PBEM - Episode 240. Secret Doors and Vaults.

TWO HUNDRED FORTY

(I/C)

Brendon kept his ear pressed against the secret passage back to the throne room while the party debated their options.  “Shit,” Lyra cursed, “there goes our hide at the Butcher’s. Once they find out she’s gone they’re going to ransack the entire first floor looking for us.”

Kovid was comparing his map and Arik’s map to where we were, turning to the eastern wall. “Wyn, what’d ya say you try your key one more time on this east door here. Map seems to indicate a safe room behind the throne.”

Stepping up to look over the keyhole, Wyn replied, "Oui, dwarfriend. East door makes most sense to moi, too."

While the elf was going through his key ring, Lyra continued, “If we CAN open the locked door we should explore both rooms - see where they lead before we decide what to do next. I’m up for resting until we can go back in the throne room and grab those crystals - or at least look at them and the bodies.” 

Slumping down in pain and holding his ribs, Lannis pulled his hat lower and replied to the cleric, "That sounds fine to me, I could certainly go for a rest, I'm not quite feeling myself at the moment. However, I do not think we should touch those crystals, not without way more information on what we're doing. They seem to be in some kind of balance or alignment, who knows what might happen if we touch one, or try to remove one? I know you might perceive me as abrasive at times, but please, let's just leave the crystals alone for now."

Abraxas was watching everyone, Scythe up, point wavering in a slow circle. “Going back to look at the crystals later seems fine to me. We could look around and perhaps come back here to rest after. Seems like no one has been here for a long long tiempo. This should be where we reconventilate once we want to rest.” Looking down at the aching magic user, the fighter asked, “Señor Laysana, how are you feeling? How was being dead?"

“Kind of like talking to Lyra,” he replied, eyes close, “But darker.”

Kovid pointed at the south part of the hall and the secret door in that direction. “We didn’t see any doors in the hall we traveled that would connect to it. It also seems to be above the spy area. Like this hall it’s a safe bet no one’s been in there for a long time. It’s definitely intriguing. South door being a push stone, seems likely it’s a hidden entrance on the other side. Most likely a public space. Just something to keep in mind.”

“Señor Kovarch?” Abraxas said with a smile, “You choose, we will follow.”

Meanwhile Wyn had discarded the possibility of the Throne Room Key, but was surprised to see the key labeled Vault fit in the lock perfectly and turned slightly. "Ah... I tink dis be de one. Everyone ready?” He got a number of nods and grunts from the party save Brendon. “Cen someone poke de scout en tell him eet be time to go?"

“Sorry,” Brendon replied stepping up. “There is still some movement in the Throne Room, but no other real conversation.”

“Bien,” the elf asserted. Pointing back to the eastern secret door, he advised the group, “We ain't know what behind dis, but now or never, oui? Un. Deux. Trois!"

He turned the key and the secret door opened out towards them slow and heavy, the entire foot and a half thick wall turned on a faintly grating pivot point. Beyond our lantern picked up a 20’ x 20’ chamber. In the middle was a stout oaken table with some scrollwork along the edges on which sat a stout iron banded wooden chest. The chest had a bronze latch lock that looked like a screaming face with wide raised eyes. 4 chairs with light padding sat around the table. There were 2 small barrels (5 gallon) on the east side of the room, each of them closed and had tar seal around their tops.

On the north wall was a bell mounted on a swivel, with what seemed to be a hammer attached to it, designed to rap along the wall if it was rung. A rope ran from the bell and hung slack, running east to a hole in the wall near the ceiling. Stepping further into the room and looking around some more, on the west wall just south of the door was a set of dusty but silvered steel elven chainmail (would fit an elf or a woman). A green cloak with black knotwork designs was on a hook along with a stout bow (short) made of Heartswood and a thin quiver with perhaps 10 arrows. 5 of the arrows had dark fletching and black heads etched with golden runes and 5 had white fletching with silvered heads etched with copper runes.

Before anyone could say anything, Lannis raised his hand and said, “No one is claiming ‘dibs’ on anything so don’t waste your time.” He looked down, “And there is considerably less dust in here but it smells old and unused. I’m good to go in.”

Time now is Day 6, 5:02 PM

(OOC)

Congrats on finding the Vault! Hidden behind 2 secret doors, was only going to be discovered by chance. Going in?

PBEM - Episode 239. Secret Doors and Vaults.

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY NINE

(I/C)

“Game plan?” Brendon asked, cracking his knuckles and picking up his discarded potion vial. “I’m on it. Wyn, see if you can get me another light spell. Doc, stand up and see if the toys go back in their box. If anything comes through the door, tell them to kill it. I’m filled with potion and have the skills to help them out. Everyone get through the door if you can get it open, I’ll knock 6 times when I need you to let me in. Let’s go go go.”

Kovid leaned towards Wyn and whispered, “Please try the key, now.” He then raised his voice and hissed at Brendon, “I have no idea what you are raving about but we are about to have a lot of company and have no time. Come ON!”

“But what about commanding the red men to attack the gobs?”

Abraxas shook his head, “Brewdog, we should all just leave, now. Can you jam this switch so the Guards stay active? Will a hammer y spike to do it? Señor Wynsred, get el puerto open ahora. Señor Laney, help Brewstag look at this chair device. Also, Brewski, on your way here grab the snake y place it in front of the soldiers here, then we all run out and close el puerto behind us. Andale, mas rapido amigos." He stood up and…the elven warriors remained! Feeling bold, he commanded, “Defend the door and kill anyone who tries to come through that door."

And as one the elven warriors silently moved away from the dais and almost floated as they made their way to the main double doors in, weapons high and ready. Brendon was jogging over, bending down to pick up one of the 300 lbs snakes and with his enhanced strength, did it with ridiculous ease.

Wyn made sure he had the Throne room key, placed it by the hole, whispered, “Ok, hope dis works,” and pushed it in. It caught for a moment on some long forgotten grit, but rasped into the lock and he turned it, and an entire section of the south wall pivoted on its axis and revealed a very dusty unused corridor running south beyond. Grinning, he pushed Kovid and his lantern through first and called out, “Ok mes amis, allons-y. Dat means you too, du Lac. Don't know how we dis passage works and don't want you to get stuck."

"Ah, ahora vamonos el fuck out de aqui, amigos. Let's go." Abraxas stepped away from the throne – and the nub he had hit with his boot remained plugged in. “Ah, exellente! Forget about the other thing then.”

“What thing?” Brendon asked jogging up.

“Nothing, We’re good. Rapido!”

We could hear voices louder at the door along with some deeper tones and a rattling of keys. Wyn was waving the last of us through, “Let’s go, no dawldling!” and once the last one had stepped through, he came inside and shoved the secret door closed, turning the locking dog on this side near the floor over and sealing us in.

And about 10 seconds later, we could hear through the wall the other door open up and goblin voices and something deeper calling out for a Duchess. And then all hell broke loose. There was the sound of exploding steel and shrieking goblins. Bodies were flailing and falling and we could hear deeper voices calling Blessed Corfard and stop. The raucous combat went on for three minutes until it slowly petered out and ended and the party was silent, listening. It sounded like the goblins had won.

We were in a hall about 40’ long, featureless, plain, and had about 30 years of dust on the floor. We walked slowly and carefully to avoid kicking up too much of it but there was no other way out of here. “Dis makes no sense,” Wyn whispered.

“I agree,” Kovid replied. “We’re here now, let’s keep a weather ear out there and look around for a secret door. Can’t imagine the Ispan would an escape hall run out and let him get trapped.”

The party was looking while they could hear voices on the other side. Some of it was in goblin, but the Catharandamus figure and others spoke common. “Did you know about this?” “No Dark One. This was a surprise.” “Fucking Ispan and his fucking tricks.” “Are they dead?” “No, they believe they are. Will probably be out for hours.” “The illusion was debilitating.” “I know. I knew it wasn’t entirely real and I still can feel the sword stroke against my chest.” (Enemy Search: Black 12…Black 2)

“How many?” “Three Adepts and eleven goblins, Dark One.” “And Duchess?” “I would say she slipped out in the combat.” Whoever it was, there were at least 6 bodies moving around in there and they seemed to be pacing the room, looking about. The party continued to search for secret doors on this side.

“Why the snakes?” “Pardon?” “Why kill them?” “She had been fascinated with the elven gem, Dark One. Claims Blessed Corfard promised it to her once he ends the ward.”

Some more pauses. “Hmm. Blessed Corfard will be pissed.” “I do not doubt it.” “*sigh* It will fall to me to tell him. I look forward to hearing his magnificence debase me as if I had the serpents slain.” “Will he bring them back to life?” “Who knows. He is capricious.”

“Take the fallen out of here and bring them to their room to recover.” “Yes, Dark One.” Another pause. “Orc.” “Lord?” “This arrow. It’s Orcish. Grimtooth and Duchess are NOT known for sharing or swapping gear.” “Perhaps the Orc was here, Dark One?” “No. He has his own mission. And Duchess is a poor shot with the bow.” “There are many arrows, Dark One.” “Yes.”

Another long pause. “This blow here. Hammer I’d say.” “Yes. Tore the skin and scales.” “This blow is a sword stroke.” “Big one.” “Dark One?” “I think our goblin friends were mistake regarding Duchess.” “The invaders?” “This blow is very long, and very sharp.” “Dark One?” “Come. I think it’s time we leave. I’ll talk to Blessed Corfard, and then I’d like an honor guard to follow me downstairs.”

The voices were growing fainter as they walked across the room to leave. “I’ll arrange it. Hunting the invaders yourself?” “Not necessarily. But I want to talk to the Bitcher and see if that hairy troublemaker loaned out her toy.”

The group did not hear the door close but we did hear grunting and movement as ‘someone’ was moving roughly 14 fallen goblins and others who had been struck down with illusionary fatally blows. Meanwhile the party had spent 10 minutes checking out the hall (Secret Door: >Pink 4, >White 3, <Orange 1, >Blue 3, =Red 1, >Yellow 4) as best they could.

Along the south wall, Wyn could see a faint distortion in the dust showing an air current came from that wall and once he knew that, traced it up and around, finding where it was. Opening it involved pushing a stone along the wall in but the wall was thick and he didn’t hear anything on the other side.

And along the east wall, Brendon had been knocking about when he detected a strange vibration and hollow spot, letting him know there was a chamber back there. Getting closer he felt about, fingers delicately flicking around, until he managed to find a section of the wall where he could press his fingertips in the groove and pull out a strip of crumbly mortar. Revealing a keyhole.

Time now is Day 6, 4:57 PM

(OOC)

In the very dusty hall – no one has been here for 30 years. Potion has 44 minutes left. TWO secret doors – south wall and east wall. South wall is press stone and it opens. East wall needs a key. What’s the plan? Can’t go back to throne room now as someone is moving fallen bodies out and will be doing so for another ten minutes at least.

PBEM - Episode 238. Secret Doors and Vaults.

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY EIGHT

(I/C)

The group froze for half a second before Lannis drew in a deep breath and already freaked out from dying twice in 2 minutes, shrieked, "What the FUCK do you want? Get the he'll away from here before I tear your head off and shit…” but the rest of his tirade was stopped in midsentence by Lyra leaping behind him and wrapping one hand around his head and over his mouth.

“Shush you idiot!” she hissed in his ear, squeezing him tight and hitting him in the back of the knee to make him drop. “Everyone fucking shush!”

From outside there was more goblin chattering that Brendon, who had stole up to the door with his sword drawn and the potion still coursing through his veins, translated back as a whisper to the group as, “Duchess you stupid cow face human moron. We don’t speak chatter chatter human tongue. Goblin! Talk proper! Open the door!” Followed by something heavy hitting the closed portal (>Cha check, Pink 15 – failed, step one reaction worse to angry/combative). “OPEN IT YOU UGLY BITCH!” the goblins roared again, many of them chattering and repeating that as they proceeded to rattle the handle and kick the base of the door.

“Nice going, fucking idiot,” Kovid cursed at Lannis, running for the south west side of the room. “Wyn, we have one chance to get out of here. Give me a hand, will ya?” he whispered, already hitting the wall and running his hands over the course stone.

The elf stepped up to Brendon who was poised behind the main double doors, watching the knobs and locks with intense worry. He placed his hand on his shoulder and leaned in to whisper, "If you hear dem starting to move or do sometin to open de door, make some hissing sounds den throw one of de dead snakes at de door.”

The Scout nodded, giving the thumbs up.

“Iffin you need help, throw a rock my way en I'll signal Salazar." Wyn turned back and ran across the chamber on quiet feet to help Kovid out.

Meanwhile Abraxas grabbed the 7 remaining dragon scales (10 each – 70), frowned at the Magic User and shook his head, and looked up as Lyra tapped his shoulder. “Eh?”

She pointed to the throne and said in a low voice, “Let’s get done with here and leave already. Give me a hand, will ya?”

“No hay problema,” he glanced at the two gems and frowned. “Señor Lazarus, que comprendes about the doxa-doca-head-rooms? The glowy things. Can we de-actuate one or two of them?"

Giving the Ishtari gem and its false counterpart a wary look, Lannis wiped the sweat off his brow and shook his head no. “No I don't. Don't touch it. Don't even go near it. Being in here for too long with it is bad, not even because of the snakes." He climbed up to the dais and asked, “Can I help?”

“Are you going to scream again?” Lyra snapped.

“I’ve had a hell of a day.”

“Just..Just don’t, okay?” She sighed. “Don’t do anything more stupid than you already have in the last 10 minutes if that’s at all possible.”

“I’ll try.”

“Whoop dee doo.”

Kovid and Wyn were giving the south west wall a hard look over, prodding, poking, shoving, twisting, measuring and then doing it again. (<Secret Door, Yellow 2…>Secret Door, Orange 3) But Kovid had come upon a section of stone that had a faint irregularity, and then another and within a few moments, traced it up with his finger and then around and down again. “Here, elf. Here!”

Wyn didn’t see it at first until Kovid pointed it out and then the two of them smiled. “How do we open eet?”

“One problem at a time,” the dwarf replied. “How we doing people?” he asked as loud as he dared amidst the banging coming from outside the room.

“Checking over the throne here,” Lyra replied. “Give us 3 more minutes. Brendon?”

The Scout shook his head and jogged towards the party. “Goblins are getting frantic. Convinced someone named Duchess, a human, is in here as she supposedly has done it before. They don’t have a key but a few minutes ago they said they were going to get someone called ‘Catharandamus’ to come as he has a key.” He shook his head. “I’d give us 5 minutes tops people.” He went back to the door, hissing towards them, “Let me know when you get the secret hall open, otherwise we’re going to have a lot of company real soon.”

Wyn and Kovid were looking over how to open the door when Kovid had remembered something Arik had said and asked Lyra and Abraxas, “Anything up there to help open this thing? Switch? Plate? Anything?”

Both the Cleric (>Wis check -4 difficult, White 15) and the Fighter (<Wis check -4 difficult, Blue 2) had been pulling prying and digging all around the oak and silver throne (including the armrests!) and had found nothing and were ready to call it quits when Abraxas noticed a section at the bottom of the throne where a thick nub of wood was upraised at the base of the front left leg. “Ah!” he said with a grin, plopping his butt in the chair and making Lannis shield his eyes and turn aside briefly. “Relax, Senor Spandex. I think I have found it.” He pressed the back of his foot against the throne leg, lifted up his heel, and then pushed it down.

There was a subtle click and red smoke billowed up from the floor around the throne in a semicircle, obscuring all vision for a moment before it cleared just as fast.

And there were 6 elven warriors wearing red platemail and sporting shields, each with a red blade held up and at the ready, all standing alike and in a semi circle around the throne, facing out and prepared…for anything.

The group was deadly quiet but the warriors did nothing. Merely stood there.

“Umm…” Abraxas rubbed his chin. “That was not the open the door button I think, Senor Dwarf.”

Meanwhile Wyn (<Wis check +2 elf, Orange 8) and Kovid (>Wis check, Yellow 16) were still looking over the door, worried at the sound of the goblins banging like mad on the door and the now appearance of the moving alike and standing there elven warriors, were giving the wall a last once over when Wyn got down on his knees and cheered, “Ha ha Hooray!” quietly, pointing at the wall.

“What you got?” Kovid asked, relighting his lantern (down to 5 hours, 30 minutes).

Wyn pointed to a section of the mortar that at first glance appeared to be just an indentation until he pulled out the throne room key and held it up to it. “It’s a keyhole, Monsieur! And from de look of de dust and grit ever’where, I would say no one ‘as found it yet.”

Lannis was looking at the warriors with concern. “Running out of options, guys. Goblins trying to get in and some boss sounding guy named Catharandamus is coming. We have the Elven Warrior New Kids on the Block showing up like it’s Vogue Day at TRL. And there is a mystery door that no one has been in or even knows is there. Brendon, how long?”

The scout held up 1 and then a second finger. “I think that boss guy is coming, Goblins are all talking over each other and getting real excited.”

“And there you have it, we are running out of time. What’s the game plan.”

Time now is Day 6, 4:45 PM

(OOC)

You have 2 minutes to decide. 56 minutes left on potion. The elven warriors are doing nothing except standing there, weapons up and shields out, no sign of breathing or anything behind their full helms.

PBEM - Episode 237. Throne Rooms and Crystals

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY SEVEN

(I/C)

Abraxas leapt to Brendon’s aid, grabbing one of the coils near the Scout’s chest and pulling back hard. "Release him, serpiente!"

“Thanks, Doc!” Brendon shook his head, further pushing another coil aside. “Damn thing wrapped around me tighter than a ball and chain.”

“It certainly hitched itself onto you,” Lyra commented, drawing her flail.

“They’re a match set,” Kovid noted, “Both these snakes.”

“Right now it’s joined with our Scout,” Lannis replied, “And I don’t think it’s going to separate soon.”

“Eet does seem to be on ‘im like a lock an’ key,” Wyn debated and then drew his bow and readied an arrow.

“Enough,” Abraxas called. “I know what I have to do. I do!” and he pulled (<Str check, Blue 1) at the same time that Brendon did (< Str check, Red 2), making the serpent writhe and twitch and hiss as it tried to escape but the two men held it apart, its muscles quivering.

“Hold it there, mes amis! I gotta get at least one shot.” Wyn took aim and fired (>+5 to hit, Orange 18), another arrow streaking out and hitting (1d6 Damage, Orange 3) deep. “Dere! Eets on de ropes!”

"Pesky python aintcha?" Kovid laughed, still plying his attack with his dagger (>+4 to hit, Yellow 18) and scoring a deep thrust in the python’s side (1d4+1 Damage, Yellow 1 – 2 Damage!)

“I knew I had a bad feeling about this room!” Lyra moaned, stepping up her flail whirling, “This whole castle sucks.” And she swung (>+1 to hit, White 15), the flanged weapon smashing to beast’s spine (1d6+1+1-1 Damage, White 6 – 7 Damage and killed!) where she broke it and it fell to the ground twisting and moaning and hissing in its death throes.

“And THAT’S how you do it!” The party all were smiles even though they were dirty and bleeding and bruised when… (WMC +1: Red/Black 2! What: d12 – Red/black 2. Qty 3d6 – 5+5+1 = 11. Reaction check: 6+1 = 7 Neutral and wondering) they heard a knock at the door and some voices in goblin calling out something in their language.

The group immediately shut up as Brendon and Wyn translated for them the goblinoid voices asking, “Duchess? If that’s you in there fucking with Blessed Corfard’s snakes again the master is going to grow cross with you. Grimtooth wants to see you now, so come out.” Followed by another goblin complaining, “Damned humans don’t belong here.”

Time now is Day 6, 4:35 PM

(OOC)

66 minutes left on Strength potion.

Monster XP: 2 Giant Constrictor Snakes @ 400 xp each, 800 xp divided

Lannis, Kovid, and Wyn – 133 xp each

Abraxas – 144 xp

Brendon – 149 xp

Lyra – 163 xp

Many goblinoid voices in the hall – what’s the plan? Door is locked from our side – do they have a key? Talk? Delay? Find secret door? Open and fight? Play quiet and buy time? What’s the plan?

Also – Lannis needs 61 xp to go up. Lyra just under 2k

PBEM - Episode 236. Throne Rooms and Crystals

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY SIX

(I/C)

Dragging Lannis a bit further away from the fight by his hair, Lyra cursed at him, “You stupid wasting idiot!”

“I’m so sorry!” Kovid laughed and he struggled to drag his portion of the snake further away from Brendon, “Seriously, funny/not funny.”

Taking his bow and lining up a shot at the midsection of the beast, Wyn bemoaned, ““ would say I did not see dis comin... but I have heard some sayings bout what goes around comes around... and I tink all be comin round to Offop at once.” He fired (<+5 to hit, Orange 5) but the shaft hit the snake at an angle and flew off into the room instead.

Meanwhile at his end of the serpent, Brendon tightened his grip and called out, “Kovid help me hold it still so the boys can cut it in half”.

“Grande notion!” Abraxas spun his Scythe in the air once and then ran forward, arced back to hack down. "Come mierda y muere, serpiente estupido!" And he slashed (>+6 to hit, Blue 11) the silvered blade slammed through the scales deep (1d8+3 Damage, Blue 7 – 10 Damage!) and the snake’s head back by Kovid hissed in agony.

Brendon reasserted his grip on the snake (<Str check, Red 14) and then slammed his dagger further up on the reptiles body (=+7 to hit, -4 grapple, Red 10) again surprised at how easy and how deep his weapon thrust ended up being (1d4+4 damage, Red 2 – 6 Damage!). “Chop chop chop!”

Meanwhile, having an issue at his end of the serpent, Kovid called to the Cleric, "Lady Lyra, please either heal Lannis or put him out of his misery, because I'm done dancing with snakes today." He vainly tried to keep holding on (>Str check, Yellow 20) but the damage the snake had taken and its gyrations made it almost impossible and it slithered through his grasp, using Brendon as a momentary foundation. He did swing his dagger though as the head whistled by (>+4 to hit, -4 grapple, Yellow 20 (2nd 20 in a row), Critical, Max damage 5) and caught it in its eye, making it scream and hiss in horrible pain.

At the same time Lyra was finishing up her prayer, voice low as she spat at the dead wizard, “Your debt is becoming quite large Lannis. You might want to consider a second adventuring job just to pay me at this point. Aine, let’s waste another heal on this loser!” (CLW 1d6+1, White 2 – Heal 3 – and alive again!)

Lannis screamed out again, eyes snapping open and looking around wildly. “Proximity. Proximity! Surroundings damn it!” He then fixed his gaze on Lyra, “I am so going to lodge a complaint with your Mother Superior at the shoddy way you’ve accorded your rescues.”

“Just get up and stop bitching you baby,” the Cleric sneered at him as she looped one arm under his shoulders.

“What the shit kind of horse fuckery are you playing at?” He shook his head, trying to get his balance aligned. “Next time I get hurt please, I beg you, drag me to a better cleric.”

“Whatever, Loser.” She ruffled his hair and handed him his fallen staff. “Try not to hit the ground this time, there are other people in this group actually pulling their weight, and not your half dead carcass.”

The snake though, now with most of its body loose (Bite: 1-4 Brendon, 5 Kovid, 6 Abraxas – Red/Black 4 – Brendon), turned and lunged at the scout who was holding the back end of its body (<+3 to hit Bite, Black 7) but Brendon easily dodged out of the way. However, in his dodging (>+3 to hit, Constrict, Black 13) he was unable to get out of the way of the one, two coils that snaked around his body and squeezed tight (1d4 Damage: Red/Black 1 – Take 1 Damage). ‘”You’re going to regret that!” Brendon called out.

(Initiative: 4 vs 4 – tie. Reroll. Party Steel 1 vs Snake Red/Black 2)

Already holding Brendon tight, the snake continued squeezing, forcing a bit more of the Scout’s lungs to empty and cramping up his muscles again (Auto hit 1d4: Blue 3 – Take 3 Damage). It tried to find an opening to bite his as well (<+3 to hit Bite, Green 9) but again, was unable to land the blow.

Time now is Day 6, 4:33 PM

(OOC)

Bottom of the round. 68 minutes of Strength potion left. It’s coiled around Brendon now, same rule – pull off (up to 2 people) or attack with dagger, anything else is 20% chance to auto hit Brendon. Lannis you have 3 hp. Brendon you have 10. Snake is pretty fucked up and hurt – fyi. 

PBEM - Episode 235. Throne Rooms and Crystals

In a comedy of errors, the Magic User died in here, just brought back to life, and then was killed again the next round by the same damned snake. A true LOL moment as it was playing out before I had a chance to write it up.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE

(I/C)

Hearing Lannis gurgling as his lungs were squeezed empty along with the groaning of his ribcage, Wyn abandoned his bow and drew his dagger, shouting to Brendon, “Well dis went south quickly! Du Lac, I tink it be time to embrace yer inner ogre! Iffin you en de dwarf help Offop, Wyn will go stab at de one on Salazar!"

Meanwhile struggling with his own serpent, Abraxas released his hold on the Morrigaan Scythe and fumbled at his belt for one of the stone daggers. “¡Hijo de Puta! ¡Chupa en ESTE!” He then curled his arm and started stabbing up, sideways, and around, anywhere he could feel snakeflesh. “Amigos, save Señor Lameshaft. He looks muy malo. Get him free, THEN attack that bastardo.”

Abandoning the one attacking Abraxas, Lyra charged across the hall to Lannis’ fallen body, calling out, “WHOA, whoa whoa whoa whoa you CAN NOT DIE YET. You owe me one mother fucker!”

The Fighter had made some headway, his free hand (<Str -10 grab) traced down from the snake’s neck to just below its head and held the fanged mouth away from another bite. Meanwhile his dagger thrust again and again (>+5 to hit, -4 grapple as well, Blue 15) at the same time that Wyn arrived also stabbing (<+2 to hit, Orange 4), “Sabemos que Señor Lamenuts will not be the thankful one, pero it is what hacemos." (1d4+2 Damage: Blue 4 – 6 Damage and killed!!) The snake began spasming and coiling in its death throes, waving wildly as the fighter and elf worked on removing the coils.

Meanwhile Brendon took out his last potion bottle and dumped it down his throat (6+1d6 turns: Red 1 – 7 turns – 70 minutes) tasting juniper and his limbs were quivering. Everything felt lighter but he looked no different. He bent down and placed the empty vial on one of the mummified elves, “Hold this for me buddy!” he said cheerfully and then ran across the room, his own silver dagger out, to help free Lannis about the same time that Kovid also arrived, “Hang on Big Brain we’ll get you out.”

“Pull it from the tail first!” Lyra commanded, dragging Lannis by his feet as the Scout and dwarf, each armed with a poignard made grabs and stabs for the reptile. “Don’t attack the one that has Lannis or else it’s going to keep squeezing him!” 

“Just going to use the dagger as a handle!” Brendon called out, grabbing for the beast (<Str check, Red 12) and stabbing with the knife (>+7 to hit, -4 grapple as well, Red 13), surprising himself and others at how quickly he dragged one of the coils wide and how deeply he slammed the knife in up to the crossbar into the snake’s gut. “Get that shit out of your mouth!” he commanded the python.

“Brendan! You be drinkin de potion to make you strong,” Wyn called out from across the room, “Den just poking it wit yer dagger?! At least try to uncoil dat snakey putain while ye be at it!”

“I am damn it!” he called back, wrapping one arm under the snake and shoving hard.

Meanwhile from the other side of the Magic User, Kovid had also wrapped one of his arms around the snake’s midsection and pulled (<Str check, Yellow 1), the two of them working in tandem loosened the beast’s grip on Lannis and Lyra was able to pull him free, the wizard making strange gurgling noises as his lungs refilled. “For a dead guy,” Brendon noted, “He sure talks a lot.”

Plying his own dagger (<+4 to hit, -4 grapple as well, Yellow 12) but unable to land a good enough blow on the squirming reptile, Kovid shrugged, “At least he isn’t insulting anyone.”

“Yet.”

Meanwhile, pressing one hand in the middle of his chest and the other on his torn up shoulder, Lyra growled out a prayer,  “Aine, heal this mother fucker because if he dies... well I just want what I’m owed.” (CLW: 1d6+1, White 3, Heal 4)

Lannis opened his eyes, drew a deep breath, and cried out, “Fuck fuck fuck! Who had two giant fuck off snakes and just threw them in the throne room?”

“Dat would be Corfard!” Wyn offered helpfully from across the room.

“Fuck that guy!” Looking at all his blood coating his robes and Lyra’s face hovering over his, he spat a wad of blood to the side and added, “And thanks for half a save! Didn’t think of the second snake, did ya?”

On Lyra’s person, her manacrystal grew white hot and then cracked (consumed, remove from sheet) covering her in a prismatic spray and recharging all her spell slots. “Whoa! Aine!” She swore.

“Great! Heal me twice you horse faced slag,” he suggested.

“Seriously?” Brendon shook his head, ready to work his way to the snake’s head one knife thrust at a time.

“You area a piece of work, you know that?” Lyra’s eyes squinted and her expression grew grim.

“I am the best thing in your life and you know it.”

(Snake bit attack: 1-2 Kov, 3-4 Bren, 5 Lyra, 6 Lannis: Red/Black 6 – Lannis – thanks Kelly!! Hahahahaha)

The reticulated python, frustrated by both the Scout and Dwarf holding it’s coils, curled its head and neck back again and then LUNGED, biting the Magic User (>to hit +3 Bite, Black 11) AGAIN, this time in the back and along the side of his recently healed neck (1d6 Damage: Grey/Green 4 – and Lannis is DEAD again – HAHAHAHAH At 0 hp) and blood burst as the magic user screamed horribly and died once more as Lyra howled at the two fighters, “Really!? Fucking REALLY!?!?!”

Kovid was alternatingly laughing and horrified as he wrestled with his part of the snake, “It was an accident. An ‘Accident’! I swear!! Haw Haw Haw!” The reptile though tried to through one of its trailing coils (1-3 Kovid, 4-6 Brendon – White 6 – Brendon!) around the Scout (>+3 to hit Constrict, White 3) but Brendon was able to dodge easily out of the way as the two of them manhandled the 300# snake further away from Lyra and the recently dead twice again Lannis.

Abraxas had finally dropped the last of the dead snake coils off of him and picked up his scythe again. “Say what you will, but sometimes I think Senor Numbnuts gets what he deserves.”

Nodding as well, Wyn replied, “Oui.” Pointing at the last snake still squirming with the dwarf and human he asked, “Shall we?”

(Initiative: 5 and 5 – tie, reroll: Party Steel 5 vs Snake Red/Black 4 – Party wins).

Time now is Day 6, 4:32

(OOC)

I fucking laughed as I was rolling it out and Leo was asking what’s so funny Daddy and I told him rolling dice makes me laugh.

Lannis is again at 0 hp, at -3 he is dead/dead. Will lose 1 hp per round unless healed. Lyra, your manacrystal is used up but you have all your spells again. Brendon, your Strength will last 69 more minutes. Brendon and Kovid for now have a grip on the Python, but it will make a bite and chance to constrict again next turn. – you guys have the initiative. What’s the plan?

PBEM - Episode 234. Throne Rooms and Crystals

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY FOUR

(I/C)

“Badger, Badger,” Abraxas hissed, leaping into action, his Scythe flashing off his back as he ran to Lyra’s left. “Move, Lannis!” he waved, charging on and attacked. “Shush you slithering serpent. Stay silent and suffer slain by my scythe!" His first blow (>+6 to hit, Blue 10) hit the serpent along its flank about 3’ shy of its head (1d8+3 Damage: Blue 7 – 10 Damage), tearing through the thick scales and hitting the flesh below. “Ha Ha!” he cheered, reversing his weapon and swinging it again in an upward arc (>+6 to hit, Blue 15), slamming it across its snout (1d8+3 Damage, Blue 3 – 6 Damage!), spraying blood across the Cleric’s face and hair. “Sorry, Senora!”

“Ugh!” Lyra complained, wiping her eyes clear on the inside of her sleeve.

Meanwhile loading up his bow, Brendon called out, “What’s that thing Lannis says when he wants something? Oh yeah dibs! Dibs on the venom if any.”

“Don’t say that Brendon, don’t remind the gods that snakes have poison!” She let her flail swing wildly in the air before lining up and letting it hit at maximum speed (>+1 to hit, White 20 – Critical, Max Damage: 1d6+1+1-1 = 7 Damage!) and smashed the serpent on the side of the head, making it rear back and hiss in agony. Seeing Lannis backing up, Lyra snarled at him, “You. Owe. Me!”

“I will, I will!” he said, changing his mind from thrown dart to readying a spell. “And Brendon, dibs means dibs! You can have whatever part of the snake you want after you kill it."

“Snakes. Pourquoi did it have to be snakes...” Wyn drew another arrow and let it fly, (>+5 to hit, Orange 12), striking the snake along its side, making it squirm (1d6 Damage: Orange 6) in pain from the shaft.

Finally ready for his own shot, Brendon suggested, “I will, Lannis! Fresh cooked snake is delicious, who here hasn’t tired it?” He took aim and let it fly (>+6 to hit, Red 17), hitting the snake in its heaving side (1d6 Damage, Red 3) and sending more blood flying.

Realizing he was indeed needed, Kovid ran up, Theystran Hammer already whirling, “Sssssounds like you guys don’t like ssssnakes, hahaha.” He laughed as he swung and hit (>+5 to hit, Yellow 6) but it was a glancing blow and was turned by the wounded reptile’s scales. “Damn it!”

Lastly was Lannis who had backed up a half dozen paces, let his fingers burn with magic and lifted them, “In Bet Grav!” A silvery pink dart blasted (1d4 Damage, Pink 1) against the snake’s side but most of its force was turned aside by its scales.

(Morale: White 2 + White 3 = 5 – Stays!) The serpent was being attacked by three combatants and in a flash (1-2 Abs, 3-4 Lyra, 5-6 Kov: White -2 Abraxas) turned to the Fighter and its head lunged (<+3 to hit Bite, Black 12) grabbing onto his arm but was unable to worry the fangs through the Banded mail. However it DID manage (>+3 to hit Constrict, Black 19) to wrap one muscular coil around Abraxas (1d4 Damage: Red/Black 1) and squeeze, followed by a 2nd that went around his waist, and the snake slithered more, getting a third one wrapped around his thigh. “Frijoles! It’s soooo tight!”

(Surprise Check: Red 1 – failed) The party had been so focused on the Reticulated Python from the first box, bringing it close to death, that they had failed to account for the 2nd box on the other side of the room. The 2nd box that Lannis had backed up a few paces closer to. The 2nd box where another Python also of 25’ and 300 lbs in weight noiselessly slunk its way out of…and STRUCK.

The group heard Lannis’ high pitched scream of pain as the giant snake hit the Magic User (>+3 to hit Bite, Green 16) on the shoulder, its fangs sinking DEEP (1d6 Damage: Red/Black 6) into his flesh, muscles, and even scraping the bone beneath. “AHHHHH!!!!”

And then using him as a fixed point draped its coils over the mage’s midsection, wrapped him twice, and SQUEEZED (>+3 to hit Constrict, Green 15), catching Lannis as his lungs were mostly empty from his howling and one hand and arm trapped under the muscular snake (1d4 Damage, Blue 3), popping bones, making him groan, and then…he fell over! (Lannis at ZERO HIT POINTS).

(Initiative: Party Steel 5, Snakes Red/Black 4).

Time now is Day 6, 4:31 PM

(OOC)

Lannis is at 0 hp. As a 3rd level person, at -3 he is DEAD/DEAD. There is a snake around Lannis and a snake around Abraxas – it will take a strength check of beating your strength by 10 to pry the coils off (If have a Str of 13, will need to a roll a 3 or less), or if two work together, they will both have to beat their strength as normal (if two have a Str of 13, BOTH need to a roll a 13 or less) to pry the coils off. Anyone who is NOT pried off the coils OR killed the snake, will automatically take 1d4 damage on the snakes’ initiative turn.

If you strike the snake with anything larger than a dagger or bare hands (or not direct auto hitting magic) while it is coiled around someone, there is a 20% chance that your blow (regardless of what you roll) will strike the person coiled up.

You have 3 hp to get to Lannis at the start of this round and either heal him or free him.

Good luck!!!

PBEM - Episode 233. Throne Rooms and Crystals

It's funny because originally the character playing Brendon was going to check out the crates but got side tracked in the Discord and eventually his turn post totally discounted looking at any of the boxes.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY THREE

(I/C)

Brendon frowned. “It appears someone had a hissy fit in here.”

“Yeah, a fucking Dragon,” Lannis hissed.

“You sure?”

“Pretty damned nipple raising positive, Magnum.”

Looking behind them, the Scout shook his head, “The light projecting into the hall can’t be good. Let’s move inside and close and lock the door.” He pointed to the elf, “Wyn and I can look around.”

Lyra was very uncomfortable, “I say out, right guys? Out...? Oh Aine...” she swore as Wyn was waving everyone to get in.

"In we go, mes ami. Quickly! Allons-y."

The party entered and Lannis gave Lyra a comforting pat as he guided her in, "Come on Bill S. Preston Esquire, in we go, it's better than being out here. Because out here? There be dragons"

“Lovely,” she grunted, stepping through the portal.

Once inside, Brednon shut the door and using the key, locked it from inside the room, handing the ring back to Wyn who took it with a short, “Merci.”

The chamber felt electric, the party could feel their skin was awash with energy as the two gems on the pedestals cycled through their rainbow coloring again and again and again. The Throne room was huge, larger than anything the group had seen so far in their travels within the Ispan’s Castle and the 20 plus mummified dead elves did not make things any easier on them.

Wyn cleared his throat to get the group attention and then began, “H'okay... checkin out all de bodies and wall will take a while. We should jump on a few quicker tings first. Wall, gems, thrones, scales... oui. Oui..."

“Elf-friend,” Kovid suggested, “let’s look for the secret door or hall Arik and Moira spoke about behind the throne.”

"H'okay... Dwarfriend, as you said, we check back dere. Everyone keep does goddess weapons sheathed en stowed fer de time bein'. Not sure if havin all de goddess weapons out will affect de Eye of Ishtari,” he gave both of them a troubled gaze. “Whichever one of de gems dat be."

Snapping his fingers, he pointed at Lannis, "Monsieur Offop, I tink only one such as you would be qualified enough to discern de archaic intentions of those glowing gems. Perhaps you might consult wit de priestess in de event dat de gems have some divine connection.”

“I’m going to be right here, by this door, listening, and not going any further in unless I absolutely have to.” Lyra stomped her foot as she positioned herself by the main double doors.

“It’s ok,” Lannis smiled, “I don’t have the Ishtari crate anymore but I still have the poem and stanzas thatwas found with it. With my colossal brain and keen magical insight, this shouldn’t take too long to figure out which is the degenerate sex elves’ magical geegaw.”

“We are feeling real glad you’re here,” Kovid snorted.

“You’re welcome,” Lannis said without guile.

The Scout was making his way across the chamber, giving the dead elves a sidestep when needed, “While the rest of you are checking out the throne and walls and orbs, I’d be interested in a red scales.”

“Muy as well,” Abraxas answered, also crossing the chamber with purpose.

"Sigh, Monsieur du Lac, while I understand bein' interested in de scales, yer skills may be better suited to checkin out en around de throne, I tink. See if dere be any switches or buttons or secret compartments mayhaps.... I would not sit in it dough... it may be trapped like dat pedestal dat zapped yer money away."

“And always check the arm rests,” Lannis offered.

"Oui,” Wyn grinned, “as Offop says, mayhaps check de arm rests, too."

“As soon as we’re done with the scales,” Brendon replied, the two men already picking up their first plate sized dragon scales and turning them over to inspect them.

“Shall we?” Kovid asked. He pointed east and west of the throne. “Have a preference?”

“Non.”

“Let’s look together, will maximize our chances.” The dwarf pointed (Random coin toss) east. “There first?” The elf nodded and the two of them started from the throne and made their way east of the dais checking the wall with care.

Abraxas and Brendon were able to gather up 8 scales, each one weighing about a pound (10), and mostly about the same size. The Fighter (>Int check, +2 bonus fighting stuff, Blue 14) and the Scout (<Int check, red 3) started with the obvious things. “I’ve seen these before on cargo,” Abraxas mentioned, dragging a dagger across the face of one, barely marking it.

“Really?” Brendon replied, “What color?”

“Couldn’t tell, was in the crate.”

“Too bad.” Brendon bent one of the scales almost one third of the way over before it began to make odd crackling noises. “Damn things are flexible.”

“Are they fire resistant?” Abraxas took out one of his torches and lit it. Brendon placed one of the scales right over the fire and then after a minute, touched the opposite side of the scale. “Well?”

“No heat. Don’t feel a thing.”

“So we don’t oil fire Corflarth,” Abraxas nodded. “Maybe we can make them into a shield or amror.”

“Maybe Doc. But that’s gonna take some time,” Brendon sighed, looking through the last of the scales and then stacking them by the dais. The two of them looked up at the silver and oak elven throne on the dais and the Scout pursed his lips. “I’d bet 2 to 5 it’s trapped somehow.”

“Go take a look?”

“Yep. Gonna have to,” Brendon started checking out the base of the dais as Abraxas was giving the bodies nearby the sideeye.

Meanwhile Kovid (<Secret Door, Yellow 1) and Wyn (>Secret Door, Orange 6) were giving the eastern side of the wall from the Throne to the corner a solid once over. They tapped and twisted and moved the tapestry, and flicked, and prodded, and poked for some time until they finally came to the end and nodded. “OK, there is nothing on this side, Let’s go around and check the western side of the hall.”

And Meanwhile Lannis was giving both gems a close look over (<HALF Int +2 Wizard, Pink 6), muttering as he did so. “Ok, there are burns on the base of the pedestals,” he noted. “Not deep, I’d say recent at best. Probably due to the competing magics.” He walked around them, taking his hat off and squinting to check out the gems. “One is powered by the Ispan’s spell as channeled through the 4 goddesses. So it’s awash in positive energy. And the other,” he rubbed his chin, “Is powered by Corfard and his corrupting energy fueled by draconic magic and the ritual of slain Hobgoblins.”

He paced a bit musing as he did so. “So we have one powering the rainbow ward and the other leaching the power out of it, breaking it down. A mirror of the first. And if the first is a product of positive energy, then the other is a product of negative energy.” He glanced back briefly at Lyra at the door and then returned to his study. ‘Going to need to see if she can feel negative or evil energies if we’re going to take the correct gemstone out of service.” He looked at his arms, the hairs standing up. “There is a lot of pent up raw magic fluxing against one another in this chamber that unless you’re a dragon, it’s not safe to be here for more than an hour or so.”

Finally. Lyra had been at the door, listening outside (no roll needed) and occasionally looking at the party and their doings. They were quiet and muttering to themselves as they checked out the Throne Room. (Party Surprise: Red/Black 2 – Surprised!!)

(Because she was the only one not positioned with the rest of the group and specifically said she was watching and listening: Half Wis Check: White 3 – success!) Maybe it was Aine, maybe it was luck, who knows, but Lyra happened to turn back to glance at the group when she saw a 25’ long giant reticulated python had slinked its way out of one of the two crates and had made its way across the chamber, reared back, mouth opening, ready to strike at Lannis.

(Private Initiative for Surprise round: Lyra and Snake: Steel 3 vs Red/Black 3 – tie! Reroll. Steel 3 vs Red/Black 1 – Lyra wins!)

“Lannis! LANNIS! SHIT!”

“What is it, Horse…AHHHH!!!” The Magic User shrieked in terror as he saw the snake LUNGE at him, only to slam full on into the Cleric he threw herself in front of the reptile and deflected its attack with her shield.

“Stow it!” She cried out and whipped her Lolthian Flail around in a silvery arc, “I SHOULD have taken the other spell!” she moaned as (>+1 to hit, White 19) the flanged head smashed into the snake’s face, knocking it back (1d6+1+1-1 Damage, White 3 – 4 Damage!) and making it hiss in fury.

And then it moved, quicker than the eye could track, its mouth terribly wide (<+3 to hit bite, Black 10) and caught the cleric in the arm, but her chainmail held true. Using her as an anchor it tried to ply its coil over her head (<+3 to hit Constrict, Red/Black 10) but she got her shield up in time and the heavy coil SLAMMED into the shield and was deflected momentarily to the ground again.

“Snake! Snake! Oh my god, it’s a snake!” Lannis cried out.

The rest of the party shook their head in surprise at the massive reptile (Initiative: Party Steel 3, Snake Red/Black 1) and then launched into action, Abraxas chanting ,”Badger Badger Badger!” and Kovid roaring, “Mushroom!”

Time now is Day 6, 4:30 PM

(OOC)

25’ Giant Constrictor, and Lyra saved Lannis (a total of 13 on both rolls would have had the mage bite and then coiled – say thank you Lannis!). So it’s the top of the round! Look at pic for placement – Who’s doing what?

PBEM - Episode 232. Throne Rooms and Crystals

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY TWO

(I/C)

Getting a bunch of nod from the party, Wyn smiled and blew out his breath softly. Kovid pointed west and muttered, “According to the maps, the Guardians are in that direction. And that is most likely the pacing we are hearing. So let’s get out of this hall pronto.

"H'okay,” Wyn nodded, “Let's do dis. Ever’one spread out ta open de door? I ‘ave de key but should I ‘ave to open it? Wyn not running on a full tank. I cen stand in from if the western double door, turn de key, den turn de knob fer de eastern door and de dwarf can nudge it open wit his foot or hammer or sometin.”

Kovid nodded, “Makes sense to me.”

Brendon readied his bow to shoot, arrow nocked and loaded. “I’ll lock the door once we’re inside.”

“Oui! I was gonna say dat.” 

Muttering ‘Blessed Corfard’ softly, Lannis gave two thumbs up and readied a dart.

Abraxas tightened his grip on his Scythe, “Before we lock el puerto behind us, we may want to make sure nothing in there is ready to kill us. Don’t want to block off our only exit. Someone can stay by the door while we look around real quick, then lock once it is clear.”

“As long as we get out of this hall,” Lyra offered, Flail held up and ready to strike.

“Den it’s time.” Wyn took out the Spy’s keyring, flipped to the key marked “Throne” and lined it up with the lock. “Poison Needles?” he asked, getting a grim nod from Brendon. “Just checking.” Holding the key with just the tips of his fingers, he slowly stepped forward and inserted it in the lock where it settled with a faint click.

“And a one and a two,” he muttered as he turned the key…and the lock unlocked with a deep “clacking” noise.

The party froze, ears sharp, but nothing came from the singular noise, so with an easing of tension, Wyn removed the key and turned the knob of the closer door giving Kovid an arched brow.

“Here we go,” he said…and opened the door.

Rainbow light strobed out along with the scent of plasma and a rising feel of pent up energy that made the party’s hairs stand on end. They looked in as one at the Throne room of Halgafar the Ispan of the Dawnlands.

The massive chamber with its vaulted ceiling was well lit by TWO large looking 20 sided gem stones that were on pedestals set in front of a raised dais where a throne of silver and oak stood along the center of the south wall. The two gems pulsed with vibrant rainbow lights, but the two gems did not work in tandem, instead working opposite of one another as one ran down the colors of the rainbow, the other ran up the colors instead. They seemed to be working at opposite resonations and it was giving the room a charged feeling.

On either side of the dais were 20’ long tapestries showing the 4 seasons as depicted against the town of Acreage, the Ispan’s Castle featuring prominently in their display.

Over 20 mummified elven bodies were strewn about the chamber, dropped where they were and from the expression on their papery dry skin, they were in some agony at their time of death 30 years ago. Two of them are in sitting positions near the dais, hands clasped to their midsections. Strangely, there are 2 VERY sizable crude wooden crates in here, each about 6’ to a side.

However the last thing that made the group stop and look is the large claw marks in the carpeted floor and along the inside of the door frame, as if some huge taloned figure had been in this room at some point recently. From where they were, near the pedestals they could see some cast off crimson red scales the size of dinner plates caught on the edge of the dais as well as the corners of the torn carpet.

“Um…In or out,” Lannis whispered looking around real nervously as the lights from the room spilled into the hall along with the strange energy coming from the Gems. “We need to decide now.”

Time now is Day 6, 4:20 PM

(OOC)

Ok – some quick notes to you. If you want to check the room for traps because of its size, it will take 30 minutes flat, unless there is just an area you want to look at. Same for searching for secret doors – the whole chamber 30 minutes, unless you just specify an area. Lannis, as the only person with Dragon in your knowledge background, yes, the claw and talon marks are make from a dragon and the scales are indeed from a dragon. The longer you leave the door open, the MUCH greater chance it will attract attention. So what are you doing, and if going in, who is going where and looking at what?

PBEM - Episode 231. Throne Rooms and Crystals

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY ONE

(I/C)

Wyn shook his head and pointed down the hall. “Nord.”

“You are a one note lute, Elfriend,” Kovid sighed, “But I can’t disagree. We talked about it earlier. The throne room should be to our north and west. I'm good with checking that out first."

The party followed Brendon as the Scout continued checking the hall for problems, eyes peeled for danger. “I still think we should find a place to rest for the night,” he suggested. “And if it is up here, I’m not suggesting we rest right this minute. The bedrooms,” he pointed to the east past the two doors, “probably isn’t where we want to stay. That being said, I agree with Li’l Man and we should investigate the throne room and possibly the secret room.”

Feeling very antsy on being exposed in the hall, Abraxas goaded the group on from behind, "Wherever we go, let's go there quickly, no me gusta how expose'ed we are out aqui."

As they progressed through the dim halls, Lyra was very aware of the danger they were in. “Each door we pass is another possible avenue for the enemy to get behind us. However, I agree, we should at least check out the throne room if we can. I’d be a shame if we came all this way too turn back and rest for the night.”

Muttering to himself and saying “Blessed Corfard” every half dozen paces, Lannis grunted and said aloud, "Yeah, sure fine, better be potions in there, check the arm rests." Before going back to repeating the Dragon’s honorific.

Lyra continued, “But as far as rest, are we confident we can find a place that’s safe here to rest or should we camp it outside?”

“Butchers?” Kovid suggested.

She shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. If we make a deal about leaving or leave some obvious tracks that we left they’ll think we’re not coming back.”

In the darkness another door on the east wall loomed up and then beyond that, some half dozen paces was ANOTHER eastern door…and then just beyond that, the passage ended and turned to the west. Kovid smiled and marked it on his map while Brendon held his finger to his lips and listened to the two doors.

As the Scout spent a few moments listening (<Hear Noise, +20% bonus), Wyn stole to the corner and peered around, taking a step or two for his infravision to fire up. The passage was the same temperature as we had seen earlier and there were no heat sources down it. Coming back Brendon motions the group close and bend over to muffle his voice.

“Both doors open away from us and are turn handles. No locks on either door but again, can’t prove there aren’t bars on the other side.”

“Hear anyting?” Wyn asked.

“Same sort of set up as the other two doors. First one I could faintly hear some crackling like a hearth fire but indistinct and distant. Second door there were some very low pitched murmuring voices. Speaking sparingly at best.”

“Same as the other door? Same language?”

“Could not tell, but voices for sure.”

Abraxas shook his head. “That is two doors we passed with voices behind, to say nothing of the goblins that were south of the intersection we came in at.” He looked back down the passage, seeing only darkness that way. “We should go. Vamonos Amigos."

(>Enemy Hear check +4, Black 9 – no)

(WMC: Red/Black 6)

The group moved on, getting to the corner and then once coast was clear, turned to the west and kept going. It was over 25 paces from the corner until we arrived a set of ornate reinforced decorative doors. The stones and lintel were thick, the frame was tight, and the doors themselves seemed in great shape. Set in the center of the door was a wide black lock that didn’t fit with the motif of the rest of the elven chamber. Looking it over, Brendon laid an ear to the door to listen (<Hear Noise +20% bonus, Red 11) and checked it over for any traps (<Find traps, +20% obvious, Purple 38).

As for the rest of the party they were very aware of the situation and looked around and listened. Behind them were the odd echoes and little else. But to the west in the gloom we could hear the distant sound of someone pacing. Slow and steady. Then stop, then pacing again, the sound receding, then stop. Then repeat again and again.

Brendon finished his observation and blew out slowly. “This is a bitch of a door under the best of circumstances. Hinges on the other side and doors open away from us. There are flanges on the inside of the frame preventing any light going in either direction or sliding a weapon through. Its tight to the lintel and within a sixteenth of an inch to the ground.”

He pointed to the lock. “That’s the bad part. The lock is a 4 tumbler lock with a spinning front pin. Meaning it’ll take two attempts to open it – one to find the right position for the pin, and another to crack it. But, the catch is inside are three spring loaded needles set at the back of the mechanism. Try to open it without the right key and those needles will flash out and catch whatever person is trying to pick it.”

“I ‘ave de key,” Wyn offered, “Are we sure dat de key will not set orf de trap an kin get past de spinning pin tingy?”

“Yep,” Brendon assured.

“Hokay,” Wyn said slowly, the key ring from Travis the spy held loosely on one finger. “So…we doing dis?”

Time is now Day 6, 4:18 PM

(OOC)

Made it a double turn since you weren’t caught (yet) and told me you were aiming for the throne room. You’re here. Key and in?

PBEM - Episode 230. Halls, Swords, Decisions.

There is a friendly rivalry between the character behind Lannis and the one behind Kovid regarding the maps. Typically in our tabletop game, Lannis' player does the mapping, but for this PBEM game, the player behind Kovid is. And since we have the luxury of time, he's been making the map on the computer and fleshing it out with little pictures and symbols. Really having a good time with it. Which is making the other player passively aggressively give him slack over it. But for this incarnation, the player running Brendon didn't understand the map, Arik's overlay, and exactly where we were which led to a 20 count of emails and competing texts that I pretty much lifted verbatim and dropped in here.

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY

(I/C)

Wyn pointed down the hall, noting the group was silent. “*ahem* "North? Nord means north, in case dat was unclear."

“Hold the Spell components, Keebler,” Lannis interrupted. He pointed to the closed door with the possible laboratory behind it. "If the room sounds empty and appears to be an Alchemy Lab, I think we should at least look in and see if anything is immediately usable or sabotagable. Couldn't hurt to look right?”

Abraxas was nodding, “Perhaps we should check out este...  como dices... Lab?? Si, Lab. If the teleporting Gob is in there, we can take him out. If there is Slee-mei Verde in there…”

“We burn it without delay,” Lannis interrupted.

“Perhaps,” the Fighter shrugged. “Or perhaps we can use it on Corglef. Me gusta go in el Lab. Pero, I will not open el puerto. Señor Korgi, now that you are feeling better, would you like to resume the opening puertos?"

Kovid nodded, moving to the front but giving the door a frown. "I say we leave the door for now. We know gobs are in the general area, and an alchemy lab sounds dangerous.”

“True that,” the wizard agreed, “Can blow your nipples clean off.”

The dwarf laughed, “Let's explore where we want to go to the north. Bedrooms, Throne Room, then possibly the Guardian area to grab the Corfard idol.” He shrugged, “Maybe we'll get lucky and run into that black cat before we seek out Mirabellis."

Lyra adjusted her shield before commenting, "At first I was going to say no to the lab but Abraxas brought up a lovely point. There’s still some unaccounted for slime, isn’t there?”

“Yes, and if we find it we burn it without delay,” Lannis asserted again.

She nodded, “I wouldn’t mind taking a peek - a very very small peek, to see if there’s anything or anyone in there that can be weaponized against us.”

Wyn sighed, “But…Nord? Ugh.” He threw his hands up, “There might be slime above the door frame, or prepared to launch into anyone that goes into the room, which is why it would not be guarded. If we are going into dat unguarded deathtrap, den whoever opens the door should probably put something over them to protect themselves from slime traps." He drew his shield, "If we are going into dat room... hold on a sec." He moved to the back of the party behind Abraxas and motioned, “H’ok. Open it now.”

Brendon looked over Kovid’s shoulder at the map he was working on and the scrawled map that Arik had given us. He pointed to it and said, “The map that was given to us says Garden and Guardians. I know Lannis is always one for saying from the middle of the crew let’s go check it out, but do you all think we’re in any condition to fight guardians? What if the ruckus brings the goblins?”

“What the hell are you going on about, SpongeSlob?” The Magic User asked. “Lab, right here.” He pointed at the door. “Not anywhere else.”

“I know dumbass,” the Scout replied. “Right here, like on the map. If you’re all hyped up on checking out the garden because all of sudden having no spells and Doc not being in his prime is the consensus then I will be the one to open the door and check it out. I’m more agile then li’l man,” he gave the frowning dwarf a quick nudge, “and I’ve looked for slime around doors before. If li’l man we’re to open the door, I’d have to check the room before any of you come in anyway.”

“What in Thor’s Assless Chaps are you going on about?” Kovid exclaimed. “Not the garden. Not the guardians. Here, the Lab.”

“You know, Kovid? I knew you were going to say Thor’s something or something equally profound.”

Taking a slow breath and letting it out, the dwarf answered the Scout, speaking very slowly. “Brendon, I was referring to the Guardians in the north west section of the map. Not surprisingly you assumed the opposite.  Exploring the rooms farthest from Corfard’s lair seems wiser to me.”

“That’s not his fault,” Lannis quipped, “I’ve seen your ‘maps’.”

“Hey Mapmaker,” Brendon pointed to the map in Kovid’s hand, “Calm down. I WAS talking about the Guardians in the Garden. Not the north.”

“Nord?” Wyn asked from the back.

“Still non, Senor,” Abraxas answered, getting another sigh from the elf.

“Monsieur du Lac, we still on de EAST side of DIS hallway, so DIS door will go into de goblin area. Not de garden. De garden be in de west side of de hall.” He gave a grin and a wink and added, “Did you not learn how to read a map on dat pirate ship of yours?”

"If he had a map to read I'm sure he'd be fine,” Lannis offered, “Kovid will find one someday I'm sure."

Abraxas raised his hand, “Senor, speaking of fine, I am still waiting for the easy cake you mentioned ahora.”

“Not now, Hogan,” Lannis replied, “One sidetrack at a time, ok?”

“Si. I’ll wait.”

“I might as well be drunk reading this map,” Brendon complained.

“You’re not?”

Drawing his bow, Brendon moved back three paces and pointed at the Lab door with his foot. “Ok Li’l Man, Open that door.”

"I thought everyone hated that idea?” The wizard complained, the majority of the group groaning in agreement. “Weren't we going north? Maybe he is drunk."

Kovid whispered aggressively, “THIS Little Man wants to go NORTH.”

“Arrrgh! Fuck the spices!” Brendon snapped, heading to the intersection. “Let’s go plunder up north.”

“Tank de gods an goddesses,” Wyn exclaimed, skipping his way to the front of the party.

With shaky giggles and quiet steps, the group entered the hall and turned north, making sure to step over Wyn’s marked floor, Kovid’s lantern lighting the way. They walked along, taking the time to map out as they went, searching the floor for any traps and checking the walls for any secret doors or the like. Whatever decorations the elves had adorned the walls with were long gone, leaving only a few twisted bits of metal to indicate where something might have hung or a spar of wood to show where a shelf had once been.

After some distance walking in the relative quiet section of the castle, their footsteps the only thing echoing back at them, their lantern revealed a door on the eastern side of the hall. As they drew closer, they were able to see another door also on the east side, a bit further down, and still the passage continued.

“I don’t like the length of the passage,” Abraxas muttered, “Reminds me of the orc trouble passage wolf thing we had below.”

The party nodded in agreement as Brendon gave each door a once over, listening with care and checking them out. Feeling a bit exposed, the group had their weapons drawn and ready as the Scout made short work of the two portals (<Hear Noise +20, Red 48…no further roll needed). Once done he motioned the group closer and pitching his voice low, let them know what he learned. “Ok, both doors open in and to the right. Neither has a keyhole and aren’t trapped. I nudge both of them but they are turn knobs so I can’t guarantee that there might be a bar behind it unless we actually try to open them.”

“Unnerstood. Anyting else?” Wyn asked.

“First door,” he pointed to the southern most portal, “real muted and distant I thought I could hear the telltale crackle of a hearth fire, but didn’t smell any smoke. If there is a flue, I’m not surprised to not scent anything.” Pointing to the northern of the 2 doors, “That one though,” he still whispered, keeping his voice low, “I could hear some low murmuring, like voices. Three or so? Who knows. Not talking in any discernible language and truthfully it sounded like so much noise. But it’s what I heard.”

“Good job, Brendon,” Kovid replied, also whispering. He fingered the hilt of his Theystran Warhammer and asked, “We going into either of these doors or daring to go further down the hall?”

Time is now Day 6, 3:58 PM

(OOC)

What’s the plan? And for those keeping track, Lannis goes up in 194 xp.

PBEM - Episode 229. Halls, Swords, Decisions.

TWO HUNDRED TWENTY NINE

(I/C)

“Just so you know,” Lannis shrugged affecting an uncaring attitude, “It wasn’t anything you said, it was most likely something I had done that had resolved the illusion trap.”

“Whatever gets you to sleep at night,” the dwarf replied good naturedly.

“So what’s the plan?” Brendon asked, twirling his short sword. “Hang out here and ambush them if they come by or move forward?” He glanced at Wyn and added, “And by forward I mean the door.”

"Stand around just outside the literal dragon’s lair hoping someone bumbles into us?” the magic user scoffed. “I don't think so, we should push on. We're here to explore, let's explore.”

"To de door at first, Du Lac” Wyn suggested, “I be a bit more curious bout what dat powder smell be.”

“Sounds good,” he replied and the party proceeded walking down the stairs with slow care.

“Keep your eyes peeled,” Lyra offered, “I agree with Lannis, strange as that may sound, but preferably no ambushes. We still don’t know what’s around well enough to willingly fight.” She picked her way down the stairs slowly, flail swinging absently. “Personally I’d like to know my surroundings a bit more in case we need to fall back. I second just exploring for the moment, fighting necessary. We can always take them out later.”

"Sorry,” Lannis replied, “Listening to Brendon rendered me temporarily stupid. We should check the door first, then go north. A powder smell you said?”

“Herb and powder smell,” Kovid corrected.

“Whoa, herb?!” the wizard exclaimed excitedly.

“Not now,” the dwarf chuckled. “Maybe another store room? Is it worth checking out now? Arik’s map indicates Gobs may be down there. I hate those little green pukes, but maybe we should do as Lyra said and do some more recon before ringing the alarm bell up here.”

Outside the door, Brendon spent a few minutes giving it a once over while Wyn took out his bag of grain. Once the Scout (>Find Traps, Red 57) was comfortable that he didn’t find any, he gave the group the all clear signal. “Not locked, opens away from us and to the right.”

Meanwhile Lannis (>Half Int Check Wizard, Pink 18) and Wyn (<Half Int check Elf -1, Orange 2) were in the hall outside the door sniffing deeply now and again as Brendon checked it over. There were a medley of scents of various herbs and powdery smells coming through the closed door but it was the elf who began nodding his head and smiling. “I gots it,” he said.

“Crabs?”

“Ugh,” he mocked. “No. De smell. It’s de same smell you would smell at an alchemy lab.”

“You know alchemy?” Lyra asked.

“No I don’t,” he replied, “But I did spend some of me apprentice time in de lab and it smelled like dat.”

Lannis frowned. “I don’t hear any cursing or breaking glass. Might not be a real lab.”

“Mayhap. But it’s wot I tink.”

Abraxas smiled, “That works for me, mi amigo. Laborometer it is. Sounds good.” He looked past the door to the “T”. “If we go in, that’s ok, but it not, check puerto to the south, then head norte. Can just the scouts check the puerto south? Do we need everyone to check it out? Yo creo the party should stay at el "T" while the scouts check el puerto. Then we regroup and head Norte."

“Allons-y,” Wyn moved to the front of the group and pointed to Kovid to cover the lantern. The dwarf nodded and the blocked off most of the light with his body and cloak, allowing Wyn to step a bit forward and his infravision to flare mostly to life. He quickly looked both north and south. North the passage went for some distance and kept going, and to the south the passage went again for some distance with a side passage running west about 20 paces away, and another side passage running east perhaps 6 paces past that.

As for the goblinoid voiced, they were definitely coming from the south but there were no heat sources save the yellowy/orange-yellow temperature of the level and air currents itself. Brendon who was at the corner with him, tilted his head (<Hear Noise, Red 21) and nodded. “Lots of goblins, Wyn.” He muttered.

“Oui. ‘Ow many you tink?”

Brendon sighed and backed up. “Ten at least, but I would guess double that easily.”

“Twenty?” Lyra asked. Kovid turned back around, illuminating the concerned looks of the group at the thought of that many greenskins.

“That’s my guess. And maybe then some.”

“Hmm,” Wyn dug out his chalk and stole into the intersection, getting a number of the group making excited squeaks that he waved them to be silent for now. He scrawled low to the floor “Blessed Corfard” in crude block letters, trying to make the words look like a goblinoid had written them, and then turned around and wrote it again in the Goblin tongue. From there he drew out his pouch of grain and drop some in three equal length lines, along the bottom, middle and top of the two "prayers" (reduce grain from 25 to 20 weight). After cinching the pouch closed, he took out his water skin and dripped a few drops of water along each of the lines, wetting the grain only slightly. While all that was going on, Kovid took out a flask of oil (reduce to 2) and refilled the mostly empty lantern with care.

As for Wyn, satisfied he walked out of the intersection and back to the group where Lannis asked sarcastically, “It’s not gonna grow there regardless of the prayers.”

“Silly bugger,” the elf replied. He pointed to the hall, “H'ok, we just step ova de grain lines, or else de grain will stick to yer shoes en show dem what direction you go. If one of de gobs find it, hopefully dey don't have light and step in it to let us know where dey come and go. Den when dey look at da ground, dey just tink it be an innocent bit of praise for dat "Blessed" C-Word and not someone tracking movements. As Salazar put it, gobs do graffiti for fun, oui?”

“Ah.” The party replied.

“Ok! We go nord now? If we do, remember step ova de grain.”

Time now is Day 6, 3:48 PM

(OOC)

Ok! You know what you know. North? South? Goblins? Door to the Lab? What’s the plan?

PBEM - Episode 228. Halls, Swords, Decisions.

Ding! Dwarf went up!

Follows:

TWO HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT

(I/C)

Lannis gave Brendon a brief look and then took a deep breath. He rolled up his sleeves and tilted his hat at a slight angle then turned to address the group. "Well,” he intoned slowly, “there is one other way to do it. I don't usually spend much time with rituals, as you tend to need to meet certain very specific criteria, but for once in my life the stars seem to have aligned.”

As he rummaged around his pack looking for something to draw with, Kovid was giving the door a critical eye, frowning, making the bottom of his beard jut out. “Blessed Corfard?” he muttered. “Ha! Blessed Corfard can suck my silver hammer!”

And with that, the flashing lights ended and the three scimitars on the ceiling stopped moving and now appeared to be painted there instead. The strange magical effect and illusion just…stopped.

“Huh,” the Dwarf grunted, lifting his belt and letting his midsection bounce. “I took care of it Big Brain. Let’s go.”

“You…” Lannis had a dagger in his off hand and a number of his candles in his other. “You…”

“What?” Kovid entered the hall, stomped past the area that Brendon had mentioned earlier and then stomped back with no issue or ill effect. “It’s done. Let’s go.”

“You…” Lannis muttered again.

“I tink you broke de magic user, Dwarfriend,” Wyn stage whispered.

“Happy birthday then to ya.”

“You…”

Brendon clapped Lannis on the shoulder and moved past, motioned the party to follow him. “Lannis,” he said, “You did very well.” And then chuckled.

“You…”

Abraxas following, his Scythe out, looked up and asked, “So are there swords, or is there no swords? ¿Si o No?"

Wyn pointed up, “Just illusions. And now not’in’. All we ‘ad to say was Blessed Corfard.” He smiled. “Guess tat was why it was on de door.”

“You…”

Lyra went next, glancing up and smiling, “Was this even necessary? I’m genuinely more concerned at what’s past the make believe hanging swords.” She looked back at Lannis and motioned him to move, “I’m sure you would have done a cute trick though, Dunderhead.” 

“Like a cat?” Brendon asked already at the next door on the south wall and listening (<Hear Noise, Red 15) and giving it a once over for traps (<Find, Red 16).

“Dunder Cat,” Abraxas offered with a laugh. “Ho.”

“You…”

Kovid arched an eyebrow and gave the wizard a withering glance. “Let me know if you need more wind sucked out of your sails, Big Brain. Sometimes the simple answers are the ones right in front of you…Oooooh!” he exclaimed, standing a bit taller and more confident.

“Did anyone just ‘ear a ding noise?” Wyn asked.

Confident that there was nothing beyond the door and that it was untrapped, Brendon stepped aside and Abraxas opened it slowly. Revealing a passage turning to the west and a set of stairs going down.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Brendon gasped, “More stairs?”

Kovid shook his head. “We were in a watch tower. It’s designed to be higher than the castle. These stairs will bring us back down to the floor for the 2nd level and as I said, when we looked through the window outside.”

“Ok…” the Scout was rubbing his chin and looked on the back of the door that Abraxas had just opened, grinning. “Says the same Blessed Corfard three times in three languages on this door as well.”

“His minions aren’t too bright,” Lyra offered.

“Hmm,” Wyn was crouching low looking down the steps as Kovid made sure the lantern was lit and ready. “Monsieur Du Lac and moi will just check out de bottom of de stairs and den we kin know what to do next, oui?”

“Oil’s burning, Elf,” Kovid offered. “Quick look and come back up.”

“Light feet and move,” Brendon offered, the two of them going down the steps into the growing gloom, eyes peeled and straining to move quietly (<Move Silently, Red 17 (I want to point out, all three thief checks this round were in sequence and freaky!)…<Orange 2). The stairs went down 20’ and the light of the lantern was just enough to give them a bit of light to see at the bottom and not much else.

Wyn’s infravision kicked in and he could see the corridor went another dozen or so paces and ended at a “T”, with a door on the south wall just before the passage end. From where they were, the two of them could hear distant goblinoid voices (no roll needed) echoing down some long corridor but nothing nearby. The two of them could also faintly smell some herbs and the telltale scent of powders coming from the closed door.

(WMC: Red/Black 6 – no)

Feeling enough time had passed they turned and climbed back up the stairs to rejoin the party and share with them what they had learned.

“You,” Lannis began again and then deflated, “I can’t believe you did that to me, Beardbreath.”

“Blah blah blah. Moving on, Big Brain.”

Time now is Day 6, 3:33 PM

(OOC)

Explore XP: 45 XP everyone. Kovid gain 55 XP – and level up!!

Ok – at top of stairs looking down, T intersection and door on the south end of the wall. Goblin voices you cannot make out details in the far distance and echoing down the halls @ the T – no way of knowing from which direction yet. What’s the plan?

Kovid – Level 4! Need 17k for 5th level. Add d8 hp: Rolled 7!! +3 Con = Add 10 hp = New total 37 HP. You also have all your HP back.

Saves go to: 8 DR/P, 6 MW, 10 Petri/Poly, 11 DB, and 6 R/S/Sp!. To hit with Thystra Warhammer is now +5 (other nonmagical melee weapon is +4), and to hit with normal thrown warhammer is +4/+3/+2.

Lastly, your adjustment fighting Giants and Giantkin is +2 to hit and +2 to AC bonus.