

 

[farothel]

 

Staktblock

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 felt that her feet were stuck, but as the critter went back into its shell, she tried to use her rapier like a oyster knife and cut any muscles holding the shell together. Only then did she try to get out of the sticky stuff.

 

OOC

attack the shell

try to get out.

[athedia]

Keshka

"Don't stand in that stuff!" Keshka's exasperation was clear as more people got stuck in the fluid. This was the most clear example of why bows just were better.

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

Actions

Free:
Move:
Standard: Shoot Tentacle
Full:

[Inash]

Barhuce

Barhuce starts to retreat and finds himself stuck. "Great advice, but I can't seem to get out of it right now." Without an easy retreat, Barhuce swings at the rock the beast hid in, hoping to crack it open.

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker, Chirurgeon), [B]Level[/B] 2, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 15/15, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 14, [B]Fort[/B] 4, [B]Ref[/B] 5, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +2, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 1 [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, Chirurgeon), Level 2, Init 4, HP 15/15, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 14, Fort 4, Ref 5, Will 0, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 1
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:Fort

Free:

Standard: sunder I guess?

Readied action:

Edited March 18 by Inash (see edit history)

[iantruesilver]

Combat — Round 3

Initiative Order

PCs: Average (Va 23, K 17, B 12, T 11, Vi 8, Vr 5) = 12.67

Creature: 9

[[ Mood Music ]]

"Easy for you to say, I can't get out! My feet are stuck!" Val's protests grow more insistent and urgent as she continues to try to exert and extract herself away from the puddle of fluids in the sand, albeit without any luck whatsoever. Between that and reloading her pistol, Val looks to be in quite a predicament.

 

Keshka's arrow strikes the coral-like carapace, but the projectile deflects slightly off the greyish surface, the shaft of it bending as it clatters to the ground after it hits another rock face.

 

Barhuce and T'Sarra's boots start to get gummed up in the gritty, sandy fluids, making it difficult to move. Together with the half-elf, the three of them try to poke, pry, and crack open the shell, but their initial efforts go unrewarded.

 

Staying just beyond the edge of the fluid, Violet tried her best to shoot at the creature from the other side of her many struggling companions, but her shot strays up and to the right, probably as a result of her trigger pull being a bit too jerky.

 

Suddenly, several smaller tendrils erupt from the fluid sodden sand, catching Barhuce and Val unawares as they begin slithering up and wrapping around their legs, the longest of which spiral up Val's thigh before cinching tight. As the tips of these tendrils press against the flesh underneath each human's clothing, Val and Barhuce feel a mild sting as though they had just had contact with a stinging nettle.

 

"Nah... AAAAH!" Unable to wrench herself away, her legs now practically immobile from the sticky fluids, Val screams in panic as the tendrils crawl up higher and higher along her thighs...

 

Several more of the small tendrils search along the edge where the sand gives way to the metallic flooring, but as each one probes the smooth metal it reels back slightly, and an awkward little dance of feel and search is seen along the metal's seam.

 

[[ Map — Staging Area ]]

(( Barhuce and Val each bleed for 1HP. Val is helpless for 4 rounds. Vri is entangled for 3 more rounds, Barhuce and T'Sarra for 4 more rounds. All those who have not moved away from the fluid please roll another Fortitude save. Onward to Round 4! ))

Edited March 18 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 entry hall

"Oh come on, we are not going down to bad luck and this... whatever this is!!! " She aimed to poke the shell again, determined to crack this thing open.

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

 

 

[farothel]

 

Staktblock

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

"It's difficult to move if you're stuck," Vri said to Keshka as she swept her rapier over the new tentacle things that appear.

 

OOC

attack the new tentacles

move: try to get out.

[Inash]

Barhuce

Barhuce tries to ignore the stinging tentacle and swings again at the coral formation, completely missing this time.

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker, Chirurgeon), [B]Level[/B] 2, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 15/15, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 14, [B]Fort[/B] 4, [B]Ref[/B] 5, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +2, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 1 [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, Chirurgeon), Level 2, Init 4, HP 15/15, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 14, Fort 4, Ref 5, Will 0, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 1
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:fort

Free:

Standard: sunder I guess?

Readied action:

Edited March 19 by Inash (see edit history)

[athedia]

Keshka

"Can anyone break the shell!?" Arrows weren't working very well, but she really didn't want to get closer to the strange thing. She aimed toward one of the holes the tentacles were emerging from.

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

Actions

Free:
Move:
Standard: Shoot Tentacle
Full:

[iantruesilver]

Combat — Round 4

Initiative Order

PCs: Average (Va 23, K 17, B 12, T 11, Vi 8, Vr 5) = 12.67

Creature: 9

[[ Mood Music ]]

"No!!! You are NOT going up... there!..." Val's panicked screams just about turn to outright hysteria as she points her gun downwards and does her best to steady her aim, pointing at the base of the tendril still creeping up her upper thigh, as close to the sand as possible before pulling the trigger.

 

POW! The bullet punches a small hole through the slithering limb, and Val grunts loudly as it contracts upon her leg before becoming flacid once again.

 

Keshka's arrow shoots wide again, this time lodging itself harmlessly into the fluid bogged sand to the left of the stony shell.

 

Barhuce's mace swing too falls short of its target, being likewise entangled in the fluids and suffering from the tenrils' leeching. T'Sarra's luck doesn't yet improve either, as her spear finds no purchase in the thing's shell.

 

Vri on the other hand, manages to cut one of the smaller tendrils as well with her rapier, slicing the tip of it clean off of the base stalk.

 

For a protracted moment, what remains of the rest of these slender, flexible appendages grip, twitch and thrash wildly, then the whole mass falls limp, purple flesh slumping to the surface of the sand.

 

Having just reloaded her blunderbuss and took aim, the android lowers her weapon again, looking at the quartet in front of her still ankles deep in the fluid, dumbfounded.

 

[[ Map — Staging Area ]]

(( End of Combat. Val is helpless for 3 rounds, Barhuce and T'Sarra are entangled for 3 rounds. Vri is no longer entangled. ))

Edited March 20 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[athedia]

Keshka

"You did not warn me about that." Keshka poked at the edge of the fluid on the ground with the toe of her boot, testing if it was still sticky. Deciding not to risk getting stuck as well she looked around the previous room for anything she could place down as a series of stepping stones so she could get close enough to help people free themselves.

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

Actions

Free:
Move:
Standard: Shoot Tentacle
Full:

[farothel]

 

Staktblock

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 managed to get out and immediately got out of the effect and got her rope to help pull the others out, starting with T'Sarra, then Barhuce and then Val.

 

OOC

 

[Inash]

Barhuce

Barhuce shivers as he untangles himself from the feeding/probing tentacle. "If I'd known about it, I'd've warned you. Trust me, that is not my idea of a good time." He struggles his way back out while muttering 'I'd like to go one day without being unwillingly groped, just one.' Once out, he looks back at the way ahead and lets his shoulders slump. "We're still going to need to go through that, aren't we?"

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2740751][B][SIZE=+1]Barhuce[/SIZE][/B][/URL] M NG Human (Kellid) Alchemist (CryptBreaker, Chirurgeon), [B]Level[/B] 2, [B]Init[/B] 4, [B]HP[/B] 15/15, [B]Speed[/B] 30 [B]AC[/B] 15, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 13, [B]CMD[/b] 14, [B]Fort[/B] 4, [B]Ref[/B] 5, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] +2, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 1 [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, Chirurgeon), Level 2, Init 4, HP 15/15, Speed 30
AC 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 13, CMD 14, Fort 4, Ref 5, Will 0, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 1
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:fort(24)

Free:

Standard: sunder I guess?

Readied action:

[iantruesilver]

Black Hill Caves — Ruined Pen / Strange Machines / Stone Cavern

Keshka's search for debris takes her back to the room with the tangled mess of metal cages, rubble and ancient bones. Prying free a loose length of metal, she incidentally knocks over a piece of bone, which shatters and imminently crumbles to dust as it hits ground.

 

Not exactly stepping stones, but at least that is something her companions could hold on to as those who are free grab the other end and pull.

 

Vri seemed to have a similar idea, getting herself free of the stuff and tossing a rope over to the tiefling to help haul her out of the puddle of goop.

 

"He is correct, Odd-eyed one." The android muses innocently as the pair work to release the others, her tone plain as though she was simply delivering facts, "We have not been this far yesterday, nor has he spent one day without being… groped, since we arrived in Torch."

 

Drawing her rapier, Val repeatedly stabs one of the now flacid tentacles that had up until now been probing up her leg. "Did I say you could poke around with your slimy tentacle up in here? And more importantly, what even are you‽"

 

[[ Map — Staging Area ]]

Edited March 21 by iantruesilver (see edit history)