The Second Face of Evil

[patransom]

Round 18 Continues

Heavily wounded, Marcus falls back out of range to not take more damage. He's trusting his companions can finish off this last grimlock.

Grimly determined, Cyrius again manifests his mind blade, this time in its rapier form, and hurls it at the remaining grimlock. He misses again.

Prost is puzzled at how the Grimlock can know were his attacks are coming from... THINKING: If we don't soon dispactch this Grimlock I'll be throughing rocks at him, he loads another bolt and lets it fly. It sticks right into the Grimlock, who flops over, dead. Unlike his companion, his body falls backwards onto the ledge instead of toppling to the floor below.

COMBAT OVER

OUT OF CHARACTER

Feel free to take longer, more complicated actions. Climbing to the bottom of the cavern is easy now by taking 10. Don't forget to remind your cleric that some of you are badly wounded. If you want to loot the Grimlocks, the locations of the bodies are marked by "DG" on the map.

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Bless: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects for all PCs except Prost, 25 rounds left Marcus Tilsworth: unloaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 21 bolts left, 19 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: unarmed, 42 hp damage Evan Prost: unloaded crossbow readied, 7 bolts left, darkvision 170.5 min, uninjured Texudus TreeBender: behind cover, 9 arrows left, 42 hp damage Worrel: longbow dropped at 516, empty handed, climbing (no DEX bonus to AC), 113 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, 4 hp damage Lola: loaded crossbow readied, sunrod dropped at 616, 31 bolts, 4 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, 13 hp damage

[kabkal]

Lola will gather every one together and then blast them with 3 energy blasts to heal the majority. She will then transfer spells to heal the individuals as needed.

[dice]0[/dice] blast #1
[dice]1[/dice] blast #2
[dice]2[/dice] blast #3

[dice]3[/dice] CMW (sacrifice Bull Str) on Crius
[dice]4[/dice] CMW (sacrifice Restoration Lesser) on Tex

[Duniagdra]

I could really use some healing.

[tdsprouse]

[talk]Thanks Lola. That was a pretty tight spot. Thought for sure i was a goner.[/talk]

Tex will make his way down to the bottom and collect any arrows he can find.

[smeltdm]

Prost begins searching the area (for unspent ammo, bolts, arrows, etc & of course treasure), to include the clift ledge, were he uses his Grappling Hook & Silk Rope to gain access.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Limiting search: going no further in tunnels than 0421 & 0521.... Checking for traps first roll.... 1st search, present area: traps roll>>[dice]0[/dice] << search roll>>[dice]1[/dice] << 2nd search, bottom of cliff face area: traps roll>>[dice]2[/dice] << search roll>> [dice]3[/dice] << 3rd search, mouth of tunnel in wall: traps roll>>[dice]4[/dice] << search roll>>[dice]5[/dice] << 4rd search, area were Grimlock fell on cliff face: traps roll>>[dice]6[/dice] << search roll>>[dice]7[/dice] <<

 

[CGM3]

Cyrius thanks Lola for the healing. (He can live with being down 9 HP, assuming I added right )

[Duniagdra]

I guess kabkal was posting same time as me above. Instead Marcus extends his gratitude for the healing. That should have him with 1 hp dmg.

[JPetherick]

Worrell rejoins the others and accepts the healing even though he has not been badly injured. Once he is healed, he slowly descends to the floor of the cave to recover his longbow. When Prost begins searching, Worrel will watch over him with his bow ready to fire if another group of grimlocks appears.

[kabkal]

Once done healing Lola will climb back down puck up the sunrod and then help with the searching.

[Duniagdra]

Marcus will join his team at the bottom.
Them grimlocks got there somehow. If there's a passage up there, we might wanna make sure we don't get attacked front and back, says Marcus to anyone who might hear without him raising his voice. He adds, someone should watch prost while he searches too so there's no surprise for him.

[CGM3]

Cyrius will stay with Prost as he searches the area, keeping an eye out for trouble.

[patransom]

After Lola provides some much needed healing, the party descends back to the cavern floor. As the Bless spell expires, Prost makes a thorough search of the area, including the fallen grimlocks. The rest of the party keeps watch over Prost and/or gathers their dropped gear and reloads their weapons.

To refresh your memory, the floor of the cavern is described as follows: The cavern’s floor is choked with loose rubble, fallen stalactites, and other debris. Here and there, stalagmites poke up through the loose rocks. Ahead, a ten-foot-wide passage opens in the far wall.

When Prost peers into the tunnel in the wall higher up on the way to the ledge, he notes the following: This cave is little more than a wide crack in the rocks. Five feet wide and perhaps six feet tall, it provides a jagged, twisty passage. Prost cannot see very far in, due to the twists and turns.

The only items of interest turned up during Prost's search are the possessions of the dead grimlocks, which are as follows:

• 2 clubs
• 2 composite longbows (+2 STR)
• 40 arrows
• 2 silk ropes with grappling hooks
• 42 gold

OUT OF CHARACTER

Let me know if there's anything on this list you would like to keep immediately handy (e.g., the arrows). I'll add any remaining valuables to the treasure list (i.e., Prost's haversack)

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Like everywhere you've been so far, the entire floor of the cavern is difficult terrain. I made assumptions below about what you would have readied/in hand. Correct me if you want to be carrying something else. Marcus Tilsworth: loaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 21 bolts left, 1 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: mind blade longsword readied and charged, 11 hp damage Evan Prost: loaded crossbow readied, 7 bolts left, darkvision 168 min, uninjured Texudus TreeBender: longbow readied, 9 arrows left, 9 hp damage Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 113 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, uninjured Lola: sunrod and short sword readied, 31 bolts, 1 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, uninjured

[tdsprouse]

[ooc]I'll take the arrows if that's alright, since Worrel looks to have a bunch.[/ooc]

[talk]Well, continue on down here, see if that tunnel above meets up with this one?[/talk]

[CGM3]

Cyrius will exchange his hemp rope for one of the silk ropes with grapple. He agrees with Tex about proceeding down the lower tunnel, though he'll bring up the rear in case some friends of the grimlocks come up through the upper passage and try to attack the party from behind.

[Duniagdra]

If no else does, Marcus will pick up the composite bow and silk rope remaining. I don't think he can use the bow, but it could be sold later. The silk rope may come in useful later. This all assuming his load remains light. If not, he'll suggest someone else take them.

[smeltdm]

Prost chimes in...[talk]I'll take point...[/talk] As he gets busy packing up items collected and retrieving the ropes on the cliff face along with Cyrius's Hemp Rope. He waits for the party to form up before moving ahead

OUT OF CHARACTER

So party treasure stands at; 20pp,534gp, also carrying 6 hemp ropes, and Composite Longbow (+2 Str) Med size I assume , Question to party....do we need clubs, Med size I assume?

 

[JPetherick]

Worrell falls into place in the party, ready to move forward to engage any attackers if they are ambushed.

[CGM3]

OUT OF CHARACTER

Throw the clubs in with the rest for the time being, we may find ourselves reduced to that...

 

[patransom]

[ooc]I've updated the LOOT thread and my DM sheet tracking to reflect the following:

• Silk rope and grappling hook to both Marcus and Cyrius
• 40 arrows to Tex
• Everything else to party loot in Prost's Haversack (I assumed Marcus didn't really want to carry a bow he can't use, given that Prost has plenty of room)

I'll do a full update with the party heading down the passage later today or tomorrow[/ooc]

[patransom]

OUT OF CHARACTER

And three-dimensional play... continues!

 

Prost takes point and he and Worrel lead the party into the passage on the floor, with Lola just behind to provide light. Cyrius brings up the rear in case of attack from behind. The passage is 10 feet wide and nearly
8 feet tall. It emerges at the base of another shaft. A large pile of rocks and stony debris is piled in the corner ahead. Directly over the party's heads, 20 feet up, is a tunnel in the wall (possibly the other end of the tunnel in the upper chamber). A crude rope bridge links the mouth of the tunnel to a ledge set thirty feet up on the opposite wall.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Like everywhere you've been so far, the entire floor of the cavern is difficult terrain. Ascending the rock pile would require a DC10 Acrobatics (balance) check at half speed (DC15 if moving at full speed). From the top of the rock pile, it would be a relatively easy (DC15) climb 10 feet up and reach the corners of the ledge at 0227 or 0628. Perception checks also would be appropriate at this time.

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Marcus Tilsworth: loaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 21 bolts left, 1 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: mind blade longsword readied and charged, 11 hp damage Evan Prost: loaded crossbow readied, 7 bolts left, darkvision 168 min, uninjured Texudus TreeBender: longbow readied, 9 arrows left, 9 hp damage Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 113 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, uninjured Lola: sunrod and short sword readied, 31 bolts, 1 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, uninjured

[CGM3]

Cyrius will keep an eye to the rear.

Perception check: 1d20+8
[dice]0[/dice]
(Add +1 if determining surprise)

Then, presuming the rest of the party is ascending the rockslide, shall follow.

Acrobatics check: 1d20+2 vs DC 10 (half speed)
[dice]3[/dice]
Climb check vs DC 15
[dice]2[/dice]

[ooc]Note to self: double-check what you read, dummy.[/ooc]

Ignore the lines below; silly forum won't let you delete a die roll that you realized was incorrectly figured.
[dice]1[/dice]

[kabkal]

Lola falls into line and moves forward.

[smeltdm]

Prost motions for party to wait before moving forward...checking out the area...
Perception check: [dice]0[/dice]
+2 Trapfinding

If finding nothing will move quietly forward to slope of rock pile and up to 0425 (double move)...
Stealth check: [dice]1[/dice]
Acrobatics check: [dice]2[/dice]
Climb check: [dice]3[/dice]

[JPetherick]

Worrell keeps watching ahead and overhead in case the grimlocks have companions.

Perception
[dice]0[/dice]

[tdsprouse]

Tex tries to make his way up.

Acrobatics
0

Climb
1

[CGM3]

Failing his first attempt, Cyrius will again assay to move up the rockslide.

Acrobatics check: 1d20+2
[dice]0[/dice]

And his third attempt:
Acrobatics check: 1d20+2
[dice]1[/dice]

And his fourth attempt:
Acrobatics check: 1d20+2
[dice]2[/dice]

[kabkal]

Lola will climb the rock pile at 1/2 speed, then climb to the ledge, all the while looking about.

[dice]0[/dice] Acrobatics
[dice]1[/dice] climb
[dice]2[/dice]perception

[kabkal]

Lola will again try to climb the rock pile when given the time, and will take 10 (if possible) taking her time to get up the hill.

[Duniagdra]

Marcus keeps his crossbow loaded and ready just in case.

[patransom]

OUT OF CHARACTER

And Cyrius' Caravan Guard trait comes into play...

 

Worrell and Marcus keep watch as the rest of the party tries to ascend the rock pile. Cyrius and Lola struggle with the unstable surface and make no progress, remaining at the bottom. Prost and Tex have little difficulty, however, and begin the climb.

Just when Prost and Tex have almost reached the top, Cyrius spots something moving -- he see that something's lurking amongst the rocks and shadows at the top of the pile, underneath the ledge, next to the wall. He shouts a warning to the party as two creatures emerge from the pile just ahead of Prost and Tex! The creatures are small, hunched-over wretches with long, pliable arms like tentacles capped with five wide, spiny claws.

Identify the creatures with a DC12 Knowledge Arcana checkShow

The creatures are chokers. Their long tentacles are particularly well-suited to reaching out and strangling people (i.e., they have reach and improved grab)

If you get a 17 or higher on the Arcana check...Show

The chokers are also extremely quick-moving (i.e., they get an extra move action each round)

Unfortunately, only Worrel is quick to react to Cyrius' warning. It looks as if the creatures will be able to assault Tex and Prost before the pair have are fully ready to defend themselves. [Cyrius' perception check means you've avoided facing a surprise round. However, only Worrel beat the monsters on initiative, so...]

OUT OF CHARACTER

Like everywhere you've been so far, the entire floor of the cavern is difficult terrain. Ascending or moving around on the rock pile requires a DC10 Acrobatics (balance) check at half speed (DC15 if moving at full speed). From the top of the rock pile, it's a relatively easy (DC15) climb 10 feet up and reach the corners of the ledge at 0227 or 0628.

 

ACTIVE EFFECTS

Round 1 Begins Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 113 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, uninjured Tentacled Creature 1 Tentacled Creature 2 --->Quick Validation Round 1 Continues Marcus Tilsworth: loaded crossbow readied, 3 elemental rays left, 21 bolts left, 1 hp damage Cyrius of the Sudden Blade: mind blade longsword readied and charged, 11 hp damage Evan Prost: loaded crossbow readied, 7 bolts left, darkvision 168 min, uninjured Texudus TreeBender: longbow readied, 9 arrows left, 9 hp damage Lola: sunrod and short sword readied, 31 bolts, 1 channel energy, 5 storm burst left, uninjured Round 2 Begins Worrel: longsword and shield readied, 113 arrows left, 0 lay on hands left, uninjured Tentacled Creature 1 Tentacled Creature 2 --->Full Validation