Hefty Lefty
 Unitus – Town Square 

It’s a beautiful morning in the city of Unitus, fitting for the day's affairs.  Today is the 18th birthday of the young princess Azurella.  This means, as everyone knows, potential suitors may officially declare their intentions to both Azurella and her father King Julian Linder.  To say King Linder is well-loved would be doing him a dishonor.  It has been generations since Vaylindal's last war and the economy has been blossoming wonderfully.

The whole city is lined up along the pure white cobblestone extending from the castle’s entrance eager to see the royal family.  The castle is perched ato pa long windy hill which oversees Lake Supreme, one of the many views which make the city of Unitus so picturesque.  The air has a comfortable breeze flowing through it.  The sun shines brightly and warm soaks through to the bones of the people of Unitus.  Most stores and stalls have closed down for the afternoon festivities, although many vendors have lined up food stands of all kinds and expect to make a killing.  The most popular stall fills the air around you with the scent of roasted chicken.  Town guards, sporting their navy blue and indigo-robed armor, have formed a walled path along the cobblestone for the family to proceed through.  They sport heavy armor, metal shields, and longswords, but wield none of them at the moment.

The family is expected to proceed shortly.  People are pushing their way to the front of the pack to be the first to see.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
Sennex
 Nolan Saarbruck - Human Fighter 

Nolan hung back on the edge of the gathered crowd along the white-cobbled street, gnawing contentedly on a roast chicken drumstick. He'd been in the area already, and came into town today to see the spectacle. He couldn't shake the vague feeling that something horribly inconvenient was going to happen, but then, he never could.
Cavelcade
 Kurt Loderr, Dwarf Barbarian 

Kurt stands at the front of the crowd so he'll have a chance to see at all. Though people push against and around him, the current of the crowd can do no more to dislodge him than it would a boulder. He watches curiously, his caravan just having gotten into town before this started he was quite excited to get to see royalty even from behind a line of guards.

The joy of the festival is infecting him a little, he finds himself humming along atonally to the musicians nearby, even tapping his foot in time with it as he waits to see what happens.
Admiral
  Shiny Lightfoot, Gnome Beguiler  

Shiny skips his way into the amassed crowd, grinning as he hears the delightful music. One of the problems of living in human society these last few years is that they are so dreadfully serious: they rarely celebrate anything. On the other hand, this extravagant parade would put to shame any of the celebrations in his home town of Burrowton.

"Though that's not worth a thing if I can't see anything," thinks Shiny. As a relatively tall gnome, he's too short to get a view of the procession over the heads of the people in front of him, and too tall to slip his way between them. Spotting a tall human near the front lines, he has an idea. As is usual for him, his idea involves his natural charm first, and, if that fails, 'charm person'.

He reaches up and taps the tall human. " Excuse me, sir? " he asks. " Shiny Chainhold, dragon trainer and barkeep! Is there any chance I could sit on your shoulders? "

 
 Spoiler 
Diplomacy check:  1d20+7=13 
 
Irony
   Zeke Lyons, Human Wizard   

A short, scrawny teenager in wizard's garb is shoved around in the crowd. A rather dispassionate and glazed over look creeps across his face; as if he were trying to do complex arithmetic in his head.   What a day to end up here...   thinks Zeke.   Too many people. Too many livestock.  
Hefty Lefty
 Unitus - Town Square 

The tall man looks down at Shiny with an arched brow.  "Do I know you?"  He quickly turns away, if not because he does not wish it fulfill the gnome's request, but because the traditional fanfare has begun, signaling the departure of the royalty.  The large wooden doors of the castle open and from the castle comes a fantastically-decorated carriage carried by two white horses with large, dark brown spots.  The carriage is draped in Vaylindal's navy and indigo.  From the front of the carriage, the king, queen, and princess can barely be made out.  They are all dressed in their finest, which is saying quite a lot for royalty.  The queen and princess are engage in a conversation, although the carriage is much too far away to make out any words.  Azurella does not appear to be very happy with whatever is being said.

After much anticipation, the slow-moving cart approaches the line of citizens.  By this time, the family has stopped whatever conversations they had been occupied with.  They all smile: the king calm and composed, the queen rapidly waving her hand and making exaggerated faces of joy, and the young princess nervously sitting in the middle with her hands on her lap.  She plays with the lace on the end of her pure white gloves as she grants a thin smile to the crowd.  The source of her name is clear, as her small yet powerfully blue eyes match the hue of Lake Supreme behind her.

The roar of the crowd around you is immense, as each person eagerly tries to say their piece with the family.  Town guards show a strong presence in holding citizens back.  The carriage's procession is not far from its destination - the fountain at the town square's center where a small podium has been set up with Vaylindal's emblem emblazoned upon it.
Admiral
 Shiny Lightfoot, Gnome Beguiler 
 "You don't know me,"  thinks Shiny.  "But you're about to!"  He licks his lips, rubs his hands together, and, trusting the coming procession to distract the crowd, casts 'charm person' on his new acquaintance.

 
 Spoiler 
Will save, DC  14 15 (Forgot my Spell Focus feat)
 
Cavelcade
 Kurt Loderr, Dwarf Barbarian 

Even the stout dwarf is being buffeted by the crowd now, having to struggle to hold his place against the masses surging behind him, grinning at the guardsman in front of him as he tries to help him in holding the crowd back, while still trying to peer at the carriage. He's surprised to hear his own voice crying out with the others, cheering at such well loved royals more than anything else.
Sennex
 Nolan Saarbruck - Human Fighter 

Nolan remained at the back of the crowd, finding it hard to get caught up in the excitement as he observed the carriage. The princess didn't look too happy to be there, from his perspective- maybe this meet and greet stuff got old after a while, though the crowd seemed to love it.
Hefty Lefty
 Unitus - Town Square 
 
 Spoiler 
  Will Save  - (1d20)[ 17 ] 
 

 "I think you need to get out of here my friend."   The tall man pats the gnome's head condescendingly.   "Go scurry off now."   He turns around to face the procession.  The carriage has made its way to the large, flowing fountain.  King Linder steps out first from the carriage.  He wears his finest jewels and robes, the priceless crown, and a shimmering silver scepter.  The queen and princess each leave the carriage as well, wearing flowing majestic dresses.  Azurella wears a massive pink jewel on a necklace around her neck.  The stone reflects light off in all directions and shines in the sun.  Few have seen something more beautiful.  The two women stand at the king's side as he takes the podium to address the crowd.  He attempts to silence them but first revels in the overwhelming cheers.

King Linder stands in front of the podium proudly.  He is a picture of strength.  He grabs the podium with both hands firmly.  Just as he is about to address his people when seven men burst from the crowd.  They seem to appear out of nowhere.  They are dressed in black and red garb over leather armor.  Four of them dual-wield curved scimitars.  The other three carry large axes in two hands.  They emerge from the crowd into the middle of the road with ease.

Growling, the men begin to charge the podium.  Several guardsmen fall out of line to protect the royal family, while the others stiffen their hold against the crowd.  The crowd, which instantly erupted into an out-roar of cries and panic, begins to flee back into the city.  One attacker points at Azurella and snarls to his group.   "Get the girl!" 

OOC: Roll for Initiative!

 
 Spoiler 
 

As you'll notice, each dot represents a person.  Black dots are random commoners, purple dots are town guards, red and black dots are attackers, indigo dots are the royal family, and the four dots are the party.  For important people, I applied dots to their squares to identify them further to help in describing exactly who goes where and for tracking individual enemy hit points.  When we get to encounters with smaller amounts of people, the battle maps will be much simpler.

Odd-numbered attackers wield greataxes, the even-numbered attackers dual-wield scimitars.

Indigo 1 is the King, Indigo 2 is the Queen, and Indigo 3 is the Princess.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Initiative:  (1d20+2)[ 14 ] 
 
Cavelcade
 
 Spoiler 
Initiative:  (1d20+2)[ 16 ] 
 
Sennex
 
 Spoiler 
Initiative:  (1d20)[ 19 ] 
 
Admiral
 "Just like that brawl in Celio Kay,"  thinks Shiny, as he readies his enchantment. He casts  sleep , targeting the front few instigators.

 
 Spoiler 
Aiming at the spot 4 up and 3 to the right of me. 4 HD of creatures get a Will save DC 15.
 
Hefty Lefty
OOC: The map has been edited to show people who are asleep.  A white dot inside their figure represents that they are sleeping.   
 Spoiler 
 
 
Cavelcade
 Kurt Loderr, Dwarf Barbarian 

Gripping his waraxe in both hands, he hesitates, circling around to come at them from behind, trying to signal to one of the guards that he's on their side.  "Damn fools! Leave these royals be!" 
Sennex
Nolan Saarbruck, Human Fighter

 Oh, see, there we go. 

Nolan's half-eaten chicken leg was tossed aside as he grabbed hold of his trusty flail, waving it high above his head to avoid hitting anyone who didn't deserve it. That did not include the fellow in red and black nearest him- he looked like he'd be a better citizen if he was a little less menacing. Nolan cast the heavy ball and chain around the man's legs, trying to trip him.

 
 Spoiler 
Making a trip attack with the heavy flail on the guy 2 down and 1 to the left of the magenta dot on the last map.
roll for touch attack:  (1d20+4)[ 22 ] 
IF THAT SUCCEEDS, strength check to actually trip (opposed by strength or dexterity check from target):  (1d20+3)[ 12 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
 Unitus - Town Square 

Townspeople scramble to evacuate the area.  The air is filled with shrieks and panic.  The royal family quickly ducks into the caravan it arrived in. A short human leaps atop a horse and looks for direction from a guard to drive the cart away.

 
 Spoiler 
Foe 1 attempt to resist trip -  (1d20+2)[ 6 ] 
 


The attacker in black and red garb is completely distracted by the events on the cobblestone and is easily tripped.  A guard behind Kurt slashes at another red and black warrior and brings him quickly to the ground.  One attacker prone, one unconscious and bleeding, and three sleeping.  The guards quickly surround the lone two men standing.   "Lay your weapons down!"  One guard yells from across the road.  One attacker slashes at a guard with his greataxe, but the weapon simply bounces off the strong metal armor.  The attacker quickly drops his weapon and gasps,  "We surrender!" 
 "What!?"  The last attacker looks to his left, exasperated.   "How can you surren-"  He begins to argue with his comrade as he looks behind him and finds five of his party grounded.  He drops to his knees.

OOC:  
 Spoiler 
Wow.  I expected you guys to win, but that was... impressive.
 

 "Don't kill us!"  The tripped man cries, face down,  "Please don't kill me!" 
 "Who do you work for, prisoners?"   The lone attacker still standing shudders at his new name.  His partner on his knees feels the cold metal of shackles across his wrists.

 "We don't know his name!  We met him in the College!"   The man's voice quivers.   "Please don't kill us!" 
 "What'd this man look like?"   The guard places a blade to the man's throat.

 "A cloak!"   He screams and spits out whatever first comes to his mind.  His friends are woken up by guards and quickly put in shackles as well.   "He was wearing a cloak!  I, I could barely see his face.  But he had a large gemstone around his neck.  Just like her's!"   He points to the princess, who had just emerged from the caravan with her parents.   "Except it was white!"  

The guards begin to conference together, and so does the family.  The attackers-turned-prisoners, shackled together, nervously await their fate.  Crowds of people slowly begin to come back to investigate the area.
Admiral
Shiny watches guards arrest the sleeping attackers and delights in the surprised, disoriented expressions each exhibits upon waking. As many times as he's seen his enchantments cause chaos, the sight has never grown dull.

Shiny then turns his attention to the human fighter who had proven so resourceful with a flail. Tripping an opponent is just the kind of tactic Shiny appreciates.

Shiny skips up to the human and reaches out his hand.  "Hello there! Shiny Lightfoot, interpretive dancer and ogre therapist! I was quite impressed with your handiwork!" 
achinca
Miriam was standing far from the procession, just getting glimpse of the royal family. "  I am a farm girl at best and an ex-future widow at worst. I should not be dreaming about royalty.  " she thinks to herself.

Suddenly a group of men tries to attack the royal and before she can do anything a group of men intervene and stop them.

She rushes to the scene, thinking "  That was impressive. There is still a lot of good in the realm. I should not forget Calric's teaching.  "

When she arrives at the scene of the fight, she raises her wooden holy symbol high and announces "  I am Miriam Sunflower, Cleric of St. Cuthbert! Does anyone need healing?  "
Cavelcade
 Kurt Loderr, Dwarf Barbarian 

With a relieved sigh, Kurt's hands return to his sides from the haft of his greataxe as he goes to the nearest guardsmen, peering up at him curiously.  "Well it seems you didn't need any help with these fools, after all." 
Hefty Lefty
OOC: Sorry bout the delay, guys.  I've been busy/waiting for Sennex/thinking you guys would mingle.  I'll push things along a bit.

 Unitus - Town Square 

After some deliberation, the King approaches the guards and the party of four assorted citizens.  He is a startling height for a human.  His presence is friendly yet intimidating.  He thanks the guard, then looks to the four-person party and shakes each of your hands earnestly.   "I must thank you for your bravery,"  he says with a deep, raspy voice.  His eyes are a very light crystal blue shining in the light.  His long white beard reminds the citizens of Unitus of snow, and dwarves of their home in the mountains.  He reaches into his pocket and gives each of you a small red velvet sack with a fine golden drawstring containing twenty platinum pieces.   "Citizens like you are the lifeblood of this city.  Captain Rooney,"  he looks over to a guard with a special dark blue crest on his helmet and shoulder, "Send these men to the prisons.  We'll need to do further some further interrogating of these men."  He turns back to the four.   "If I may, I would request the further service of you four.  You've proven your strong blood to me.  As you heard, they were hired by a man out of the College of Vystera.  I do not know what they would want of my daughter.  By the time I send men from my unit, those at the College will already been notified of my direction.  I am asking the four of you to go now and investigate the claims of the prisoner's cloaked employer.  I know it's not much to go off, but if you were to return from the College with information on the man, I will pay you handsomely.  No sum of money is worth more than the knowledge of my daughter's safety." 
Admiral
Shiny claps his hands and bows deeply.  "Your majesty!"  he exclaims.  "I assure you you have asked the right party. In the many years I have known these men and women, I have never known a more trustworthy group."  He gestures to the three people he has barely even met.  "You have here a pair of tough and hardy warriors, one dwarf and one human, a faithful and righteous cleric, and me: Shiny Greensleuth, detective and halfling-rights lawyer!" 

He turns and beckons to the group to join him in accepting.
achinca
Miriam looks at Shiny and shakes her head. She kneels in front of the king. "  Your grace, I cannot accept the coins as the fight was already over when I arrived.  "

She points toward Shiny "  You Grace, I also need to let you know that I do not know these 3 men who saved your life, contrary to the Halfling's affirmation. However, I would honored to do anything I can do to ensure that no evil or no harm is done to your daughter.  "

She stayed knelled with her head down.
Hefty Lefty
 Unitus - Town Square 
 "Honorable lady,"  the King smiles at Miriam,  "Honesty is a long forgotten trait in this world.  Please accept the coin as an advance on the payment for helping my family." 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

While it might not matter now that the good cleric has blown my cover 🙂, bluff check:

 (1d20+7)[ 26 ] 
 
Admiral
 "Ah, how silly of me,"  said Shiny, turning to Miriam.  I must have mistaken you for Millicent, a cleric of Heironeous I once knew! Though by way of an excuse, your obvious generosity and faith already makes me feel like I've known you forever." 
achinca
Miriam raises her head to get the platinum pieces but makes sure that her eyes do not come in contact with the King's. "  You are too generous Your Grace. I will make sure that this money is spent for Good.  

She looks at Shinny.   I am a priestess of St. Cuthbert, not Heironeous. And what do you mean by Hafling-lawyer?  "
Admiral
 "Like I said, I was confusing you for someone else,"  Shiny utters good-naturedly.  "And as important as the plight of the little people is (as I need not tell a cleric of St Cuthbert, considering all the wonderful things the church has done in this arena), we have no time for discourse, for the the safety of His Majesty's daughter is at stake!" 

He spins towards the human and dwarf warriors.  "Fellow travelers, let us make haste for the College!" 
Cavelcade
Kurt has remained silent after accepting the bag of coins with a stuttered thanks, overawed to be in the presence of a royal of such noble nature, to the point he doesn't even protest at the strange statement by the Gnome that they're well seasoned companions.

At the King's kind words to Miriam he feels heartened, sensing much honour in undertaking such a quest.  Your majesty, I would be proud to find out why these scholars wanted your daughter. These brave guys will make fine companions. 
achinca
Miriam hears what Shiny says and smiles as she realizes the halfling-gnome is slick.

She looks at the human and dwarf warrior for confirmation and when the warrior named Kurt vouched for the lawyer, Miriam decides to go along.

"  What do we know about this "College"?  " she asks her companions. Then she turns toward the King. "  Your Grace, if I am allowed to ask a question, is there something unique or special about that jewel? The men who tried to hurt the Princess have said that the man who hired them has a collar with a similar stone.  "
Hefty Lefty
 "Azurella's jewel is a heirloom that has been passed down through my bloodline for generations, since the end of the Last Great War,"  The King explains,  "It's invaluable.  But there's nothing special about the stone itself except its gold value and historical value to this community." 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Knowledge: Local check to see what I know about the College:  (1d20+4)[ 24 ] 
 
achinca
Miriam thinks for a second about what the King just said. "  May be there are more than just one set of these stones and evil needs them. I would advise, if Your Grace allows me, to ensure that the stone is protected and whoever is wearing it  ."

She looks at Shiny and the other two warriors and asks "  Do you know anything about the war and the Stones?  "
Cavelcade
Kurt shakes his head in response to her question, still not regretting missing the hours of boring lessons that would have been involved in learning all about it. Maybe he can get a synopsis now?  "That wasn't part of my education, Miss. What happened in it? 
Hefty Lefty
Before the king can respond, a decrepit halfling lurches from the royal caravan.  His face is weathered and wrinkled.  He is dressed in a light periwinkle robe, but he seems to be better fit in a dark shadowy cloak.   "If it's the Vystera jewels you're inquiring about,"  his voice is light and whispery.  You have to strain yourself to hear him clearly,  "Everything you need to know is in the Shrine of Aquatos."   The halfling then turns to the king.   "Your majesty, if someone is after the jewels..."  He looks over his shoulder at the four adventurers,  "...we must discuss this in private."   The king nods.   "But what's most important is that we get someone to acquire the jewels first."   The king nods again, then responds,  "My new soldiers, you have heard my assistant.  I believe your assignment has changed.  Although be warned: the Shrine of Aquatos is designed to keep the locations of the jewels a secret.  If you choose to help your nation and investigate, you will be putting yourselves in extreme danger.  I will, of course, pay you much more for your patriotic duty.  However I hope your decision is not made on gold alone - no amount of gold is worth a man's life." 
achinca
Miriam is taken back when the halfling royal adviser appears. She is lost when he mentions the Vystera Jewels and the shrine of Aquatos.

She looks at the other 3 group members "  I am a little confused. Do we go to the College to find the Evil man or do we go gather the jewels or ....  "

She stops talking when the King talks and when he is done she replies. "  Your Grace, it is my duty to stop evil and right the wrongs. I speak for my group  " she looks at Shiny before adding "  when I say that we will go where ever you want us to go before it is the right thing to do. Gold has nothing to do. We would gladly do it just for the reward of doing the right thing. I am a farm girl. I am used to having little.  "
Cavelcade
Frowning a bit at someone deciding to take charge just like that, Kurt nonetheless hesitates only a moment before bowing to the king.  "As your majesty commands, I will obey. I will go to Aquatos. 
Admiral
 "Why, Your Majesty,"  declares Shiny,  "just point us in the right direction!" 
Hefty Lefty
 Unitus - Town Square 

Upon Shiny's request, the small aging halfling circles an area on your map.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
achinca
Miriam looks at the aging halfling counselor.

"  Maester, is there more you could tell in the privacy of a private meeting?  "

She looks at the rest of her teammates. "  How are we getting there? I do not have a horse. I am a simple girl who knows nothing.  "
Admiral
Shiny chuckles.  "I'm sure we could buy some mounts with our most recent rewards. To the stables!" 

He spins around so eagerly he nearly topples over, and starts skipping in the direction of the town's marketplace.

 
 Spoiler 
I'd like to purchase a riding dog, one trained for combat. If I need to make a Gather Information check to find a good one, here it is:  (1d20+7)[ 9 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
 Unitus - Scromag's Speedy Steeds 

After about fifteen minutes of asking, Shiny learns of a stable on the west side of town.  A friendly-looking half-orc greets you with a handshake and shows his large stock of breeds.  There are about seven horses of brown, gray, and white, two ponies, both brown, and four large dogs.  The dogs, two grey and white huskies, two brown and black dogs of a similar build are play-fighting out front.  Scromag offers his services at the following prices:

Heavy Warhorse - 450 gold
Light Warhorse - 200 gold
Warpony - 125 gold
Riding Dog - 200 gold

Saddles:
           - Military - 30 gold
           - Pack - 10 gold
           - Riding - 15 gold

Cart - 20 gold
Animal Feed - 5 copper/animal/day
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Unitus - Scromag's Speedy Steeds 

After about fifteen minutes of asking, Shiny learns of a stable on the west side of town.  A friendly-looking half-orc greets you with a handshake and shows his large stock of breeds.  There are about seven horses of brown, gray, and white, two ponies, both brown, and four large dogs.  The dogs, two grey and white huskies, two brown and black dogs of a similar build are play-fighting out front.  Scromag offers his services at the following prices:

Heavy Warhorse - 450 gold
Light Warhorse - 200 gold
Warpony - 125 gold
Riding Dog - 200 gold

Saddles:
           - Military - 30 gold
           - Pack - 10 gold
           - Riding - 15 gold

Cart - 20 gold
Animal Feed - 5 copper/animal/day 
 

Shiny discovers that even with the king's reward, he falls a bit shy of affording the dog and saddle.   "I'm on a mission for the crown,"   thinks Shiny,   "surely no one would begrudge me getting the old 'friend's discount.'"  

Shiny waits until Scromag's back is turned, such that the half-orc can't see what he's casting, and takes a wide look around for any other witnesses. (just in case the spell fails). He then whips a quick  charm person  at the breeder.

 
 Spoiler 
Will Save 15
 
achinca
Miriam looks at the half-orc and then her companions. Her hand goes to the 20PP she just got from the king.

She starts shaking her head "  I do not believe that the price we are being quoted are fair. I am a farm girl who know nothing but a light war horse market price is usually around 150. However, it could be that things are more expensive in the city. Would you have any regular horses?  "
Hefty Lefty
OOC: Since he has not posted in ten days or responded to my PMs, I am now opening up *another* recruitment thread for a new party member.  We're dropping like flies! 😦
 Unitus - Scromag's Speedy Steeds 
 
 Spoiler 
  Will Save  - (1d20)[ 4 ] 
 


The orc's eyes widen.   "For the crown, you say!?"   He opens his arms out wide.   "Then of course, yes, yes, I'll see what I can do.  Let's see... I can give you my best dog here, Magnus, for 100 gold.  Anything for the crown!"   At the sound of its name, Magnus comes running with a spring in its step.  A small pink tongue hangs from its silver face.  Its eyes are a startling light blue.   "And for you, m'lday,"  the orc continues, looking at Miriam,  "I can give you this light warhorse for 150.  What do you say?"   Scromag points to a chestnut horse in the stables.   "Just because you caught me in a good mood." 
achinca
Not aware of Shiny's little trick, Miriam thanks the half-orc.

"  well, kind Sir, it is honorable thing to do. I will also take a riding saddle.  "

She gives 185 gold pieces to the merchant.

"  What is the horse name?  "

OOC
 
 Spoiler 
Character sheet updated.

I will never understood why people will spend time and energy build a character and a background and quit a game after a week .....
 
Admiral
 "The Crown thanks you for this favor!"  says Shiny, clasping Scromag's hands. He hands over 12 platinum pieces in exchange for Magnus, a riding saddle, and 60 days worth of animal feed (though he'll need someone a bit stronger to carry it).

As soon as he is acquainted with Magnus, he beckons Miriam to make haste. They have one hour before the spell wears off, at which point the half-orc may well start chasing after them with a dozen of his closest friends. Miriam might not be aware of the danger, but Shiny is all too used to facing this time limit.
Cavelcade
 "Hm, I would like to buy one of them as well. The warpony, that is, not the horse. Much too big and...urgh."  The normally stoic dwarf shivers a bit before looking carefully away from the horses.  "Yes, a pony and saddle to serve the King." 

He watches the Gnome at work, trying to figure out how it he seems to manage to get things to work out for him just so, his seeming unending confidence and charm baffling the dwarf, though he's glad to have someone on the trip who can do the talking instead of him.
Hefty Lefty
 Unitus - Scromag's Speedy Steeds 

Kurt manages to work the orc down to 75 gold for the warpony.  The three party members committed to the journey are ready to set forth.  It is about two hours past midday, and the trip to the Shrine will surely take more than one full day.
Admiral
 "Well, what are you waiting for, my fine companions?"  exclams the gnome.  "Off we go!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Before we leave, I want to buy at least a few day's worth of provisions for each of us (I'm sure it's cheap enough that it hardly needs to be counted) and then spend another 2 platinum on a rapier.
 


Assuming the others follow him south towards the Shrine, he starts to entertain them with his life story. Since Miriam had expressed interest in his profession as a "halfling-rights lawyer," he tells them stories of the halflings' tragedy and oppression in the West, including the wrongful arrest of Suri Shortlove, the noble sacrifice of Gordon Gallantheart, and the fantastic trial of Tagg Trundlewood. Every last word he spins is fiction; the names he uses come from a particularly dirty ballad he once heard a halfling bard sing in a tavern.

 
 Spoiler 
If anyone tries to see if I'm making it up, Bluff check:  (1d20+7)[ 10 ] 
 
achinca
Miriam listens to Shiny and his stories of foreign lands and strange heroes and injustices.

However, after a while the novelty wears off and she wonders if Shiny is making things up. She tries to sense his motives.

 
 Spoiler 
Sense Motive Roll:
 (1d20+3)[ 14 ] 
 
achinca
She looks at Shiny with a stern look in her eyes.

"  gnome, why are you lying and making up stories? Are you hiding something?  "
Admiral
Shiny shrugs and smiles.  "Ah, Miriam, you've found me out. I'll tell you the truth, and surely you'll see why I felt I had to hide my identity."  Shiny takes a careful look up and down the road, and lowers his voice.

 "The truth is that I am, in fact, Shiny Scalebane, do-gooder and former puppeteer. Perhaps you've heard of the Karseels, the infamous lizardfolk crime family, who have terrorized the countryside with their extortion, racketeering and murder. We Scalebanes have for many generations been sworn to oppose their evil agendas. When the Karseels found our hideout, they tried to massacre us, and my family barely escaped." 

Shiny pauses for a moment to wipe a tear from his eye and catch his breath.  "We each went on the run, each taking a false name to throw them off our trail, for even now do they hunt us. I am now adventuring to obtain the necessary resources to return to my homeland and rid it of the evil Karseels once and for all!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Obviously this is equally fictitious. Bluff check:  (1d20+7)[ 16 ] 
 
achinca
Miriam looks at the talking gnome, unsure if he is making things up or telling the truth.

 
 Spoiler 
Sense Motive:
 (1d20+3)[ 11 ] 
DM, do I get a bonus considering he was already caught once lying?
 
Cavelcade
Kurt stares at the gnome suspiciously as well at this stage.  "I agree, I don't understand why you'd lie to us after we all saved the princess."  Having walked along in silence for most of the way, he's been wondering if there's something...crazy about this gnome, who seems to insist on chattering all the time. He's certainly suspicious.

 (1d20-2)[ 10 ] 
Admiral
Shiny looks deep hurt.  "I thought that I had found companions of character, not more humans and dwarves who would judge me only on my race. Oh, I've heard the malicious stories- "those lying gnomes, all they do is steal and deceive"- but I'd thought that a righteous cleric and a stouthearted warrior would have no such prejudice..." 

He lapses into a rare silence and continues walking.

 
 Spoiler 
If appropriate, a Diplomacy check:  (1d20+7)[ 10 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Countryside 

The small crew continues peacefully.  The ground beneath your steeds' hooves or feet slowly changes from a white cobblestone road to a worn dirt trail.  The cityscape turn to endless wheat fields.  A white picket fence guards the farm.  As you walk, you can only imagine how long the project must have taken to cover either side of the acres-long road in fencing.  In hours, the end of the wheat fields finally arrives, met by the beginning of a dense forest.  You finally reach the forest right as night is about to fall.
achinca
Miriam looks at the forest and at her companions. "  I am a farm girl who knows nothing but I think it would be a good idea to rest the horse and enter the forest during the day  "

She pets her horse "  The seller never told me your name so I will call you Thunder.  "

"  If we decide to camp here, I will take the first watch. I need to make sure I am rested and can pray to have my God St. Cuthbert bless me with some divine magic.  "
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by achinca 
 Miriam looks at the forest and at her companions. "  I am a farm girl who knows nothing but I think it would be a good idea to rest the horse and enter the forest during the day  "

She pets her horse "  The seller never told me your name so I will call you Thunder.  "

"  If we decide to camp here, I will take the first watch. I need to make sure I am rested and can pray to have my God St. Cuthbert bless me with some divine magic.  " 
 

 "Sounds like a plan!"  exclaims Shiny, any trace of earlier conflict gone. He hooks up Magnus to a tree, finds a good spot where he'd be hard to see from a distance, and stretches for the night's rest.
Cavelcade
Kurt nods in agreement with them.  "Indeed. We can prove our worth to each other by keeping a good watch tonight."  Hopping off his pony, he ties it to a tree and goes through the tedious process of making his little camp, grooming the pony, fixing up his tent and helping the others with theirs.
achinca
Miriam is thankful to Kurt for helping her set the tent.

After brushing and feeding Thunder, her horse, she shares her meal with her new companions.

When it is time to retire and rest, she will take the first shift. If it goes without problem, she will then wake up Kurt.
Cavelcade
Kurt brushes aside her thanks with an awkward murmur that it was nothing at all, before clearing his throat and properly acknowledging thanks as he'd been thought to do. He didn't do well with any sort of praise, even as small as a thank you.

 "Get some rest, then, I'll wake you when you need to take the watch. I doubt there'll be any trouble but I can yell pretty loudly when I need to." 
achinca
"  Thank you kind dwarf for taking first shift.  "

Miriam goes inside her tent, says her prayers and go to sleep.
Cavelcade
Kurt sets himself to keeping alert through his watch, patrolling the edge of the camp regularly, keeping away from the fire so it doesn't blind him.

 
 Spoiler 

I couldn't remember whether or not you're doing passive rolls so here is listen and spot, respectively.
 (1d20)[ 16 ] 
 (1d20)[ 4 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
OOC: The rolls are good, if you had forgotten I would have rolled for you.

 Vaylindal - Countryside 

The party falls asleep, all except Kurt, who finds nothing of interest in the first hour of searching.  However, just barely over the tips of some trees, he makes out among the clouds a plume of smoke about seventy yards to the east.
achinca
Miriam is sleeping soundly, dreaming of a better with Calric at her side, healing sick farmers and delivering babies.
Cavelcade
Kurt frowns in that direction for a few moments, trying to decide whether or not it's just another cloud or not. As soon as he's certain it's not, he turns and starts yelling, going from one tent to the other.

 "Wake up! Wake up the two of you there's a fire not far off!"  He goes to each tent, yelling into them if they're not awake.
Admiral
Shiny has always been quick to wake, and he's on his feet by the time Kurt finishes his sentence, almost firing an enchantment in Kurt's direction out of reflex.

Once he hears Kurt's exclamations and sees the smoke for himself, he relaxes.  "Now, you had me worried for a moment!"  he says, slapping Kurt on the back.  "What's a little smoke?" 
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Countryside 

Shiny, despite only barely opening his eyes, quickly spots a robed human woman watching them through the bushes.  Almost as soon as he sees her, she ducks into the leaves.
Admiral
Shiny recalls how startled the dwarf had been at the sight of the smoke.   "Don't panic, Kurt,"  he says quietly,   "but we're not alone." 

He flashes a wide grin as he turns away from Kurt.  "Hello there, friend!"  he shouts into the bushes.  "Why don't you come out and introduce yourself?" 
  "Whoever she is,"  he whispers out of the side of his mouth,   "we want her out in the open." 
Hefty Lefty
As soon as Shiny beckons her, the woman steps out from the bushes.   "It's okay, don't panic. My friend and I are staying there."   She pointed in the direction she had just come from.   "I saw your fire and wanted to know who was out there. We mean no harm." 
Admiral
 "I'm sure you don't, my lady!"  says Shiny cheerfully. He takes a very deep bow.  "Please allow me to introduce myself! I am Shiny Windwire, theoretical alchemist and lute craftsman! I'm afraid you're mistaken, though- that fire is not ours." 
achinca
Miriam gets up and comes out of the tent.

As she sees the situation unfolding, she approaches the woman, slightly pushing Shiny aside. "  I am Miriam, servant of St. Cuthbert. Don't mind our gnome, he is an halfling lawyer  ".

She extends her hand while the other hold her holy symbol.
Cavelcade
Kurt chuckles at that, surprised to hear Miriam repeat what Shiny had told them even though she now knew him for a trickster. Maybe she didn't mind and in any case, he wasn't going to be the one to spoil it. Uneasily hefting his axe he eyes the newcomer warily, before setting the haft of the axe on the ground, his hands resting on top of it so he at least doesn't look like he'll go on a killing spree right that moment.

 "I am Kurt Loderr, a fighter. And Shiny you must be blind, I've kept the embers going in the fire even now. Tis nice to have some warmth." 
Athedia
Mithril- Human Wizard

 "Halfling Lawyer?  Odd profession but someone has to do it."   Mithril wrinkled her forehead.  Realizing she should tell the people who she was she continued  "I am Mithril and my friend and I came from the city just now.  We were afraid of being stuck there after they closed the gates." 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

After observing the scene, Natalia steps out of the shadows. Whiskers hops off her shoulder and runs to her master. Natalia is holding her rapier in her left hand in a defensive stance--she won't attack first, but she's prepared to defend herself if necessary.

(The three others see a somewhat short and skinny girl with pale skin and stringy black hair tied back in a rough ponytail with a blue ribbon stand before you with a rapier in her left hand, drawn in a defensive stance. She is wearing a leather jacket over her clothes, cut up in the front and flaring out slightly in the back (it's hard to describe), and her pants are tucked into well-worn boots. Her jewelry is simple: a rope necklace with a single smooth black stone and what appears to be a very thinly carved copper bracelet on her left wrist, which goes quite far up her forearm.)
Admiral
Shiny smiles when he sees Natalie walk out.  "Come sit down! You have nothing to fear from us. We're on a diplomatic mission for the crown, making contact with some elves in the forest just south of here." 

He spins around to set up the area around the campfire for his visitors and as he does, he whispers urgently to his two companions-  Can't trust them yet- say nothing of the Jewels." 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
(Who and what is Whiskers?)
 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia glances warily at the gnome and crouches to the ground next to Mithril, still holding her rapier and ready to spring up at a moment's notice. Something doesn't sit quite right with the gnome's story, and as she looks upon the human and dwarf he is traveling with, she figures it out.

 "If you're...diplomatic...then why no elves?" 
Admiral
 "If the crown were already friends with the elves, we wouldn't need a diplomatic mission, now, would we?"  says Shiny, winking.  "But why talk of politics and race when we have food to share!" 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

She shakes her head in frustration; he just couldn't understand what she was trying to say. Taking a deep breath, Natalia tries again, pointing at each of them in turn and forcing out the words she wants to say through the myriad jumble of half-sentences and thoughts.

 "Gnome. Human. Dwarf. Where's the elf?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 
 Oh, right.  You had to introduce yourself. That made you seem less...less...Nuts.

 "Natalia,"  she says as she points to herself.  "And you?" 

(And yes, Natalia's nickname is Nuts. Hopefully it should be rapidly becoming clear why.)
Athedia
Mithril

 "Forgive my friend, she can be a little hard to understand sometimes.  We are simply traveling to a village around here.  There was an attack in the city this afternoon and we did not want to be stuck inside.  Did you hear of it?"   Mithril wondered if these people were on a diplomatic mission, they seemed an odd bunch with little experience talking to nobility.  Still wary she tried to appear calm.  Picking up Whiskers she set him on her shoulder whispering into his ear "Good boy, everything is okay." 
Admiral
 "Nice to meet you, Natalia! I'm Shiny Hawkeye, archer and hippogriff butcher.

"In answer to your question- while the kingdom has many allegiances, none in the royal circle of trust are of elven descent. The king seeks to remedy this by sending us, a humble band of servants to the crown, to establish diplomatic relations with the wood elves who live a few days south of here." 

Shiny then turns to Mithril.  "I must admit our knowledge and indeed our involvement. We were among those loyal citizens who resisted the attackers and brought them to justice." 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia's eyes widen.  "That's amazing...and...now traveling to warn them?"  She turns to Mithril.  "Would they know about, or have..."  Natalia points to the stone necklace around her neck and mimes that it's a much larger and more valuable stone instead...perhaps a jewel...
Athedia
 "Theoretical alchemist, lute craftsman, halfling lawyer, archer and hippogriff butcher?  Either you are a man of many talents and names Mr. Windwire Hawkeye or I have some trouble believing what you say."   Mithril was amused by the gnome in front of her, he sounded just like her brothers, never sticking with the same story.
Admiral
If Shiny knows what Natalia is referring to, he doesn't show it.  "Why, no, not to warn them- our diplomatic mission has been planned for some time, and is unrelated to the attack. And whatever do you mean about your necklace?" 
Admiral
Shiny smiles back at Mithril.  "While I like to think I have a few talents, I don't think I ever said such things (a lute craftsman, indeed?) But if there has been a mistake I am sure that it was mine!" 
 "Anyway, we know you were traveling from the city, but where to?" 
Athedia
Mithril shakes her head at Natalia,  "She thought she saw a necklace like hers during the attack in the city, but nicer.  All she wants to know is if you saw the vendor leave the city around the same time you did."  
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

He shifts too much, the gnome. Natalia isn't sure she likes him much. She glances at Mithril, then the other three people.  "Why attack the princess? Then? There?"  It had been bothering her all day, and maybe now she'd get some answers.

(And I'm off to bed.)
Athedia
 "A village, two days off.  Natalia knows the location, I believe she may know someone there.  I just wanted to explore outside the gates for once, there is so much to learn out here.  You say you are traveling to the Elves lands?  Do you need a translator, I speak the language."  She looked at the group, wary of their actual reason for being out here.  The gnome had made her want to learn more of their actual objectives.
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

She nods and says, "Me too." Then Natalia leans close to Mithril and whispers,  "Elves may know something...Would these?"  She doesn't believe a word Shiny the too-shiny gnome says, but elves live a long time and they may be a good place to find out more. At least, that's where Natalia's train of thought leaves. The actual process is much more...tangled.
achinca
Miriam listens to the conversation between Shiny and the two woman before stepping in.

"  Natalia, Mithril, please pay little attention to what Shiny say. Half of it is around and the other half is invented. It is an entertaining show but trying to keep up of all Shiny's fake stories will drive you insane.  "

She stops and hesitate before adding "  We have no business with the elves as you have easily figure out. We are in a mission for the crowd related to today's attack on Our Grace. There is interest in the jewel that the Princess was wearing. We are just trying to figure out what is so special about them ....   "

She stops and looks at the two women with a big friendly smile .....
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia nods.  "Masks on masks, until you suffocate."  At Miriam's second statement, she yelps, then turns to Mithril and practically shouts,  "Blue princess dragon gem!" 
achinca
Miriam is confused about the first statement and she hears the second statement shouted, she looks at Natalia then Mithril.

"  What do you mean? What do you know? What side are you on?  "
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia starts to blurt out random words at the sudden interrogation. Pointing to Mithril, she finally manages to say,  "Don't know...She told...Keys! The jewels are keys?" 
Athedia
 "Its a legend from a book I read, the Vystera Jewels are the keys to a dragon's prison.  They were hidden in crypts of their own to prevent the dragon from ever escaping.  I was just wondering why a secret key that was supposed to be hidden where no-one could find it was around the princesses neck.  It just doesn't seem as safe."   Mithril realized that she was starting to get used to Natalia's speech idiosyncrasies. Miriam looked trustworthy, she had read of clerics before and although mystified as to how they worked she respected them.
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia grins at Mithril's statement. Or rather, the fact that she understood what the rogue was trying to say. And Natalia had mostly figured why the jewel was so visible, and why they were scattered. At least, she hoped she did. It was something she would do in a trap, after all.  "...Disguises. Redundancies,"  she explains.  "Hide on the door, not in the dungeon. Break one bond, the bridge still holds." 
achinca
Miriam tries to make sense of Natalia speech but she shakes her head as she cannot really understand it.

Mithril is easier to understand. "  So the jewels are keeping a dragon prisoner? Why would someone would be trying to free it. That is why she was attacked. To get the jewel. Tell me more about that dragon and prison.  "

She looks at the two women. "  Feel free to share my tent if you do not have one. I am next on the watch once Kurt needs to rest.  "
Athedia
Mithril realized she had left her pack back at her original campsite.  She did not want to leave it there, who knows who would find it. "I believe my pack is still at our campsite, along with my bedroll.  I was so pre-occupied with finding out who you where that I did not take it with me.  Would someone walk back with me to get it?  I would go alone but we are rather close to the forest." 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

She rises to her feet.  "Won't go far."  (It's only a couple minutes away).

As they walk, Natalia says,  "...You're a wizard."  It's dark out, but her expression is one of respect and longing.
Athedia
 "Of course I am.  What other excuse would I have for spending most of my time in libraries.  Its not all people say, I had to work for a year before I figured out how to cast a simple spell without something going wrong.  What did you think I was?"   As they reached the campsite Mithril rolled up her bedroll and stowed it in her pack, after making sure everything was still there.   "Lets head back now, don't want them to worry.  Trust me, sometimes I think it was more work then gain." 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia wrings her hands, then hunches over with folded arms.  "...They never let me tinker with the world. 'Touched in the head to start, and you want to let Nuts learn spells?'"

...Snared rabbits, but never spellbooks." 
Admiral
As soon as Mithril and Natalia are out of earshot, Shiny turns to his allies. " "So I'm sure we're all thinking the same thing- why are they asking all these questions about the jewels? So what do you think- new friends, or dangerous villains in league with this morning's attackers? I could put them to sleep and tie them up if we have to." 
Athedia
 "Nuts? Whose nuts? A squirrels?  Mithril saw the look on Natalia's face, and tried to make her feel better.   Playing with magic can't feed me out here, you have more skills in that.  I am useless if I can't survive, you can still tinker and notice things." 

Realizing they would be within earshot of the other people soon she hurriedly whispered  "I don't know if these people were really sent by the king, they lied to us at first and may still be.  It may be best if we didn't mention the Jewels until we know that they aren't in league with the people who attacked the princess." 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

A faint smile appears on her face.  "May be Nuts, but I'm not nuts. Could you...teach me?" 

When Mithril whispers, Natalia whispers back,  "Cat's already out, walking about." 

(OOC: This is why Natalia has no points in Use Magic Device to start with.)
Athedia
 "The fewer cats the better, let them think that we don't have any more interest in it. I don't know about teaching, I just mastered the basics a few years ago, I could try."  As Mithril drew near the campfire she held up her pack  "It was just as I left it.  I guess I worry over nothing."   Pulling out her bedroll she prepared her bed again. "Lets try this again shall we."  she muttered as she settled down into the bed, Whiskers settling down on her pack.
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia nods, says,  "Won't hurt you,"  to the other three, and after a while falls asleep, her left hand still grasping the rapier in case she needs to wake up quickly.
achinca
Miriam is ready to go walk with the other two women but by the time she puts her armor on, the women already left. She looks at Kurt and Shiny with a sad face.

When Shiny questions which side they are on, she shakes her head. "  They are not on the bad side. If they were following us, they did a terrible job being discrete. I think that they might be two adventuring friends with a taste for jewels.  "

She stops and asks Kurt "  Is it my shift time?  "
Cavelcade
Kurt had been dead silent after introducing himself, shifting from foot to foot as the conversation had gone on, anxious about the lies being told and then even more anxious when Miriam states the truth right out. Only once they're gone does he relax enough to speak again.

 "I think we should be wary of them but it'll be easier if they're under our nose than...who knows where." 
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Countryside 

The night quickly creeps up on the new group of five.  They rotate through shifts throughout the night.  At about midnight, Natalia hears two wolves howling at each other.  Small animals race around on dry leaves throughout the night.  Nothing intimidating - in the light that is - when the sun is down, every noise is a lethal threat.  The party rests well despite the distractions, and soon the morning is upon them.  Dew soaks the grass and the familiar hum of dragonflies and other flying bugs fills the air.  The scary wolves are replaced with tranquil chirping birds.  The new day has officially begun, and it is a beautiful, bright day.  Not a cloud in the sky.
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia sits up slowly. She yawns, stretches, then looks at Mithril and the other woman sleeping next to her and remembers where she is. She waits a few minutes longer, tasting the new day's air, then whispers,  "Mithril." 
Athedia
 "Hmm?"  Mithril sits up groggy.  Looking around she realizes it is morning.  She realized that it was Natalia who had woken her.   "What is it Natalia?"   Looking around for a comfortable spot, she looks through her bag for her spellbook, ready to meditate as soon as she could.  She would have to adjust her normal spell list, the woods where no place for mending.
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 
 "Slept in the lions den, woke with the cubs. ...Should we discuss cats?" 

Whatever Natalia was going to say next is lost when she sees Mithril take out her spellbook. The rogue's eyes light up and she shuffles over closer, peering over Mithril's shoulder at the arcane writing. Her intent is obvious.
Athedia
Mithril smiles at the girls interest.  "You can watch but I need to concentrate for a bit.  The big downside to knowing magic is having to prepare it each day.  Just stay quite, you can ask questions when I am finished."   She opened her spellbook and sat cross-legged on her bedroll.  Turning to the pages she wanted she stared at the symbols, reaching into her mind to unlock their meaning.  This ritual had pre-occupied her mornings for years, it was as natural to her as yawning.
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

It was like her and her designs. Natalia could get completely absorbed in a particularly intricate device or cunning trap, and only realize how much time had passed when she looked up from her drawings and saw that the sun had already started to set.

She stares at the different spells, seeing if there's anything that she can piece together on her own, even though she has no magical training, even though in her hometown the thought of  Nuts  with magic was terrifying enough that she barely saw a potion, much less a scroll.

Decipher Script:  (d20+6)[ 24 ]  (EDIT: Woah, nice!)
Admiral
Shiny awakes the way he always does: by bouncing to his feet with a grin. He looks over at the wizard studying her spellbook. He'd known a number of gnome wizards, but the life had never appealed to him- all solemn tutelage and study. Besides, he'd mastered his magic without the need to carry a hefty tome around.

  "Now, who is still asleep? Let's start with the dwarf."   He nearly pounces onto Kurt, shaking him gently but enthusiastically.  "Up and at 'em, soldier!" 
Cavelcade
Kurt blinks and rolls awake at the shoving, up and at attention in a moment's notice, blinking at the light and having to think for a moment to realise where he actually was. He laughs when he does, patting the gnome on the shoulder.

 "Did you ever have to train fighters, Shiny? Maybe you're a bit too gentle for one but that's how mine would wake me, when he was in a good mood." 
achinca
Miriam awakes and she first surprised to see Natalia and Mithril the remember last night.

"  Good morning ladies ..... May St Cuthbert bless your day  "

She gets up and go find a place apart where she will go and pray.

When she returns, her eyes are puffy and dried tears are on her cheeks but she a strong smile on her face.

"  This is a beautiful day to bring goodness to the realm ....  "
Admiral
Shiny nods at Kurt's observation.  Your senses serve you well. You're speaking to Shiny Bladescholar, tutor of the greatest soldiers, gladiators and duellists of our age. And amateur rock climber." 

He steps back and starts his morning stretches. When Miriam returns from her prayer, he springs again to his feet.  "Strongmen, scoundrels, masters of the arcane and divine! Let us march!" 
achinca
Miriam smiles at the gnome.

Also she does not approve of his constant fabrication, she really enjoyed his positive attitude.

"  So Halfling Lawyer! Lead the way!  "
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia all but tunes out the conversation outside as she tries to decipher the spells. Just when it seems that every single one has eluded her, a few fragments of one spell suddenly, possibly, become clear. She points to the page and says,  "Rope?" 
Athedia
 "So loud."  Mithril grumbles as she closes her spellbook.  She had managed to find some useful spell for the day.  Packing up her bedroll, she places it on her shoulders. She looked around to see Whiskers trying to push her quarterstaff toward her.  Picking them both up she laughed,  "I didn't forget it, but Whiskers you are far to small to move that."  Whiskers scrambled into his usual place on her shoulder.  As she stood up she turned to Miriam  "Thank you for your blessing." 
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 

Natalia also nods with a small smile. As they leave the tent (and yes, Natalia has all her stuff), she turns to Mithril and says,  "One's rope, but the others...how?" 
achinca
Miriam folds the tent in her backpack.

"  So Mithril, are you teaching magic to Natalia? I have never seen such a young teacher ....  ."
Athedia
Talking to Miriam, Mithril explained "I tutored children in the city, but I don't know about teaching magic.  Natalia here is free to attempt to learn though it does take a while. I don't quite know how, I learned to read the signs and they just make sense.  It feels like the spells were inside me the whole time, I just have to free them." 

She looked toward the forest. It seemed less scary in the light of day, but she was still glad she would have company before entering it.
achinca
Miriam smiles .... "  I get my magic through my prayers. St. Cuthbert listens and gives me some divine magic to spread goodness and justice .....  "

Looking at the rest of the group .....

"A  re we all ready to enter the forest? May be Natalia should go first. I will close the marching order if needed.  "
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 
 "Never let Nuts around spells, too scared she'd pick them apart..."  She trails off.  "...Want to unweave magic, not just metal."  She looks at the rest of the group, then Mithril.  "Part of the pack...but haven't counted all the cats. Still disposable." 

Natalia wrings her hands at Miriam's suggestion. She may be swift but she's not that durable and she knows it. But she doesn't know how to ask if someone a bit more sturdy can march alongside her, and even if she did they still don't have full reason to trust her. She understands that they'd rather lose one of the newcomers than one of their own.

(Natalia will march in front if she has to, but we'd both feel a bit more comfortable with Kurt, the most durable, alongside her.)
Admiral
 "Muscleman to the front, holywoman to the back, troublemakers to the center!"  declares Shiny decisively. He's not really a natural leader, but he is a natural talker.
Athedia
 "I see you include yourself in the troublemakers section."  Mithril is amusing by the gnomes cheerful speech, now she knew he tended to bend the truth into knots she was starting to appreciate him.
CoffeeIncluded
 Natalia Bolts, Human Rogue 
 "Tricky masks and late arrivals. Yes."  She slips into the middle of the party right behind Kurt and ahead of Mithril and Shiny. As she walks, a thought crosses her mind.  "Rope,"  she mutters to herself as she indeed takes the silk rope out of her bag. AS they walk she creates a noose-like know that tightens either when pulled or when a creature caught in the noose strains against the rope, making it doubly difficult to escape. Satisfied, she puts away the rope such that she can pull it out instantly if need be, with the knot intact.
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Forest 

The party marches through the woods, some on horseback, others on foot.  The musclemen lead the way through the dense trees.  Leaves and branches crunch underneath.  Some of the shorter members of the party have to take tall steps to make it over a few very large roots.  These trees are decades, maybe centuries old, and show it in their girth.  After about two hours of walking, the team comes across a wide flowing river.  The water runs very quickly.  The party continues walking alongside the river and watch as it leaps off a massive waterfall.  Flowers and plant-life around the catching pool of the falls create a picturesque view of the forest.  Perhaps more beautiful is that the company is now within the map's marked area.
Admiral
 "Let's stick together and search for the Shrine,"  says Shiny. Since Miriam insists on filling in the newcomers about the jewels, he's dropped any charade about a diplomatic mission, though he'll keep an eye on the two.

 
 Spoiler 
I'm guessing we'll take 20 if we can on searching for the Shrine of Aquatos. If we can't, here's my Search roll:  (1d20+3)[ 13 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Old land,"  she says. Yet even with its age, the forest felt as green and alive as it looked. She wondered how long this shrine had been around, whether it moved in time with the forest.

(I don't have a lot of time to post. Take 20 on search for 28, or  (d20+8)[ 13 ]  if we're not allowed for whatever reason.)

She savors the search, tasting the fresh air, feeling the soft squishy bundles of moss, running her fingers along jagged bark and in the cool rushing stream.
achinca
Miriam follows the group in silence. She is fascinated by the old trees and the serenity they give.

When Natalia and Shiny starts looking, she asks innocently "  Any idea what we are looking for looks like?  "

She looks around to see if anything out of the ordinary pricks up her eyes.

Spot Roll:  (1d20+4)[ 6 ] 

OOC: The natural beauty of the area is blinding Miriam :)
Athedia
 "Let me think, I may have read about a shrine around here before.   Mithril looked around for anything that looked vaguely shrine-like as she thought.

 
 Spoiler 
Knowledge Check (History)  (1d20+4)[ 11 ] 
Spot Check  (1d20+1)[ 2 ] 
OOC: So Mithril is blinded and deafened by the nature beauty
 
CoffeeIncluded
Dark browns and dappled greens blend into clear blue. The soft reeds on the riverbank melt into the shallow water, mist hangs over the rushing waterfall. While continuing to search, Natalia looks around to see what can catch her eye through the patchwork light filtering through the trees, and what sounds carry over the roaring water.

Spot:  (d20+5)[ 19 ] 
Listen:  (d20+5)[ 23 ] 
Search: Still taking 20 for a 28.
Hefty Lefty
OOC: Taking 20 was a fine idea.

 Vaylindal - Forest 

The party investigates a one-half square mile area in for two hours.  They turn over boulders, climb up and down the hillside, and investigate the largest trees and bushes.  There isn't much to search through, which is frustrating.  The young wizard looks with the party for about an hour before digging through her bag for anything on the shrine.  She pours through three books coming to a realization.   "Aquatos.  Aqua.  Water!"   She slaps herself on the forehead and mumbles  "You've got to be kidding me."   She groans, then continues,  "Search the water, people!"   The company recollects by the base of the river and investigates again, this time focusing on the river.  It's about an hour past midday when Kurt and Natalia simultaneously point to the waterfall.   "There!"   "The- oh... " 

A small, dark cave is now easily visible once it has been pointed out.  Between the water, under the falls, the mountain opens up to promote an unlit cavern.  The water around the base of the falls is deep, but rocks surrounding the landing pool could be used as a makeshift pathway, but are slippery.  The water in the pool is deep and the water coming off the falls would surely push anyone who fell in under and down the river about ten yards.  The slip wouldn't cause any damage, but would at certainly be unpleasant.

 
 Spoiler 
DC to maintain balance on rocks: 12.  Remember to factor in Armor Check Penalty!
 
Admiral
 "In we go!"  shouts the ever-enthusiastic Shiny.

 
 Spoiler 
While I would usually take off my armor first, Shiny wouldn't think of that, especially after a frustrating day of searching.

Balance check:  (1d20)[ 14 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril took Whiskers off her shoulder and put him next to the rocks. "It would probably be better if you by crossed yourself Whiskers. Don't worry, if you fall I will go after you."   She watched the small weasel hop across a few rock and look back at her.  She smiled at him and carefully stepped on the first rock.
 
 Spoiler 
Whiskers Balance Check:  (1d20+2)[ 14 ]   If Whiskers falls in Mithril will dive after him.
Mithril's Balance Check:  (1d20+2)[ 15 ] 
 
Admiral
Upon making it into the cavern and taking a look around, he yells back,  "I barely made it over those rocks! Maybe you should throw in a rope so I can tie it to something- might help you get across!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Search check to find something to tie a rope to (tying it to myself would just send me flying):  (1d20+3)[ 18 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril stumbled onto the firm ground, Whiskers watching her.  Hearing Shiny's suggestion she couldn't help thinking, if only he had said that before I crossed.   She pulled out her silk rope and held it out. "I think I have one, yes here it is."  She started looking around for a place to tie the rope.
 
 Spoiler 
Mithril Search Check:  (1d20+3)[ 5 ] 
for someone with good intelligence Mithril gets really bad rolls on finding things in front of her face
 
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Forest 

The energetic Shiny scampers across.  He slips once, but with his quick speed his slight stumble only takes place once he crossed the entire path.  The ground underneath him is dark brown dirt.  To his left, as he stands facing the rock pathway with the cave on his right, lies the waterfall.  The rocks underneath, where the water lands, are worn from the rushing flow and now slippery as butter.  The cave is thirty feet wide and tall.  The passage only lasts for about forty feet where an old stone door is illuminated by a single lamp.  Shiny looks around his immediate surroundings and quickly finds a rocky outcropping from the wall.  As he is looking, Mithril and her weasel scramble across as well.  The gnome takes Mithril's silk rope and loops it around the rock, forms a quick knot, and wraps the rest around his arm, waiting to toss the rest of the rope to the other side.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
I rolled the Use Rope check for Shiny.  To throw the rope to someone on the other side, you must roll a DC 14 Ranged Attack.  If you fail, the end of the rope falls in the water.  The thrower can lean in and decrease the DC by 1 (and the receiver can for another -1), but the Balance DC to hang onto the wall and catch the rope is a 15.  Someone on either side can hold the leaner to decrease the Balance DC by 2.  However, if the leaner still fails his check, not only will he fall in the water, but the helper must make a Balance DC 5 or fall in as well.
 
Admiral
 "No need for any help!"  Shiny says to Mithril. Once someone on the other side of the waterfall is ready, he throws the rope to them. If he fails, he'll pull the rope back up from the water and try again.

 
 Spoiler 
I think I'd be able to take 20, by tossing the rope again and again- after all, since it's attached to the wall, we're not going to lose it (and if it does come free, that would mean it never would have held anyway). But in any case, here's my first throw:

 (1d20+3)[ 22 ] 

Rolling great today. Shame that wasn't one of those life-and-death rolls.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia catches the rope easily, and looks for a nearby tree or rock outcropping that isn't too slippery from moss and mist. Once she does, she makes a knot that will easily be undone if it's sharply yanked on at the right angle from the other end.
Use Rope:  (d20+9)[ 11 ] 
If she can't, then Natalia simply holds the rope and walks across slowly. (Do I still need to make a balance check? I really wish I put ranks in balance. Can I retrain Natalia's skills?)
Balance:  (d20+3)[ 23 ] 

(EDIT: of course I roll a 2 on the Use Rope check. At least I got a 20 on balance...And I'll bet it was an unnecessary roll).

Natalia looks around the waterfall cave, her gaze quickly falling upon the door and lamp.

OOC:  Is the lamp lit? Is there oil inside? Is there dust around the door? 
achinca
Miriam looks at the situation and by reflex extends her hand ... and only find nothingness. Calric is not there anymore to help her in this kind of situation. She takes a deep breath and fighting back her tears, starts to take off her armor.

She puts it in her back and tries crossing the slippery slope.

Balance roll (DC12)  (1d20+1)[ 21 ] 

She easily reaches the other side and puts her armor back on.

When Natalia asks for light, she replies "  I am sorry. I did not ask St. Cuthbert for the ability to create light. I have torches however .....  "
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Forest 

The stone door ahead of the party in the cave is large and wide; it was either built for something larger than a human or simply built to be large.  Carved on the door is many archaic words and symbols around a dangerous-looking shark jumping out of water.  The door is relatively dusty.  The lamp next to the door is lit and shining, and there seems to be a good amount of oil.  Someone must have come through and replaced the oil within the past week.  To the left of the door, constructed into the mountainside cave wall, is a stone lever with engravings just like the door.
Cavelcade
With a sigh of worry Kurt takes off his armour, stowing it in his packback before tying his pony up carefully.  "Hm. Hmm. Oh well, over I go."  Doing his best not to look down and move forward confidently he grabs the rope and trusts to the skill of the one who tied it.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d20+2)[ 6 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stops short, especially when she sees the shark. She looks at the writing on the lever and door, seeing if she can place it. (OOC: Natalia knows Common, Halfling, Elven, Draconic, and Gnome) If she doesn't know the language, then she checks to see if it shares any root words with the languages she does know.

Decipher Script:  (d20+6)[ 7 ]  (EDIT: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU--)

Whether or not Natalia can figure out what it says, she holds out her hand and says to the rest of the group,  "...All this to leave the house? Why light up the back door?"  She immediately drops to the ground and starts checking for traps, or anything even more suspicious. She doesn't let anyone else approach the door or lever. That lever is too inconvenient, and that shark is too ominous.

Search: Take 20 for a 28.
Admiral
If Kurt falls off the stones, and if he loses his grip on the rope, Shiny throws it to him while he's in the water to keep him from floating downstream.  "Grab hold!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Ranged touch attack for throw:  (1d20+3)[ 7 ] 
 
Athedia
 "Don't worry about light, if we run out of oil I can enchant a rock or use my own, no difference to me."   Mithril said as she walked toward the door.  The symbols looked interesting, and she tried to decipher the script.

 
 Spoiler 
Mithril knows Draconic, Celestial, Elvish and Common
 (1d20+6)[ 16 ]  here is to hoping this goes well
 
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Forest 

The dwarf is the last to make it across the rocky road.  Just before the end, however, he steps on a loose stone which gives way.  Kurt loses his grasp on the rope in an attempt to regain his balance and falls into the water.  He falls into the water with a splash.  The cold river water freezes his system for a second as it pushes him under the falls.  Kurt emerges from the flow and but is unable to reach the rope before he is pushed downstream a bit.  The dwarf emerges downstream soaking wet.  He mutters under a dripping beard.  Slowly and carefully, he makes his way over the path.  He keeps a very tight grip on the rope and makes special note to only step on the sturdiest of stones.  He finally makes it across and is the last of the party to cross.

 
 Spoiler 
Kurt takes 10 to cross.
 


Natalia identifies that the language is draconic, but that's about it.  She can infer that the language is speaking about water.  After a few careful minutes of searching, she can confidently say that the door and lever are both safe for use.

Mithril has a better go at deciphering the words.  It seems to be a short poem or rhyme about water and swimming.  The last line reads:  "Dive in deep, hold your breath, or prepare to face a watery death." 
Admiral
 "We should take our time and make a plan before pulling the lever,"  says Shiny. But Shiny rarely does what he  should  do, so he disregards this, hops right up and pulls.
achinca
As Kurt falls into the water, Miriam rushes to the edge "Can you swim Kurt?"

If there is sign that the dwarf is into trouble, she will take off her armor and jump to save the warrior.

IF he is just wet, she will extend her hand to help him get up.

After that, she will look at the runes, at the writing to see if she can make sense of it.

She will also look closely at the door to see if anything out of the ordinary jumps at her.

Here is a series of rolls (if needed):
 
 Spoiler 

Swim:  (1d20+1)[ 19 ] 

Knowledge Religion:  (1d20+1)[ 7 ] 

Spot:  (1d20+4)[ 22 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril dives to the ground and covers her head when she sees Shiny pulling the lever.  Years of poking, pushing and otherwise manipulating things had taught her that unexpected results could occur.  The incident of the falling bookcase still rang sharply in her memory. She peeked up to see what happened.
achinca
As Kurt joins then, Miriam approaches the dwarf and gives him a hug. "  Are you okay strong warrior? Can I do anything for you?  "

As Shiny pulls the lever, Miriam screams "  NOOOOOOOOOOOOO  " and pulls the gnome back, to protect him if needed.

"  Halfling Lawyer, you need to control your impulsiveness. Who knows who or what is beyond that door. Carefulness and planning are needed. If not evil will take advantage of you. Are you OK?  "
Athedia
Standing up Mithril spoke  " The door says something, something rather scary. Dive in deep, hold your breath, or prepare to face a watery death.  I don't want to face a watery death, or any death for that matter.  But where should we dive, the pool or somewhere inside?"   
Admiral
Shiny lets out a laugh.  "I assure you, I can control my impulsiveness. I'm Shiny Steadyeye, staring contest champion and professional kettle-watcher, and my patience is without limit."  While his face remains impassive as he says this, his twitching fingers betray his desire to pull the lever and find out what happens.

He turns to the group.  "What do we need? Weapons out? Who'll stand at the front?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Mithril yelps and dives to shove Shiny out of the way. She stands up and brushes off her jacket, listening to Mithril's translation.  "...I'm rusty,"  she says with a slightly rueful smile.

Natalia looks at the writing, the drawing, and the lever. Nodding, she mutters,  "Watery lungs, bloody water, bloody lungs."  She ties the rope to the lever, then moves back.

(OOC: Is there a ledge or any place to cling off the ground?)
achinca
Miriam listens to Mithril.

"  I do not like the sound it this. What language is it written? Draconic? I do not like it. I wonder if we are supposed to go down some watery canals or something.   "
Athedia
  "It is draconic, but maybe it is a clue for the jewels.  They are the keys to a dragons prison."   
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia finishes tying the rope to the lever, checking to see how the door can be opened (is there a doorknob or something?) She interrupts,  "Blue water, blue princess, blue gem? Watery blood..." 
Cavelcade
Kurt just laughs, shaking his head as he shakes the water out of his hair as best he can, looking like a small soaked bear.  "Nothing hurt but my pride. I've never dealt well with crossings like that..." 

He winces as Shiny is forcibly restrained going straight for the lever.  "Hm. Should I put my armour back on...or keep it off in case we have to swim?" 
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Forest 

The party surrounds the stone door on edge.  Aside from the lever on the side, there doesn't appear to be a way to open the door.  It looks just like a wall except for the frame around it.  Natalia ties a knot around the lever and the entire party backs off about thirty feet near the edge of the cave on rocks, terrified of what may happen.  She grips the rope tightly as her palms begin to sweat.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
achinca
Miriam puts her hand on Natalia'shoulders.

"  Go ahead. Pull the rope. I will protect you and heal you, if needed.  "

She glances at Kurt "  May be you should have your armor on and be ready to defend us if needed.  "

She looks at Shiny "  Master of Shark hunting, be ready for the unexpected.  "

Finally she nods to Mithril. "  St. Cuthbert is with us. We will be fine.  "

She gets ready, her tension quite palpable.
Athedia
With a gulp Mithril positions her quarterstaff ready to defend against anything coming from the door.  She looked at the picture on the door and shifted slightly, keeping one eye on the pool they had crossed.  It may just be a silly hunch but she was worried.  Whiskers settle down on her shoulder.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia makes sure that she can draw her rapier in and undo the knot in an instant. She closes her eyes, gulps, jerks her head in a quick nod, and yanks on the rope.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by achinca 
 She looks at Shiny "  Master of Shark hunting, be ready for the unexpected.  " 
 

Shiny looks truly touched.  "I hadn't even told you of my true identity as Shiny Finslicer, shark hunter and entrepreneur!"  He looks as though someone has finally understood him.

His wild eyes harden into steely resolve as he draws his rapier.  "We'll take whatever's coming." 
Hefty Lefty
 Vaylindal - Forest 

Tension builds as the rope grows taut in Natalia's hands.  She gives it a tug, and some other the party members think to jump out and stop her... but it's too late.  The lever comes down with a loud thunk.  Nothing happens.  The party members, creeping down in a bent stance, loosen their rigidity in confusion.  Then, another loud  *ca-chunk*  locks them back into position.  The grey stone door begins slowly sinking downward into the earth.  Inside is impenetrable darkness.  Then, suddenly from the shadows, a terrifying beast with razor sharp teeth and blood-stained claws appears!

Just kidding.  Nothing appears.  This is quite the paranoid party.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
Admiral
 "Well? On we go!"  shouts Shiny. He teeters on his feet, only to stop himself abruptly.  "On the other hand... I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have our resident warrior go first."  He nudges Kurt a bit.
Cavelcade
Kurt laughs and nods, putting on his helmet and taking up his axe.  "Does anyone have a torch to go behind me?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia just stands there and blinks.  "...Huh."  Somewhat sheepishly, she unties the rope and puts it back in her bag. Still holding her rapier, she says,  "Missing numbers, bad sum..."  Still, she couldn't help but chuckle over the anticlimactic scene.

(OOC: I think Mithril has a lamp.)
Athedia
Mithril pulled out her lamp and a flask of oil.   "This will last longer than any torch and be brighter.  But if you think we are going to have to extinguish soon a torch would be better."  Mithril was still shaking from from the nervousness of opening the door, but she was also laughing at herself.  There she went worrying over nothing again.
achinca
As the anticlimax of the door opening dawns on Miriam, she starts giggling and then start laughing uncontrollably. She is split in two, nearly rolling to the ground.

When she regains control, she wipes tears of laughter of her eyes. "  Thank you St. Cuthbert. I needed that. I really did.  "

She smiles at her companions and get ready to go, closing the marching order as usual.
Cavelcade
Kurt, still shaking his head as he takes up his axe again, walks to the edge of the blackness then and peers in.  "I'm sure a lamp will be fine. What's the worst that could happen?" 

The solid dwarf has regained his more solid expression, hands lightly moving on the axe haft as he keeps an eye out for enemies, not wanting to be caught off guard just because this door was untrapped.
achinca
When Miriam hears Kurt's comment, the smile fades from her face.

"  As my teacher told me often, famous last words .....  "
CoffeeIncluded
 "Flying air sharks, acid sharks, lava sharks,"  Natalia replies to Kurt. She warily inspects the hallway as they walk.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Flying air sharks, acid sharks, lava sharks,"  Natalia replies to Kurt. She warily inspects the hallway as they walk. 
 

 "I fought a lava shark once,"  says Shiny wistfully as he walks,  "but the problem is that through all the lava, no one could see it..." 
Cavelcade
 "Hm. Sharks that aren't in the sea are pretty scary. But I think dragons are worse." 

Walking along, chuckling as the tension is completely relieved completely.
Athedia
Mithril stopped, sighed and reached into her pack pulling out her lantern, flint and a flask of oil.  Filling the lantern she asks the others   "Why do we talk of lights without lighting?  And why walk into darkness without seeing?"   Now able to see the ground around her she continued.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia actually grins, showing surprisingly neat and clean teeth.  "Blind dragons, burn sharks." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The interior hall door opens slowly.  Very slowly.  So slowly that it feels as if five days has passed since it opened.  But eventually, finally, the stone door sinks into the ground and the party sinks into the dungeon.  The brave fighter Kurt Loderr leads the pack, expecting anything.  The mysterious Natalia slinks behind, followed by the magician Mithril.  Fortunately for the crew they are backed by Shiny the Waterproof Sharkproof gnome and the child of St. Cuthbert Miriam Sunflower.  Together the adventurers make their way into the hallway.  The way is lit by the party's light, but also by some small candles in the corner of the room ahead which reveal another stone door.  The room ahead of you appears to be empty.  This door has no markings you can make out from this distance.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia  quietly hums to herself  as the door opens, abruptly cutting herself off once the room is fully visible. She picks up a handful of pebbles and places them in one of her pockets while craning her neck and peeking into the room.

 "...Picked clean or made clean?"  she whispers to the party while looking and listening intently for anything off.
(Prepares for fail)
Spot:  (d20+5)[ 15 ] 
Listen:  (d20+5)[ 21 ] 

If Natalia doesn't find anything, she waits for everyone else to report on what they find. If nobody finds anything suspicious, she carefully searches the room (Take 20 for 28? Or Search:  (d20+8)[ 21 ] )
achinca
Miriam looks with a lot of curiosity at the room. "  A dungeon system behind a waterfall. I wonder who would go through all the troubles to do that.   

She looks around to see if she can spot something or find something or see some tracks.

Spot:  (1d20+4)[ 14 ] 

Search:  (1d20+0)[ 7 ] 

Survival:  (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
Admiral
Shiny peeks around Mithril to look in the room, and rubs his hands together, eager to see what's inside.

 
 Spoiler 

Spot:  (1d20-2)[ 18 ] 
Listen:  (1d20-2)[ 2 ] 
 
Athedia
  "And why go through all the trouble if it is empty?"   Mithril wondered out loud, as she peered around hoping to see if there was anything hiding ahead.

Spot: (1d20+1)[ 14 ] 
Listen:[roll]1d20+1[roll]
Search: (1d20+3)[ 19 ] 
Cavelcade
Kurt ***** his head, waiting until he finds out if any traps can be detected before slowly entering the room if none are and waiting otherwise, looking through the room.

 "Someone who really doesn't like visitors?"  He coughs a bit at his attempt at humour.  "Sorry." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The talkative band of adventurers quickly alerts four armed reptilians hiding in the unseen corners of the room ahead.  Natalia, at the same time, steps on a pressure plate on the ground ((on F4)).  She stumbles a bit as the floor shifts beneath her and the plate is activated.  The door behind them, that had sunk into the ground, begins to rise faster than it lowered ((it will be sealed in one round)).  The creatures ahead are about Shiny's height, but sport a dark brown, rusted scale color.  Once they see Natalia's neck crane around the corner, they yip in excitement and scramble to attack!  Two carry spears ((marked with a black dot)) and two carry slings ((marked with red dots)).

 
 Spoiler 
 
 


((Roll for Initiative (in the OOC thread)!))
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia yanks her head back then turns around at the sound of the door closing, her eyes wide in alarm.  "In the foxhole, four jaws!"  she yelps while drawing her rapier and rope knotted into a noose. Pressing herself against the wall of the corridor, she throws the rope in the direction of the creatures, hoping to catch at least one of them in the snare. The rope has been knotted so it will tighten whether she pulls on the end or the snared creature tugs against the loop.

(OOC: I make a ranged touch attack, right? Do I get a circumstance bonus because I've got a +9 Use Rope modifier with this rope?)

Attack:  (d20+3)[ 15 ] 
Critical Hit:  (d20+3)[ 14 ] 
Crit Confirm:  (d20+3)[ 13 ] 

If one of the enemies is successfully snared, Natalia pulls on the noose, tightening it and hopefully attempting to pull them to the ground (OOC: Though the noose would still be around them if she fails the trip attempt, right? And if Natalia fails the trip attempt she immediately drops the rope to prevent being tripped back. Would this still be a ranged touch attack, or melee? I'm going as ranged, but if it needs to be melee just tell me.)

Trip attempt:  (d20+3)[ 22 ]  (So 19 if it's a melee touch attack)

While doing this, Natalia tries to pinpoint exactly what these creatures are from the brief glimpse she got of them before her attention was drawn to their weapons.

Knowledge: (Local):  (d20+7)[ 20 ] 
Knowledge: (Whatever would identify these creatures if it's not Knowledge :(Local)):  (d20+4)[ 15 ] 
achinca
Miriam wants to protect the warrior but he is at the end of the line. She will then cast sanctuary on herself and enter the room to C4.

Sanctuary: 1 round - Will negates DC 14
Cavelcade
OOC: Assuming he goes first, if not I'll redo this.

Kurt grips his axe grimly then, preparing to rush forward.  "Out of the way, Natalia!"  With that and without a second thought for his safety he moves to go through the door, to square D4, where he turns to cut at the creature in square E5, a vicious blow of the axe aimed straight at their neck, ignoring any wounds from their spears as he does so. The most notice he gives them is what he can afford, a grimace for the pain of being hit in the heat of battle.

 "No turning back!" 
 
 Spoiler 
Assuming he doesn't get put down from AOOs, his attack roll is:
 (1d20+5)[ 23 ] 
If he hits, his damage is:
 (1d12+6)[ 17 ] 
 
achinca
As she sees Kurt going inside the room and attacking, Miriam screams too late "  Wait! May be we can parlay with them .......   "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stumbles as Kurt shoves her aside and pales as she sees the dwarf charge into battle.

 "Kurt, cunning foxes--!"  But Kurt disappears around the corner before she can finish her sentence. Instead Natalia snares the closest enemy with her rope. (OOC: Use the rolls from above; I'm just clarifying which kobold.)
Athedia
Mithril held up her hand and sent an streak of power at the the first sling wielder she saw.  Seeing Kurt rush in she shouted   Careful! There may be more traps!"   After casting her spell she squeezed against the wall, trying to leave more room for Miriam and Shiny to get past her.  Whiskers gripped her shoulder tightly with his claws, neither of them had ever witnessed a real battle before.

 
 Spoiler 
 Attacking the monster in D5 with Magic Missile, never misses, no saving throw
damage:  (1d4+1)[ 4 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny darts forward to squeeze in to the front of the hallway- Kurt, the courageous fool, had ruined his chances of putting the enemies to sleep all at once. With a few gestures he casts  color spray , letting forth a bright, vivid cone of colors that covers a pair of the monsters.

 
 Spoiler 

Move to F4, cast  color spray  in a cone that covers the monsters on E3 and D3, but not Kurt on D4. Each of the two monsters gets a Will Save DC 14- if they fail they become (assuming they have &lt;=2HD each) unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round.

If it is impossible to make a cone in that way that doesn't hit Kurt, Shiny will cast  sleep  at a point behind the D3 and E3 monsters where they are in a 10 ft radius but Kurt is not (I have a hard time calculating geometry with these squares...).
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 
 *BOOM*   The door seals shut behind the party.  The reptilian warriors, which Natalia identifies as kobolds, are surprised by the amount of armed party members and stiffen up.  Natalia is the first to act.  She slings her rope and manages to snare the creature on her left.

 
 Spoiler 
  Natalia's Strength check  - (1d20)[ 1 ] 
  Kobold Black 1's Strength check  - (1d20-5)[ 4 ] 

If Kobold Black 1 succeeds, he will attempt to trip Natalia.

  Natalia's Strength check  - (1d20)[ 16 ] 
  Kobold Black 1's Strength check  - (1d20-5)[ -2 ] 
 


The rope falls beside the kobold who easily steps over it.

Meanwhile, Miriam is followed by a berserk Kurt.  The bat outta hell charges through the bewildered kobolds and, with one swipe of his greataxe, tears the scaly creature apart.  The kobold is reduced to small bits and flecks of flesh and scales.  His counterparts shriek in terror.

Mithril wanted to attack the same foe as Kurt, but she quickly realizes that won't be necessary and instead redirects her missiles at the last second to strike the other kobold wielding a sling.  The missile strikes the kobold in the shoulder, pierces straight through his flimsy leather armor, and sends him spiraling to the hard cold ground.  Blood pours out from beneath the fallen creature.

Finally, Shiny charges forward into the fray and attempts to daze a scaly minion to his left.

 
 Spoiler 
  Kobold Black 1's Will Save  - (1d20-1)[ 0 ] 
 


The kobold is fascinated by the display, completely unable to react to the fight around him.  It collapses to the ground unconscious.

 
 Spoiler 
Kobold Red 1, Kobold Red 2, and Kobold Black 1 are downed!
 


The other two kobolds shiver in fear but realize their only way out is to fight out.  They both attack the party's most fearsome fighter, the dwarf.  They attempt to stab him with their pointed spears.

 
 Spoiler 
  Kobold Black 1's Attack Roll  - (1d20+1)[ 5 ] 
  Kobold Black 1's Damage Roll  - (1d6-1)[ 2 ] 
  Kobold Black 2's Attack Roll  - (1d20+1)[ 11 ] 
  Kobold Black 2's Damage Roll  - (1d6-1)[ 5 ] 
 


The kobolds, terrified, are too frantic in their strikes and miss completely.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
achinca
Miriam idea of a peaceful solution is quickly over as her companions kill two kobolds. She knows  they are an evil race so she knows what she has to do.

She moves toward the kobold on the right (C5-C6-D6) and swipe her heavy mace while yelling "  For St. Cuthbert!!!  

Attack:  (1d20+1)[ 6 ] 

if hit, damages  (1d8+1)[ 3 ] 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia tenses as the rope effortlessly slides down the kobold's arm, then gasps as a bit of blood and gristle spatters on her forearm.  "Kobolds!"  she shouts as she drops the rope and grips her rapier tightly. Her panicked vivid image of Kurt crushed in a trap vanishes as she sees the dwarf's axe coated in blood. Any opportunity for a peaceful end to this conflict was finished, and Natalia knows it. She runs to flank the last standing kobold (moves to E4, D4, or D5) and thrusts her rapier forward while saying,  "Sorry,"  in Draconic.

Attack:  (d20+2)[ 8 ] 
Crit Confirm:  (d20+2)[ 8 ] 
Damage:  (d6)[ 3 ]  plus Sneak Attack!  (d6)[ 5 ] 

EDIT: Oh, come on! 😡
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

As Natalia makes her way through the corridor, the kobold she is running around takes a stab at her with its spear.

 
 Spoiler 
  Kobold Black 2's Attack  - (1d20+1)[ 7 ] 
  Kobold Black 2's Damage  - (1d6-1)[ 0 ] 
 


But he merely swipes at the air.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia leaps just as the spear comes jabbing at her legs, and only exhales once the weapon passes harmlessly under her boot. But she's still shaken by the near-miss, and so her attack also pierces nothing but air. At some point she looks up and sees the final kobold staring off into nothing.  "Let statues be!"  she shouts to her allies.

(OOC: Let's hope Natalia's general incomprehensibility doesn't hurt her here...)
Cavelcade
Kurt takes a step closer to the last kobold who isn't staring at nothing and swings again, grunting acknowledgement to Natalia's cry.

 
 Spoiler 
He moves to D5 and swings at him.
Attack roll: (1d20+5)[ 14 ] 
Damage:  (1d12+6)[ 7 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Floor 

The brute swings his bloody axe at the kobold, who ducks at the last second.  The blade brushes off the skin of the armor, making contact, but that's about it.
Athedia
Mithril locked the last aware kobold in her sights.  She recited a spell from memory, moving her hands around as if she were molding clay into a ball.  With a sudden push she aimed the green orb at the kobold.  As the orb left her hands she muttered a quick prayer   "Boccob, let me strike true.  
 
 Spoiler 
Acid Splash
Ranged Touch Attack  (1d20+2)[ 11 ]  ignores armor, shield or natural armor bonuses
No Saving throw
Damage  (1d3)[ 2 ]  acid damage
 
Admiral
Shiny clasps his hands together and fires another bright rainbow at the remaining kobold.

 
 Spoiler 
 Color spray , DC 14, just like the last one.
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

Mithril's second attack is not as successful as her first.  The acid orb whizzes by her targets ear, splashes on the ground behind it, and dissipates into the ground.

 
 Spoiler 
  Kobold Black 2's Will Save  - (1d20-1)[ 4 ] 
 


The last kobold is amazed by the colors and collapses to the ground unconscious, just like his counterpart.

 
 Spoiler 
All the kobolds are unconscious or dead!  Congrats!

We are now out-of-combat, so feel free to post out of initiative.  However, if you move, please still use the coordinate system and note your trail.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia still can't quite get the sickeningly organic sound of Kurt's axe cutting that kobold in half out of her hand, but she manages to compose herself as she takes stock of the unconscious and dead kobolds--and the locked door. She leans over and pats down the kobold (Take 20 to search the kobold for anything), removing the spear and any other weapons or items the creature might be carrying before tying him up with the silk rope. As she does so, Natalia motions to the other unconscious kobold and the pressure plate and says,  "Trapmaster kobolds, here. Why?" 

When Natalia finishes tying up the unconscious kobold, she steps over it and looks at the kobold killed by Mithril's spell. She lays the reptilian creature out on the ground, then removes its sling and searches its body for anything useful, because, as she mutters to herself,  "Won't need anything..." .
Athedia
Mithril walked up to the rest of the group (G4).  (OOC: I just realized Mithril left her rope on the other side of the door!).  She spotted the remaining rope on the ground and picked it up.    "We should tie them up, its not fair to kill helpless creatures, but we will not be able to question them if they are actively trying to kill us."   She held the rope out to Natalia   "Here, I believe this is yours and you know how to use it."  

Finally the realization of what she had just been a part of hit her.  She had become one of the people she had read about so long ago.  Leaning against the wall she tilted her head to rest on Whiskers.   "You know, they never talked about the blood."  
CoffeeIncluded
(OOC: Maybe bring over the second unconscious kobold?) Natalia nods and offers Mithril a wan smile.  "Here then gone. Them or us..."  She trails off and looks back at the kobold she's searching--the kobold Mithril killed.
achinca
Miriam slowly approaches the unconscious kobolds and watches NAtalia tie them up.

"  You are right mithril, I would never let the party murders unconscious enemies even if I know they would do it if the situation was reversed. Let's wake up one and have NAtalia talk draconic with it.  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia drags the first tied-up kobold over to the second one, making sure to walk only where the party and kobolds have stepped. She searches and ties up the second kobold as the first (Take 20 on search for 28), places them several feet away from each other, and steps back.

While waiting for them to come to, she inspects the spears and slings. They're obviously too small for her, something a human child would wield. The thought is disquieting.

(OOC: Natalia has the two spears and two slings. What else did she find on the three kobolds she searched?)
Athedia
  "I will help her question them, I learned the language in my studies.  But what should we ask?"     Mithril looked at the two dead kobolds still collapsed on the ground.    "Maybe we should move the bodies, I don't think they would be willing to talk while staring at the dead."  

Mithril knelt down beside the kobold she had killed.  She spoke to the body in its own tongue (OCC: Draconic)  "I will remember you."  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods and says,  "Trapmaster kobolds, guarding dragon gems? Why here? And other traps?" 

She closes her eyes as Mithril addresses the kobold and says,  "Won't forget." 
Cavelcade
Kurt cleans off his axe carefully, then nods once that's done, leaving the others their own time to come to terms with what they've done. He hadn't coped much better the first time the caravan he was helping to guard was attacked on the way down from the dwarven mountains and can't blame them for pale faces. He doesn't know what he could say to help either though so, instead, as soon as the suggestion is made he goes over and picks up the two dead Kobolds and carries them away.

He goes back down the tunnel to the door they came in and places their bodies down before returning to the others, careful to clean any blood off before stepping into the light.
 
 Spoiler 
His path:
D5(Pick up Kobold)-D4-D3(Pick up Kobold)-D4-E4-F4-G4-H4-K4-L4. Returns to where he was then.
 
achinca
Miriam's face is somber. " It is their first kill. Poor girls. They do not know. It does not really get easier. And they do not know how much it hurts when you lose on of yours ..... "

A tear appears on her left cheek. She wipes it away and in a voice that she wants strong but is still broken, she says "  Ask them what are they protecting? what is on the other side? Why did they attack us?  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gives Miriam a curious look, but doesn't say anything other then,  "Yes."  She leans in to Mithril and says,  "Help. Not good at..." 

While waiting for the kobolds to wake up, Natalia waves over Shiny and shows him the spears and slings with an inquiring look.

(OOC: Other than the spears and slings, were the kobolds carrying anything on them that could be found with a DC 28 search?)
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

Nothing is found on kobolds aside from their weapons, dirty, brown and red armor, and a small copper necklace around Kobold Red 2.  There appears to have been a jewel in the center of the necklace, but it has been pried out.

As the party looks around the room without the stress of combat, they notice a stone lever, similar to the one they pulled with a rope earlier, on the wall behind them (in square E6).
CoffeeIncluded
 "Don't touch,"  Natalia says to Shiny before looking back at the copper necklace with a frown. There's too much to think about, so she verbalizes her tumultuous thoughts, muttering,  "Dragon gems, gemless necklace, kobolds in Aquatos Shrine, kobolds speak Draconic..." 

When the kobolds wake up, Natalia says to them, in Draconic,  "Trapmaster kobolds, here. Why?" 
achinca
While Natalia speaks with the kobolds, Miriam approaches Shiny and whispers in his ear " Dear Shark Master, Halfling Lawyer and overall ruler of your universe, I think that once our new friends are done gathering information, you should pull that lever. I would like to see their reaction. They have to learn to be cautious but not to be afraid of everything. "

She waits for the gnome reply as she thinks "  Calric, am I doing it right? Are you proud of me? Is it my time to rejoin you?  "
Athedia
Mithril looked at the at the necklace to see if she she recognized the design (Knowledge (History)  (1d20+4)[ 20 ] ).

When the kobolds wake up she asks them in Draconic   "Do you know the this place well?"  
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by achinca 
 While Natalia speaks with the kobolds, Miriam approaches Shiny and whispers in his ear " Dear Shark Master, Halfling Lawyer and overall ruler of your universe, I think that once our new friends are done gathering information, you should pull that lever. I would like to see their reaction. They have to learn to be cautious but not to be afraid of everything. "
[/COLOR]" 
 

Shiny looks offended.  "Why would I do such a thing? Would it not betray our new teammates' trust?" 

Actually, Shiny had been about to pull the lever, but it's against his nature to do what's expected of him.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The copper necklace does not bring anything historic to Mithril's mind.  It is devoid of designs or words, and the only markings appear to be random scratches.  If it's a language, it's none she's ever seen.

Natalia sits patiently in front of the two kobolds until they wake.  After about a minute, on slowly begins to come from its slumber.  It wakes peacefully.  The scaly kobold goes to stretch its arms, but finds itself tied by a rope and goes into a panic.  Its partner is awoken in the struggle and wakes as well.  The two shriek and wiggle in their bindings.  They finally realize their captivity and yield their fight.

The two kobolds speak in draconic.  Their voices sounds like their cries - high-pitched, sharp yipping.
 "We're always here!  Many of us, our brothers and sisters!"
"This is our home!  We live in the walls and bathe in the waters of our gods!" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blinks in confusion.  "How many? How long? ...What gods?"  She points to the pressure plate and lever.  "Made by your hands?" 

At some point she leans in to Mithril and Shiny (if he's also participating in the interrogation) and whispers, in Common,  "Why send us here to find kobolds? Keepers of the dragon gems?" 
Admiral
Shiny stays quiet as Natalia interrogates the kobolds. He looks oddly impassive, with none of his usual charm and enthusiasm apparent.

 "Let's see what he says." 
achinca
Miriam smiles at Shiny.

"I forgot, you are Shiny Trustworthy, Halfling Lawyer!"

She shakes her head and wait for the questioning to be done.

She kneels, closes her eyes and starts praying.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The kobolds growl in return.   "Many years of nests.  None can count my brothers and sisters in this temple of ours.  You'd best leave now before-" 
Its companion interrupts,  "What gods?  What gods!?"   The two howl in laughter before the second reptilian spits on Natalia.  It lands just below her eye.  Its very warm.   "You idiot!" 
 "You fool!" 
 "The gods give us the sun and the rain!"
"The grass and the air!"
"Do you not know these things!?" 
The pair erupts in cackling, abrasive laughter once again.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The kobolds growl in return.   "Many years of nests.  None can count my brothers and sisters in this temple of ours.  You'd best leave now before-" 
Its companion interrupts,  "What gods?  What gods!?"   The two howl in laughter before the second reptilian spits on Natalia.  It lands just below her eye.  Its very warm.   "You idiot!" 
 "You fool!" 
 "The gods give us the sun and the rain!"
"The grass and the air!"
"Do you not know these things!?" 
The pair erupts in cackling, abrasive laughter once again. 
 

Shiny's eyes flash with fury upon hearing this. He turns toward the others and says in a low voice, in Common,  "No one talks to our people that way." 

He takes a knee next to the kobolds. His face bears no similarity to the charming, carefree Shiny the party usually sees. Instead, he displays an unusual intensity.  "My name is Shiny Darkmind,"  he says gravely to the kobolds.  "I am a torturer and executioner."

"You may recognize me as the one who put you to sleep during the battle. You may think that was an act of mercy. Let me  assure  you that is not the case. The dwarf's blade and human's magic, the actions that killed your friends- that was mercy. I kept you alive for my own purposes.

"I practice the darkest forms of enchantment and mind-controlling magic. This kind of magic could leave you trapped in a personal Hell of eternal torment. The kind of magic that could make your forget your entire identity and leave you living the rest of your life like an animal in the wilderness."

"So when my kind friend asks you questions...  you answer them.  Or I get to work. 
 
 Spoiler 

Bluff check: [roll0]
Intimidate check: [roll1]

I think Shiny deserves a circumstance bonus on the Intimidate check since they have the kobolds tied up (and Shiny was the one who put them that way). He might even deserve a circumstance bonus on the Bluff check since he's so accustomed to telling stories about himself, but I'll leave that to your judgment.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Bluff and Intimidate check didn't register in the last post, so here they are:

Bluff:  (1d20+7)[ 24 ] 
Intimidate:  (1d20+3)[ 9 ] 

ETA: Rats; I knew Shiny should have taken a few more ranks in Intimidate. (Still, the kobolds have only 1 hit dice and have -1 Wisdom, so I just have to beat a 1d20 opposed check. Perhaps the circumstance bonus could put me over the edge.)
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia flicks the spittle off her cheek and glares at the kobolds with a curled lip and narrowed eyes. She has half a mind to string the kobolds up and interrogate them while they're swinging upside down by their ankles, but her train of thought is derailed by an uncharacteristically severe Shiny.

When he finishes, the only sound Natalia can make is a sort of strangled  "glrck."  Nevertheless, she nods at Shiny and leans in closer to the kobolds, saying in Draconic,  "You saw the axe. Gods' names? And,"  she points at the lever and pressure plate,  "Made by your hands?" 

Natalia had encountered kobolds once before, a traveling mechanic of sorts who had taught her Draconic in the first place, so she could read the blueprints of the traps and mechanisms that he had built. These kobolds are much nastier. She supposes it's to be expected, as they did kill two of their kin, but the way they treat her still leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.
Hefty Lefty
 
 Spoiler 
OOC: Shiny's Intimidate check - Yes, you do receive a bonus on your check for that fine bit of roleplaying.  I hate when a player's good job is ruined by a dice roll.  On the same note, I hate when players say "I bluff to get past the guard" and roll a d20.  What do you  say ??
 

 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The pair shuts up quickly.  The straighten up in their bindings and their eyes spread wide.
 "Gah!  Yes sir!"
"Okay okay!" 

Natalia resumes her questioning.  A drop of water falls from the ceiling/wall corner behind the kobolds.

 "Kurtulmak!"
"God of all kobolds!"
"Have mercy on us Kurtulmak!"
"Ack!  Yes!  Mercy!" 

Natalia shakes the two back to sanity with her second question.

 "Not MY hands..."
"Not mine either, no, not ours."
"But our brothers."
"Yes, we built them!  To keep you out!"
"This is our place!  Why do you come in here, kill our kind, and torture us for eternity?"
"What did WE  do ?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia bites her lip and looks down. She really doesn't have a good answer to their last two questions. She mulls over their statements to see if they're lying, though she doubts it.

Sense Motive:  (d20+5)[ 13 ] 

In either case she says to the kobolds,  "Didn't know you were here. Answer us for safety."  then calls over the rest of the group and whispers,  "Why send us here?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia bites her lip and looks down. She really doesn't have a good answer to their last two questions. She mulls over their statements to see if they're lying, though she doubts it.

Sense Motive: [roll0]

In either case she says to the kobolds,  "Didn't know you were here. Answer us for safety."  then calls over the rest of the group and whispers,  "Why send us here?"  
 

 "What are you guarding?"  asks Shiny, coldly.
achinca
When Miriam hears Shiny threatening the Kobolds, she stops her praying and rise to her feet.

 She goes stand behind the kobolds looking at Shiny menacingly. She is not sure if the gnome is lying or a real psychopath but she will not take the chance.

"  I will not be involved with torture or experiment. I will do all I can to prevent arms to be done to the kobolds. "

She addresses Shiny "  Be careful of your words little man. They might bite you back...........""   

She searches her memories to see if Kurtulmak rings any bell.

 
 Spoiler 
knowledge Religion:  (1d20+1)[ 11 ] 
 


She tells Natalia: "  Tell them that we do not want them any harm. We just want to go inside to fin some information and let them be.   
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia frowns and nods. She spends several minutes moving her mouth silently until she finally speaks, pointing to Mithril and saying,  "Broken necklace, where's the parts?"  She then turns to the rest of the group and says,  "Hero robbers, still robbers but also heroes. Trapmaster kobolds...Dangerous. But why here?"   She points at the two bound kobolds.  "Foxes lead us through the foxes' den. Carrot or stick. Freedom and safety or..."  She trails off, pointing to her rapier and Kurt's axe.

Natalia hangs her head, hoping that she was able to properly tease out and communicate the chaos in her mind. It makes perfect sense to her...
achinca
Miriam looks deeply in Natalia's eyes "  Natalia, I will never accept the killing of a bound and harmless enemy. It would be murder.  "
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by achinca 
 Miriam looks deeply in Natalia's eyes "  Natalia, I will never accept the killing of a bound and harmless enemy. It would be murder.  " 
 

Natalia nods, somehow managing to look Miriam in the eye. She doesn't feel any better about the prospect either, but...  "One chance. More than they gave us...Bound foxes still bite." 
achinca
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia nods, somehow managing to look Miriam in the eye. She doesn't feel any better about the prospect either, but...  "One chance. More than they gave us...Bound foxes still bite."  
 

Miriam puts her warm smile on her face. "  I know Natalia. If the roles were reversed, they would not hesitate to murder us or even eat us. But that is why they are an evil race. We are good. We do protect life, even the one of evil races. If you start behaving like your enemy, you become your enemy and are not better than him. And remember that to them, we are the invaders and they are defending their home. It is not easy being good and doing the right thing every time. Trust me, I know that. But I also know that there is no otherway.   "
CoffeeIncluded
She closes her eyes.  "Not all bad...Hope they like carrots."  Natalia thinks Miriam is reluctantly agreeing with her plan, but she's not quite sure.
Admiral
Shiny stands up and turns his back on the kobolds, a bit of his usual childish grin creeping back into his face.

 "Bringing a kobold as a captive would hardly endear us to his friends,"  he says.  "But what if we instead brought him as a willing friend and ally? I know just the spell." 
achinca
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 She closes her eyes.  "Not all bad...Hope they like carrots."  Natalia thinks Miriam is reluctantly agreeing with her plan, but she's not quite sure. 
 

Miriam looks at Natalia with a puzzled look on her face. "  I am pretty sure that they are meat eaters, not vegetarians.  " She has little understanding of Natalia's plan.
Athedia
Mithril turned to Shiny, anger flaring in her eyes.    "Magic should not be used to bend the weak of mind! I have read stories of those who were forever made feeble-minded by such tricks. Maybe they would respond better with promises not threats."    She had never had a problem with playing tricks with magic, but had always drawn the line at playing with another's mind, the fragile structure could be easily broken.

Turning back to the kobolds she said (OCC: Draconic)   "I hear tell that you are evil, but also see that you are good of heart.  You care for your comrades just as I care for mine.  We ask for safe passage through the temple, we are simply knowledge seekers, not bloodthirsty barbarians.  It was by accident and fear we attacked you, but now the fear has passed."  
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by athedia 
 Mithril turned to Shiny, anger flaring in her eyes.    "Magic should not be used to bend the weak of mind! I have read stories of those who were forever made feeble-minded by such tricks. Maybe they would respond better with promises not threats."    She had never had a problem with playing tricks with magic, but had always drawn the line at playing with another's mind, the fragile structure could be easily broken.

Turning back to the kobolds she said (OCC: Draconic)   "I hear tell that you are evil, but also see that you are good of heart.  You care for your comrades just as I care for mine.  We ask for safe passage through the temple, we are simply knowledge seekers, not bloodthirsty barbarians.  It was by accident and fear we attacked you, but now the fear has passed."   
 

Shiny's face is utterly puzzled when Mithril voices her concerns about enchantment, as if Mithril is speaking a different language.  "Seems to me it's a lot more friendly than shooting them full of fire."  But he lets her go by and talk to the kobolds.

After Mithril finishes her speech to the kobolds, Shiny Darkmind gives them a threatening "or else" glare to underscore her words. He then turns away and gives a playful wink to Natalia.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia is concerned about Shiny's suggestion, partially because of Mithril's fears, and partially because...

 "Force a mask, but what if it slips?"  When Miriam expresses nothing but blank confusion at Natalia's carrot statement, she looks to Mithril, who seems to understand her well, and says,  "...Help?" 

After Mithril speaks to the kobolds, Natalia adds, in Draconic,  "We're looking to stop...destruction. Great destruction, and told to go here. Lead us through safe for your safety. But if not...We know traps too." 
achinca
When Miriam hears Mithril scold Shiny on using magic against feeble minds, she rolls her eyes "  Shiny, Halfling Lawyer and Shark Master,what did you say to the kobolds?  
Athedia
Mithril felt a little confused over the carrot statement so she asked Natalia  "Reward not punishment, is that what you mean?"  
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by achinca 
 When Miriam hears Mithril scold Shiny on using magic against feeble minds, she rolls her eyes "  Shiny, Halfling Lawyer and Shark Master,what did you say to the kobolds?   
 

Shiny shrugs at Miriam.  "Oh, just introduced them to the party. 'We are Shiny Goldheart and his Useful Expendables,' and all that. Mithril was referring to my newest suggestion of using  charm person  to gain the kobold's cooperation and help. "
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by athedia 
 Mithril felt a little confused over the carrot statement so she asked Natalia  "Reward not punishment, is that what you mean?"   
 

Natalia smiles and nods in assent.

She shoots a look at Shiny but otherwise says nothing.
achinca
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Shiny shrugs at Miriam.  "Oh, just introduced them to the party. 'We are Shiny Goldheart and his Useful Expendables,' and all that. Mithril was referring to my newest suggestion of using  charm person  to gain the kobold's cooperation and help. " 
 

Miriam looks surprised and just replies  "  Oh  ". She waits for a second before adding "  Is it one of your exaggerations or the truth? Because honestly, it is no big deal as long as you do not take advantage of them.  "

Finally she adds "  Drop the group name. I am here for the King. I am not part of any group. MY soul belongs to St. Cuthbert and my body and heart belonged to Calric.  "
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

Natalia doesn't feel as if the kobolds are lying.

 "We are not guarding anything!  We are protecting!"
"Yes, protecting!"
"We are protecting our Great Mother!  She lives down in the depths of our temple."
"She will not like your visit!"
"No!  That is why you should-"
"LEAVE!"   They both shout at the same time.

Miriam has not studied the religion intensely, but she knows from a brief overview of uncivilized humanoid religions that Kurtulmak is the chief deity of the kobold race.

When Natalia gives them an ultimatum, the kobolds again go into a panic.
 "Ah!"
"Ah..." 
They look at each other, then to the considerate Mithril.
 "No."
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes."
"Yes." 
Athedia
(OCC: Draconic)   "Great Mother?"   Mithril tried to think if she had ever heard of such a name (OCC: Knowledge Arcana  (1d20+5)[ 17 ]  on whether she has heard of a great mother, thinking along the lines of dragons).

 She decided to ignore Shiny's newest lie, why should she bring more discord into an already tense situation.  She felt Whiskers burrowing down the back of her collar, apparently he was frightened of the kobolds. (OCC: Draconic)   "We do not want to harm her, whoever she is.  May we simply seek an audience with her?"    She had read of brave adventurers getting permission to have meetings with great demons and kings, surely this was a similar situation.

As an after thought she added a comment to Miriam in Common.    "Let him have his fun with names, as long as you know your path."  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia tilts her head. The kobold who taught her Draconic had never mentioned a great mother.  "Great mother?"  she asks. She then falls silent, as Mithril is doing a much better job communicating shared interests and inquiries.

The word "Belonged" in Miriam's sentence sticks to Natalia. She has half a mind to inquire but figures that now is probably not the best time.
Admiral
Shiny shakes his head thoughtfully.  "I don't think we'll get anything more from them if we don't use magic,"  he says in Common.  "Hardly seems worth the risk to bring them along. I say we ask them if there are any other traps in this room, or if they know what is in the next one (I assure you they won't lie), and then proceed." 
 "Is it safe to proceed without rest? I know that Mithril and Miriam might have some studying to do. I know I'm not the same without a good night's sleep!" 
achinca
(In common, the only language she knows)
"  Kurtulmak is the main deity of the kobolds. The Great Mother might be some kind of dragon or pseudo dragons or something pretending to be a dragon. After all, Kobolds believe they are direct descendants of dragons  "

When Mithril mentions she should follow her path, Miriam put a bitter smile. "  Sadly I know my path. I will have to bring goodness to this realm until it is my time to rejoin him.  "
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 
 
 Spoiler 
Note the edit to my previous post.
 


Mithril doesn't recall any "Great Mother" in her notes.  Small reptilian creatures such as kobolds often like to believe they descend from great beasts with scales, such as dragons, however.

The kobolds look at each other, then nod.   "Okay,"  one yips.   "We will take you to her."
"But untie us first!"
"Yes that or no deal!" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
 The kobolds look at each other, then nod.   "Okay,"  one yips.   "We will take you to her."
"But untie us first!"
"Yes that or no deal!"  
 

Shiny stares at the kobolds with intensity.  "You know what will happen if you are lying,"  he says in Draconic.

 
 Spoiler 

Sense Motive:  (1d20+7)[ 21 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

Shiny has a slight idea that the kobolds are lying.  He can't quite tell if they're guilty and nervous or just terrified.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia freezes at Miriam's words.  "...Dragon. Dragon gems of Vystera?"  she says in Common.

She hesitates at the kobolds' terms. She wants to trust them, but can't quite bring herself to do so. She knows just how crafty and opportunistic kobolds can be.
achinca
Miriam looks at the three draconic speaking group members and wonders what they are saying .........
CoffeeIncluded
(OOC, I guess I should amend the previous post with this. But first, let me prepare for fail.)

Natalia looks at the kobolds warily. She knows how crafty they can be and doesn't trust leaving them unbound.  "Leashed foxes,"  she mutters while trying to figure out what kind of trap they could be trying to spring.

Sense Motive:  (d20+5)[ 10 ] 

OH COME ON! 😡
Athedia
Mithril smiled at the kobolds (OCC: Draconic)   "I may be kind, but don't think me foolish.  If I were you I would run away once you lost us in the temple and then find my friends.  Swear on your dragon ancestors, and remind yourself that to break the oath means to betray your blood."  

She was not sure that the kobold's would escort them safely, a fear that she hoped would not come to pass.

 
 Spoiler 
Sense Motive  (1d20+1)[ 16 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny turns toward Miriam and Kurt to translate.  "They say they'll take us safely to their leader, but it sure looks to me like they're lying. I got a good sense for deception, being so naturally honest and all." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia snorts at Shiny's last sentence, but is thankfully able to quickly compose herself.  "False path, twisty tunnels all alike,"  she adds to Mithril's statement. Natalia decides to let the wizard do most of the negotiations, as it's much easier for her to be understood.

 "Leash the foxes?"  she suggests.
achinca
Miriam listens to Shiny and then adds "  Lying come easy to evil races so I am not surprise you sense deception. I think that we should gag them and tie them. Remember that for them, we are the enemy. They would try to run away from us and warn their tribe as soon as they could. I do not trust them either.   "
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

Mithril and Natalia both believe that the kobolds are telling the truth.  The kobolds are growing restless with the party's deliberations and are beginning to try to wiggle out of their bindings.
Admiral
Shiny looks to Miriam and Mithril.  "We can't trust them. They'd escape or set off a trap." 

Shiny turns to Natalie.  "I say foxes stay fenced, lest they run loose in the henhouse. Feathers and blood." 

Finally he turns to Kurt.  "What say you, muscleman? And in any case we best tighten those knots, and gag them." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grins.  "Yes! Stuck in the foxhole, so leash the foxes--let them walk but not pounce or bite." 
Athedia
Mithril stood up and felt her legs wobble.    "Can we rest before going anywhere.  I can not think straight anymore, and don't think I would be much use to anyone right now."  
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia grins.  "Yes! Stuck in the foxhole, so leash the foxes--let them walk but not pounce or bite."  
 

Shiny has always been good at communicating, in one way or another.  "Leashed foxes can howl to their pack, or lead us to snares until we're the hunted." 
Cavelcade
Kurt shifts his axe anxiously at Mithril's suggestion, shaking his head a little.  "If we rest they might come to change the guard or something. Trouble. Unless we set up an ambush, maybe, for them."  Shaking his head again, his shoulders a little tense.  "Is it worth the risk?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
 Kurt shifts his axe anxiously at Mithril's suggestion, shaking his head a little.  "If we rest they might come to change the guard or something. Trouble. Unless we set up an ambush, maybe, for them."  Shaking his head again, his shoulders a little tense.  "Is it worth the risk?"  
 

 "Spoken like someone's who's never had to cast a spell!"  says Shiny cheerfully.
CoffeeIncluded
As much as Shiny's masks bother her, having somebody who understand what she's saying is a comfort to Natalia. That makes two now. Funny that here of all places she might find people who like her.

Instead Natalia says,  "We have muzzles. And me."  She doesn't mean to sound like a braggart, but she's always been confident of her trapfinding skills.

But this talk about magic...She didn't know that. Natalia asks,  "How long? How much left?" 
Athedia
  "I only have three left, and the only one that is useful right now could only tighten those knots.  Unless you would like another light or have something magic on you, I am not of much use at the moment."    Mithril gestured toward the kobolds.

  "I need sleep, a good amount of it and then time to think.   What Kurt said about ambushes is a scenario that could happen, but it is a risk I have to take if I want to use my spells."  
CoffeeIncluded
 "But we four can still fight...Can't see the passing of the sun."  Natalia doesn't want to stay in one location for too long.
Cavelcade
Kurt nods his head at that suggestion, stroking his beard a bit as he frowns hard, wondering about how to phrase his suggestion.

 "I think...we can ambush them. But it'd be easier if we were in the next room. They wouldn't expect that."  He licks his lips at that, settling his axe haft on the ground.  "Uh, that's if you think you can handle more killing if there's more of them in the next room. If you wanna vomit or something maybe we should rest anyway." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia agrees with Kurt's idea of going to the next room, and says so.

(OOC: Sorry; I'm pressed for time and want to get this show on the road.)
achinca
Miriam shakes her head at Mithril's suggestion.

"  We need to move forward. I have all my divine magic, none of us are hurt. Yes you and the truth not-telling gnome are tired but staying here is to risky. When it is time to rest, let's find a more secure place.  "

She smiles at Mithril "  Don't worry sweet sister, I will not let you die.  "

A sad memory of Claric' sacrifice rushes to her head and she bites her lips not to cry.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia is surprised to see Miriam so despondent. After a moment's hesitation, she places her hand on the cleric's shoulder and holds it there.
achinca
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia is surprised to see Miriam so despondent. After a moment's hesitation, she places her hand on the cleric's shoulder and holds it there. 
 

Miriam puts her hand on Natalia's and forces herself to smile. "  Thank you. I am OK. I will be fine. It is just that some cuts are raw and deep and never heal.  "

She swallows hard and adds "  Let's get moving. It help prevent too much thinking ...  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia moves to inspect the lever and pressure plate, seeing if she can figure out their mechanisms She also searches the door and the path to the door (Take 20 on every tile, door, whatever for a 28). (OOC: I guess a Disable Device check would help her study it?)

Disable Device:  (d20+8)[ 22 ]  (EDIT: Sweetness)

Whether or not she can figure out any more on the lever and pressure plate, she moves to the nearer kobold and reties the knots so its hands are firmly bound behind its back, and the creature can walk, but not run. She looks at the group and asks,  "Can't leave them, can't kill them, can't let them run free. Is this okay?" 
Athedia
  "Fine to me, if nobody minds I will stay closer to the back of the group.  I can whack a few on the head, but I think that would only make them angrier."   Mithril gestured to her quarterstaff, making a mental note to buy a crossbow as soon as the opportunity arose.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The kobolds don't look like they understand exactly what their captors are saying, but the can definitely tell the attitude.  They begrudgingly get up.  Moaning and growling, they walk to the stone door.

 "Pull the lever down."
"C'mon you paranoid freak!"   The kobold harasses Natalia as she searches (she doesn't find any traps on the ground, door, or lever).
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia snarls,  "Shut up!"  and yanks the lever without thinking, jumping back a split second later when she realizes what she did.
achinca
Miriam gets ready to heal Natalia if she has triggered a trap.
Athedia
Mithril grabs her quarterstaff, ready to thwack anyone who came through the door.  She muttered to herself   "Seems she can talk when angry."   as Whiskers readied himself on her shoulder.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - First Room 

The kobold pair howls in laughter with Natalia's reaction.  The door slowly rolls down with another loud  *ca-chunk* .  The stone door reveals a hallway lit with two lanterns about halfway through.  Another stone door is at the end, with a lever beside it.  The walls and floor, like the first room, is gray and featureless.  Water drips through cracks in the ceiling and settles in puddles in the floor.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Once knew a different kobold,"  Natalia says in Draconic through gritted teeth as they walk.  "Taught me your tongue. Trapteacher."  It hurts Natalia, to have these kobolds mock her.
Cavelcade
 "Let's go again, then."  Kurt lifts holds his axe ready again, as he cautiously walks down the passageway, ready for whatever comes.
CoffeeIncluded
It takes Natalia a while, but she finally brings herself to ask the dwarf,  "Two Kurts, so different. How...?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt glances behind, a little startled at being asked something so directly.  "Two Kurts, what do you - oh."  He shrugs uncomfortably, facing forward again.  "It's...easier to talk with this."  He pats his axe a little.  "People don't make fun when I talk with this." 
achinca
Miriam smiles at the door opens without a trap. She refrains to say " I told you so " to Natalia and instead wait for everyone to come in before closing the march.

She knows little about kobolds so may be Natalia is right to be paranoid .....
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods grimly. She knows exactly what Kurt is talking about.  "...Never Natalia, not before you,"  she says after some hesitation.  "Not Natalia, but Nuts. Always Nuts. Except after my snares and traps." 
achinca
Miriam shakes her head "  You are Natalia. Not Nuts. Remember that sister. You are Natalia, the trapmaster!  "
CoffeeIncluded
 "...Thank you. Now to prove it." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Second Room  ((WOOOO!!!))

The party wrangles the kobolds and makes its way gingerly down the hallway.  Kurt is just in front of the door when his foot is shifted.  There is another soft  *click* .  Suddenly, the floor drops twenty feet behind him.  Shiny is stunned by the floor dropping out beneath him.

 
 Spoiler 
  Shiny's Reflex Save  - (1d20+2)[ 19 ]   Ouch.   Just  missed it.
 


Shiny leaps forward with a light foot to avoid the fall, but can't manage to grab a hold of the dungeon floor.  He tumbles down the pit, landing square on his back.

 
 Spoiler 
[roll=Pit Falling damage]1d6[/roll]
 


The kobolds erupt into manical laughter, pushing each other with their shoulders and rocking into the walls.  They're doing all they can to not roll on the floor laughing.
 "Hahahaha what a fool!"
"Did you see his face!?" 
When met by an angry party, they suddenly change their tone, but it is difficult for them to hide their cheer.
 "Oh we forgot!"
"Yes, honest!  We forgot that trap was there!"
"No more from us, honest!" 
 
 Spoiler 
 
 
CoffeeIncluded
(OOC: How the hell did Natalia miss that? ...Oh crap, I forgot to say I was searching? Dammit...Listen, please assume that I'm searching unless I explicitly say otherwise.)

Natalia leaps back when she hears the click but is too late to stop Shiny from tumbling over the edge. Her eyes go wide  as she realizes that she missed a trap and failed her job,  again. 

When she hears the kobolds laughing Natalia snarls, punches one in the face, then uses whatever rope is left over from tying its hands behind its back (OOC: Unless we have a third set of rope. How many sets of rope do we have, guys?) and dangles it into the pit for Shiny to grab on to. The rogue doesn't say anything, but her eyes are wider, her lip is quivering, her knees are shaking, and   I'm a big failure   is running through her mind again and again.
Hefty Lefty
((Forgot you can't edit a post into a roll))

 
 Spoiler 
  Pit Trap damage  - (1d6)[ 6 ] 
 
achinca
Miriam's brain immediately goes into action. She move past Mithril and asks "  Shiny, are you OK? I will heal you went you come out. We can send you a rope to lift you.  "

When she hears the kobolds laughing, she asks Mithril to translate "  If you keep making fun of the group and not tell us about traps, we might decide that you are still fighting us and will have to kill you. And please Mithril, say it like if I mean it  ."

Finally, she addresses Kurt and Natalia "  We might need to put Natalia first to look for traps. Also, I would propose to teach a lesson to the kobolds to ensure their participation. Let's put one of them in the pit and close the door. We will free him on the way back. We need them to help us. Another solution would be to put one of them first with Kurt ready to strike him if he activates a trap.  "
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 

Tumble check to avoid 10 feet of falling damage (DC 15 I believe):  (1d20+2)[ 3 ] 

Ack, natural 1. (Also I was wrong to add 2, I forgot the armor check, so it's just a 1). Not much of a tumble!
 
Admiral
Shiny's voice comes wafting weakly up from the pit.  "Not even a scratch!"  Even his considerable skill at lying can't cover the immense pain in his voice.

The gnome grasps weakly at the rope that Natalia lowered, every movement agony.  "Just taking a rest. Tell you what, why don't you go ahead and get me out on the way back?"  he says, only half-joking. Finally he grabs hold and tries to climbs out.

 
 Spoiler 

Climb check:  (1d20-2)[ 17 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
When Shiny makes his way up the rope, Natalia takes one look at his injuries, then turns away. She is curled up tightly, her arms crossed over each other and wrapped around her legs, the flared-out ends of her leather armor coat splayed against the ground.
Admiral
Shiny's voice comes wafting weakly up from the pit.  "Not even a scratch!"  Even his considerable skill at lying can't cover the immense pain in his voice.

The gnome grasps weakly at the rope that Natalia lowered, every movement agony.  "Just taking a rest. Tell you what, why don't you go ahead and get me out on the way back?"  he says, only half-joking. Finally he grabs hold and tries to climbs out.

 
 Spoiler 

Climb check:  (1d20-2)[ 17 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny looks at the snickering kobolds, then turns to Mithril. He flashes a light, self-aware smile.  "Where's Shiny Darkmind when you need him?" 

After thinking on it for a moment, he shrugs.  "No more surprises."  Before Mithril can stop him, he spins and casts  charm person  on one of the kobolds.

 
 Spoiler 
Kobold gets a DC 15 Will save.
 
achinca
When Shiny is off the pit, Miriam puts her hand on his hand. "  Oh St. Cuthbert, please help me heal this valiant gnome victim of the treachery of an evil race ....  "

His wounds heal somewhat.

 
 Spoiler 
 (1d8+1)[ 4 ] 
Drop Endure elements in favor of instantaneous casting of Cure Light Wounds on Shiny.
 
Athedia
(OCC: Common) Mithril shouted at Shiny   "How could you! Disgusting twists only corrupt magic.  Let the weak have a chance to defend themselves."  

She looked across the pit, watching the struggle in the kobolds mind.  She realized Miriam and Shiny were stuck with her on the other side, with no way across but jumping.  Realizing what Miriam said she sputtered   "Is attempting to break someones will valiant? He is more cowardly than those kobolds."  
CoffeeIncluded
 "...Tricksters punished,"  Natalia says into her legs.  "How long will the mask stay?" 

She curls up tighter into herself.
Cavelcade
Kurt puts on hand on Natalia's shoulder awkwardly, just for a second.  "Not your fault. My foot pushed the plate after all. He's out and all will be well." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Nuts Bolts,"  she says.  "Clank go the gears. If not that, then what?" 

(OOC: If we've all agreed to place the kobold in the pit?)

She also says, quietly but loud enough for anyone close to hear,  "...Spends a night in the box." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Second Room 

The kobolds roar in laughter, but a wallop from Nuts straightens them out long enough to catch Shiny's glare.

 
 Spoiler 
  Kobold's Will Save  - (1d20-1)[ 12 ] 
 


The louder of the kobolds sudden goes very silent.  His body is limp but upright.
 "Ack!"  His buddy shakes him, stricken by fear,  "What'd you do to him?  Stop!"   He shakes his friend, who doesn't respond with anything but dead, rolling eyes.  He doesn't see Natalia's second punch coming, or the butt from the back of Kurt's axe.  The scaly minion collapses to the ground face first.  A small trickle of blood stains the ground as the party ties the last kobold up and lowers it into the pit.  Shiny is surprised to find, however, that the pressure plate is firmly in place in the floor.
CoffeeIncluded
As the first kobold stands slack-jawed, Natalia smacks the second kobold--the one who spit in her face--upside the head again, hard enough to knock it unconscious.  She looks up at the others, her shoulders hunched over in poorly disguised humiliation and disgust at her failure. She holds up the unconscious kobold by its wrists and says,  "Mercy? Blade or pit or what?"  

After the second kobold is placed into the pit (OOC: He's still bound), Natalia finally looks at the group, at Shiny's half-healed bruises which Miriam's magic couldn't quite eliminate.

 "...I..." 
achinca
Miriam is glad that the unconscious kobold is lowered in the pit.

When the plate does not reset, she tells Shiny "  Halfling Lawyer and Spirit Master of the Kobolds, how about you ask our new found friend how to reset the trap?  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia stares at the pit, hoping and failing to drive out the thought of missing that trap how did she miss it stupid failure Nuts from her head until...

 "Fall down deep,"  she says as she stares into the pit. Then freezes and says, again,  "Fall down deep." 

She turns to the charmed kobold and says, in Draconic,  "Dive in deep, hold your breath, or prepare to face a watery death. Meaning?" 
Admiral
Shiny softly puts his arm on Natalia, comforting her.  "You have nothing to be sorry about. We would all be lost without you."  His smile is untouched by pain or worry.  "Now, let's get to saying hello to our new friend!" 

The time shortly after a  charm person  spell, especially on an enemy, is a delicate one. The subject's brain is filled with contradictions it cannot easily resolve, and it grasps out desperately for any explanation for its confusion. Shiny has a lot of practice with these critical moments.

He steps towards the kobold in a friendly and unthreatening manner.  "You know, don't you look familiar? I think we've met before! It's me, Shiny Scalebuddy, official liason of the Kobold-Gnome Alliance (and part-time direwolf whisperer)! We met back in that festival of Kurtulmak a few years ago, and you told that wonderful joke- oh, I'm so certain it was you!- about the party of dwarves that got lost in the woods..." 

Shiny speaks quickly but softly, carefully introducing subtle details that the spell can pick up on and turn into faint false memories. His manner gives the impression of someone who genuinely values and desires the kobold's approval and friendship, and who hopes to be worth the kobold's friendship in return. Shiny knows the spell will do the rest of the work.
Hefty Lefty
The kobold remains still, looking forward with his blank stare.   "Oh yes."   Its face grows a large, terrifying smile, made all the more unsettling by the rest of his face not changing.  He doesn't even look at the gnome when he says  "Hello Friend."  in complete monotone.

 "The shrine is built under a waterfall.  To see our Great Mother you must swim.  Our path is long and wet." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shudders at the kobold's eerie grin and monotone. She justifies it by saying better this than dead, but it doesn't shake her moral qualms. Still, she takes a deep breath and says in Draconic,  "...Swim where? Great Mother who?" 
achinca
Miriam looks at Shiny.

"  Shiny the Halfling Lawyer, can you have your new found friend lead the way and disable any traps on the way?  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia is already brushing past the group, carefully inspecting the floor, walls, and door for any traps, triple-checking everything (Take 20 on search for a 28 on the rest of the corridor and the door). As she works, something about the spell comes to her. There's no way this could last forever. She looks at Shiny and says,  "Tick tock?" 
Athedia
  Natalia is right, how long does this spell of yours last Shiny?    Mithril was feeling slightly embarrassed about her outburst, but annoyance still permeated her voice.  She had not wanted the group to see her so angry, after all they were the only protection she had right now, and the quirks had grown on her.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Second Room 
 "Swim to her room.  Her horde.  I assume that's why you invaded here.  Our Great Mother is not a kobold, like us.  She is a dragon.  We call her mother not for her age, but because she is our ancestor." 

Natalia does not find any traps in the places she has searched.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's hand freezes on the door. Slowly, she turns around and faces the rest of the group. Her wide eyes take up nearly her entire face. Natalia tries to speak but the only thing that comes out of her mouth is,  "D...Dr...Gllllrrkkkk..." 
Admiral
If Shiny is bothered by the kobold's eerie mannerisms, he doesn't show it.  "Tell us, friend, are there any traps that lie ahead of us? Or other guards?" 
Hefty Lefty
Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Second Room

 "Yes of course.  Why do you think I'm here?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Second Room

 "Yes of course.  Why do you think I'm here?"  
 

 Can you tell us where the traps and the guards are? 
achinca
Miriam waits, not understanding a word that Shiny and the kobold are saying.
Athedia
Mithril figured she may as well make the best of the situation and  asked Shiny   "Does he only listen to you?  Can you ask him if there is a safe resting spot further in, where we will not be found?"  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia hasn't heard anything beyond the "Great Mother" part, at which point she finally somehow manages to gasp out,  "Great Mother Dragon!" 

The kobold's comments on further traps then registers, and she looks at Miriam as if to say "I told you so."
CoffeeIncluded
At some point, Natalia calms down enough to ask the kobold,  "How deep to swim? To find the path?"  And go the other way,   she adds mentally.

Also, she motions towards the door, as if asking if she should open it.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Second Room 
 "There are more traps.  More guards.  I can lead you through."   When Shiny translates Mithril's question, he continues,  "The next room is safe.  There should be nothing inside to harm you."   Finally, he responds to Natalia.   "The water changes depths throughout our rooms.  There is a way around, but you will not fit.  Perhaps him,"  the kobold points a finger to Shiny,  "but not the rest of you.  And yes the door is safe to open.  Pull the lever." 
CoffeeIncluded
Taking a deep breath, Natalia pulls the lever and opens the door. It's a relief, not having to worry about traps like this, especially when she failed so massively just moments ago. Moments...How many before the spell ends and she's on her own again? Natalia looks at Shiny and asks,  "Tick tock?" 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

The door slowly rolls down.  This time, it reveals a small room.  Directly in front of you is a stone wheel, painted blue.  The wheel has grooves to aid in turning parallel to the wall.  To the right of the wheel, a five-foot section of the floor is a dark blue stone.  This section of flooring has a peculiar design.  An intricate design of a squid is emblazoned on the dark blue.  Near the wall, there is a half-foot section missing from the floor.  The design of the squid and the markings around it seem to indicate the section missing from the floor was intended, or at least that it was missing when the design was created.  To the left of the wheel is another stone door, identical to the last two.

At the back of the pack, Mithril and Miriam leap across the pit trap.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
Cavelcade
Kurt looks around curiously, waiting for Natalia to check if there's any traps - or for their new friend to tell them. He's guessing they're going to have to swim though, looking at the squid and the bit missing, it all just makes him a bit nervous.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia slips out of line and in front of Kurt, silently inspecting the wheel, floor, and section missing from the wall, seeing if turning the wheel will move something under the floor to show up in the missing panel. She also looks to see if anything is out of place or potentially dangerous.

If she doesn't find anything dangerous, Natalia runs her fingers along the smooth grooves of the wheel, says,  "Hold your breath,"  then experimentally turns the wheel.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

Natalia doesn't find anything immediately threatening in the room.  There are no shifting plates on the floor like in the last room, thankfully.  She holds her breath and begins to turn the wheel, which she finds takes much more strength than she expected.  She yanks on the device but isn't able to make it budge.
CoffeeIncluded
(OOC: Thanks, but what I was asking is if it looks like pushing the wheel would cause a panel to appear to fill in the gap in the floor, like there's a rotating floor under the main floor that's turned by pushing the wheel. Also, where is everybody?)

Natalia grunts as she pushes her entire weight, which isn't very much, against the device, eventually conceding to the wheel's weight. She looks at Kurt and asks,  "Same strength?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt drops his axe into its loop and steps forward to give her a hand then, looking for a way to get a good grip before straining to see if it'll turn either direction.
achinca
As no one as translated anything the kobold said, Miriam follows. She does not know about the swimming and the trap and the fact that armor and water don't mix well .....
Athedia
Mithril follows behind, staying away from the wheel to let stronger people try to turn it.  She told Whiskers   "Looks like you will finally have to take a bath."  

Turning to look at Miriam she realized that while she, Shiny and Natalia would be able to swim and float with no extra weight Miriam and Kurt would have more trouble with their armor.    "People with armor may want to watch out.  The kobold said it is like the ocean here, water rising and falling.  I don't know about you, but I know I would not be able to swim in armor."  
CoffeeIncluded
 "Sink,"  she says,  "Sink to see Great...Mother...D--Dragon..." 
achinca
Miriam puts her hand on Mithril's shoulder "  Thanks for the information sister  ".

She asks Shiny "  Ask the kobold if any room get flooded as a trap or if we just have to swim certain part of the maze on our way to the shrine ....   "
Admiral
Shiny translates anything the other party members ask, and continues to do so.  "Shouldn't you be taking off your armor?"  he asks Kurt and Miriam.  "If this room fills with water, even Shiny Strongstroke, champion lifeguard and mermaid arm-wrestler, will be able to keep you afloat." 

He also answers Natalia's question-  "He'll tick and tock for one hour, then back to struggle and squirm." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia draws a quick circle in the air with her finger and says,  "Tick tock, once around. Got it."  She also asks,  "Is Shiny Strongstroke also Shiny Dragontamer?" 

She then returns to pushing the wheel alongside Kurt.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

Natalia doesn't think the wheel causing anything to rise from the small hole in the flooring.  When she relinquishes control of the wheel to Kurt, she observes its effects with the rest of the group.  Kurt manages to start it moving by turning it to the right; the momentum of spinning makes it easier to move, but if he were to stop it would be just as difficult to start up again.  The wheel begins moving with a very loud, stone pushing on stone grinding noise, and the entire blue section of floor slowing begins to drop into the ground.  The walls that had previously been hidden beneath the floor are tattooed with thousands of white scratches, presumably from the stone floor having been lowered and raised before.  Under the scratches lies a simple, blue painting of waves peaking at the height of your feet.  The pit Kurt reveals with his wheel is pitch black, but you can see in the first few feet that the water design continues down, with small fish and elements of the sea.

The kobold mumbles to himself in his zombified state.   "Time to go for a dip..." 
 
 Spoiler 
Here's a quick sketch of what's going on.  You can still see the floor with the squid.  It's a sort of elevator mechanism.  You can't actually see water, it's just painted on the walls. 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia peers into the pit, swallowing when she realizes that she cannot see the bottom. She takes a pebble from her pocket and drops it into the pit, listening for it to hit the ground.

(OOC: How large is the entrance to the pit?)
achinca
Miriam starts taking off her armor. "  May be, one of the better swimmer should do some reconnaissance.  "
Hefty Lefty
OOC: Let me correct yall before anyone else posts.  I think I need to clarify my description.

EDIT: See my new spoiler in my previous post.
CoffeeIncluded
(OOC: Thanks for the clarification. So where's the pit?)

Natalia frowns as she runs her fingers along the blue squid carvings. They feel black like the stone they are, not like the water they depict. She turns to the rest of the group and says,  "Lake or river? Dive in here, or bring the shoreline to us?" 
Admiral
Shiny looks at the mumbling kobold.  "Friend, is someone supposed to go down that pit? Is that how we get into the next room? And when do we go for a swim? " 
Hefty Lefty
Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room

 "Yes, someone must be lowered into the shaft in order for your party to continue." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia takes a step backward.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room

 "Yes, someone must be lowered into the shaft in order for your party to continue."  
 

 "Well, friend,"  says Shiny in a cheerful voice,  "How about we send you down? There's no danger after all, is there?" 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 
 "I will go down, but I will not go alone." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 
 "I will go down, but I will not go alone."  
 

Shiny considers this.  "What's down there? Does more than one person have to go? Is there any danger?" 
CoffeeIncluded
(OOC: You said that the tunnel was too small to fit anyone except Shiny, right?)

 "Can we fit?"  Natalia looks to the door.  "D-Dragons must fly, eat, see the sky..." 
Athedia
  "I would rather not be the one to go down.  But I can cast a light spell for whoever ventures down.  It will only last 10 minutes but if there is water it will still glow."  

Mithril examined the drawings.  The design looked pretty but why would there be drawings of the ocean in the forest.  It made no sense.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia holds up her long silken rope.  "Mark the path." 

She doesn't really understand why there are drawings of the ocean here either, but Natalia decides to focus on the fact that the Great Mother is a dragon instead. Ignoring her instincts to flee, she realizes that a dragon can't spend her whole life in the bottom of a water tunnel or whatever they were about to head into, so there had to be a larger back path somewhere...
achinca
Miriam stops in the middle of taking out her armor. "  I am a young girl who knows nothing but I believe that finding out what is down there make sense before we all go down ....  "
Cavelcade
Kurt just sighs as he stops trying to turn the wheel.  "Tie the rope onto yourselves and we'll lower you down then, I guess." 
Admiral
Shiny hops up and down with his hand in the air, like a schoolchild who knows the right answer.  "I'll do it! Lower me in!" 
Athedia
  "What do you want lit?  Anything will work, a weapon, some armor, or a pebble. Don't worry there is no damage to anything.  Just do not give me glasses, I almost blinded a friend that way. "  

Mithril winced at the memory, her friends mother had not been happy with her after that incident.  She raised her hand ready to cast the spell as soon as an object was chosen.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by athedia 
   "What do you want lit?  Anything will work, a weapon, some armor, or a pebble. Don't worry there is no damage to anything.  Just do not give me glasses, I almost blinded a friend that way. "  

Mithril winced at the memory, her friends mother had not been happy with her after that incident.  She raised her hand ready to cast the spell as soon as an object was chosen. 
 

Shiny gets a distant, wistful look in his eye.  "There was a time that Shiny Lightbringer was feared in all the darkest, most evil corners of the world. His fearsome blade shone with the glow of a thousand suns. I thought those days were long behind me, but lo! Perhaps Shiny Lightbringer, divine champion and snake charmer, will bear the Sword of Illumination once again!" 

With this dubious pronouncement, Shiny drops to his knee, draws his rapier, and presents it to Mithril in a dramatic fashion..
CoffeeIncluded
Meanwhile Natalia takes out the other rope and loops it between Shiny's legs and around his waist before tying it shut, making a simple yet functional harness.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

The kobold sprouts another disturbing grin.   "There is danger through the door and down the shaft.  We are good at what we do." 

((OOC: There have been three routes discussed.  Through the door which is closed (normal-sized door), down the shaft the wheel operates, and through a tunnel in the walls that only Shiny, with his small size, would be able to fit through (the tunnel has so far not been discovered).))

Again, it takes a considerable amount of effort to get the wheel turning.  The platform lowers slowly, inch by inch, until it is absorbed by the darkness.  Kurt spins the wheel for a few long minutes.  The party gives each other worried looks; this pit is  deep .  Finally, after about seven minutes of turning, an echoing  *ka-chunk*  is heard from the bottom of the shaft.  Kurt rests his arms on the wheel, which won't budge any further.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

The kobold sprouts another disturbing grin.   "There is danger through the door and down the shaft.  We are good at what we do." 

((OOC: There have been three routes discussed.  Through the door which is closed (normal-sized door), down the shaft the wheel operates, and through a tunnel in the walls that only Shiny, with his small size, would be able to fit through (the tunnel has so far not been discovered).))

Again, it takes a considerable amount of effort to get the wheel turning.  The platform lowers slowly, inch by inch, until it is absorbed by the darkness.  Kurt spins the wheel for a few long minutes.  The party gives each other worried looks; this pit is  deep .  Finally, after about seven minutes of turning, an echoing  *ka-chunk*  is heard from the bottom of the shaft.  Kurt rests his arms on the wheel, which won't budge any further. 
 

 "I think our new friend would like to come along with me down the pit,"  Shiny says with a small smile.  "Perhaps he can be tied to the rope just under me." 
 
 Spoiler 

If this is set up without problems, Shiny will follow the kobold to be lowered down the pit, with his illuminated sword at the ready.
 
Athedia
Mithril couldn't resist a chuckle as she gently lay her hand against the rapier blade.    "Bear the sword proudly, Oh Lightbringer. Remember it will only last ten minutes, so be quick."  

Concentrating a little Mithril set the rapier aglow.  The torch-like light lit up her face as she removed her hand.
achinca
Miriam is not sure why the group decided to ignore the door. As Calric taught her, St. Cuthbert sometimes works in mysterious way.
She made no sense of the gnome but he seemed to have a good heart which is all that mattered.
The strange talking rogue was obsessed with traps so she had to respect that. The other woman seemed to follow the rogue and the dwarf was more than happy to shows his strength.

No of it made any sense to her but she had learned that she might be wise but she was definitively not intelligent. There was a lot of things she did not understand in this realm and the way the group worked was one of them.

It did not matter. St. Cuthbert has put them on her path and she knows that all she had to do was to keep then alive.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pauses at the kobold's statement and takes another good look at the pit and door.  "Trapmaster kobolds,"  she says.  "Too long to constantly reset, faster to make a secret room..." 

She immediately starts searching the room for a shortcut that the kobolds would have made to bypass the traps made for intruders, not their own. (Take 20 for 28).

When Natalia notices Miriam looking at the door she says,  "Danger there but safety here." 
achinca
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 When Natalia notices Miriam looking at the door she says,  "Danger there but safety here."  
 

Miriam smiles back at Natalia. "  By St. Cuthbert, I trust you.  "
Cavelcade
Kurt lets a soft sigh out as the wheel eventually stops turning, rubbing his arms with a chuckle.  "Harder than I thought. Uhhh...maybe we could use the wheel to help?"  Shrugging a little uncomfortably, he gestures towards it trying to clarify.  "I mean...wrap around it? You know? My arms are kind of tired for lowering the two of them." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

Natalia searches the room for about twenty minutes.  She pours over each crack in the stone, searching for, perhaps a sliding brick in the walls, corner, or floor.  She peers at the ceiling, near the blue stone, around the stone door, but finds nothing.  Whatever alternate route the kobold was talking about isn't in this room, Natalia believes.

In the meantime, the rest of the party continues to stare into the pit, ready to make a decision on investigating the shaft.

((OOC: The rest of the party has twenty minutes to act (or not).  Reminder, Shiny's light stick is only going to last for the first ten.))
Admiral
Shiny is clearly eager to go down the pit (preferably with the kobold in front) and looks like he might jump down if nobody helps lower him.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head and frowns. She looks at Kurt and says,  "Good plan. And to pull them up?"  She then asks Shiny,  "Tick tock. Ready?" 

She carefully lowers Shiny and the kobold into the pit.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia shakes her head and frowns. She looks at Kurt and says,  "Good plan. And to pull them up?"  She then asks Shiny,  "Tick tock. Ready?"  
 

 "Tie our friend here to the rope first!"  cries Shiny. The moment that's been done, Shiny tosses the rope at Kurt, grabs the kobold, and drops into the shaft before checking if the rope's even secure.

 
 Spoiler 
OOC: I don't know if Kurt was already holding the rope, in which case he wouldn't throw it. Either way Shiny hops eagerly down the shaft at his first opportunity. Let's get this show on the road!
 
Cavelcade
Kurt cries out at Shiny's leap, wrapping the rope around the wheel hopefully just in time so his arm won't get ripped out of his socket.  "Oh gods you fool!" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Gak!"  Natalia digs the heels of her boots into the ground, bracing herself against Shiny's (and the kobold's) leap, wincing as the rope drags against and scrapes her palms.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

Party except for Shiny:
 
 Spoiler 
The rope quickly slips through the party members' hands.  Even when they clasp their hands upon it, the material attempts to burn a hole straight through their palms.  But with the effort of the four of them together, the party stabilizes the cord.  They grunt, groan, and ultimately tie off the rope to the golden wheel, which proves strong enough to hold.  They make sure to keep hold of the rope, however; letting go would let the remaining portion slip down the chasm.  It was hard to tell from the freefall, but Shiny and the kobold are down about fifty to seventy feet.  Looking down into the pit, it becomes pitch black a mere ten feet down.
 


Shiny only:
 
 Spoiler 
The rope sails through the air and Shiny and the kobold plummet downward.  The gnome sails through the dark shaft, only able to see the blue walls fly by with the light of his rapier - at any second he could find the stone platform in the darkness and meet his maker.  Fortunately, the rope tightens and he springs up into the air, bouncing around the shaft like a leaf caught in a strong wind.  Shiny dangles in pitch blackness around the rapier.  The lit rapier shows that the shaft remains five-by-five feet, but that's about it.  Above and below him is complete darkness.  The kobold dangles beneath Shiny safe but silent.  It is truly a terrifying feeling, seeing so little and not being able to touch the ground.  One of the only observations Shiny can make is that the air feels very damp.  Water droplets fill the air.  In his swaying, he bumps up against a wall.  It is very cold and wet.  Some type of moss or mold grows faintly in the corners.
 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

Shiny only:
 
 Spoiler 
The rope sails through the air and Shiny and the kobold plummet downward.  The gnome sails through the darkness - at any second he could find the stone platform in the darkness and meet his maker.  Fortunately, the rope tightens and he springs up into the air, bouncing around the shaft like a leaf caught in a strong wind.  Shiny dangles in pitch blackness.  The kobold, if he is still safe, is silent.   Shiny can tell by the kobold's weight affecting the swaying of the rope that he is still tied on.  It is truly a terrifying feeling, not being able to see or hear anything or touch the ground.  One of the only observations Shiny can make is that the air feels very damp.  Water droplets fill the air.  In his swaying, he bumps up against a wall.  It is very cold and wet.  Some type of moss or mold grows faintly in the corners.
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
Not able to see anything? What happened to Shiny Lightbringer's light-bringing sword? 🙂
 
CoffeeIncluded
If Natalia squints she can just make out the little pinprick of light from the blade, but that's about it. And she's not even sure if she's just imagining the light. Nevertheless, she rubs her red palms on her cheeks, wincing at the stinging rope burn and how bright they feel. She leans over the pit and calls down,  "Shiny Thoughtless Leaper? ...You okay?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 If Natalia squints she can just make out the little pinprick of light from the blade, but that's about it. And she's not even sure if she's just imagining the light. Nevertheless, she rubs her red palms on her cheeks, wincing at the stinging rope burn and how bright they feel. She leans over the pit and calls down,  "Shiny Thoughtless Leaper? ...You okay?"  
 

Up from the pit comes a faint voice.  "Actually, Shiny Thoughtless Leaper was my maternal great uncle! I was named after him!" 
CoffeeIncluded
The only sound coming from Natalia is a dull echoing thud as her head slams against the wall.
achinca
 
 Originally Posted by Admiral 
 Up from the pit comes a faint voice.  "Actually, Shiny Thoughtless Leaper was my maternal great uncle! I was named after him!"  
 

A smile appears on Miriam "  Yes ... the Halfling lawyer is fine .....   
Athedia
  "Might not use the word fine"   Mithril grumbled as the rope burned her hands.  Whiskers tried to help hold the rope with his front paws, more to cheer her up than because of a noticeable effect.

Suddenly her eyes opened widely   "Miriam, might something in here be magic?  Kobolds are slight creatures and if Kurt struggled to turn the wheel maybe they would have had assistance.  Do you think I should look?"    Mithril respected Miriam as a fellow magic user, even though she channeled different energy Miriam had a certain air of sense about her.
achinca
Miriam shakes her head at Mithril. "  As long as the halfling lawyer come up with stories and lies, he is fine. I would be concerned if he starts telling the truth.  

She stops and hesitates before answering Mithril's question "  I do not know much about magic. I know I can channel St. Cuthbert power. I know I can detect it if needed. However, I would rather save my powers to heal. Because, even if we found there is magic at work, I do not have the power to eliminate it. Do you?   "
Admiral
 "No way to go but down!"  Shiny shouts up the shaft.  "This light won't last forever!" 
Cavelcade
Kurt just shrugs at their talk of magic and focuses on the task at hand, lower the Kobolt and Halfling hand over hand and trying to ignore the stinging from the rope burn. Shiny is definitely going to get a smack for this. But one thing at a time.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Better to know than not,"  says Natalia, wishing she could contribute more to this conversation about magic and feeling inadequate for not understanding its mysteries. But perhaps if she listens, she'll learn more.
achinca
Miriam bites her lips and says "  Natalia, magic is not like your skills. It is in finite resource. When we use it, it does not replace itself. It tires its users. I need to rest. I need to pray to regain it. Mithril needs to sleep and then relearn the spells. We need to be wise about using it.  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia mulls that over in her head for a while before finally saying, cautiously,  "Refill the cup, yes, but...better to empty it fully first? Than to pour out water later on?" 
achinca
Miriam stops to think. " How did Calric handle the little kids when they asked how he did his magic? That is right. Use their words. Use their analogy. Teach in words they understand. "

She starts playing with her hair, rolling it around her fingers before replying. "  Once we empty the cup, we need to stop to fill in the cup. This gives bad guys time to get reorganized. Better to have some water left in the cup than having an empty cup and not being able to rest.  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods, happy that Miriam understands what she is saying (though Miriam didn't quite need to use the same analogy back at her; she can understand technical parlance well enough--still, the fact that she understood is good enough), but the rogue isn't quite mollified. After all,  "The kobold said this room is safe. Check here, rest here. But..."  Natalia trails off with a shrug. After all, she never learned magic.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - First Floor - Third Room 

As Miriam goes to twirl her hair, a few inches of rope slips through the party's grasp.  Kurt, who is holding most of the weight in the back of the pack, grunts through gritted teeth,  "Let's deal with one thing at a time, eh girls!?"   He yanks on the rope to recover the lost distance.   "We've got a gnome on a string, remember?" 

Somewhere down the pit, Shiny slips a few inches.  Even the smallest distance sends his heart a-flutter.
achinca
Miriam is glad that she has finally found a way to talk to Natalia.

When she hears the dwarf complain about having to support the gnome on his own, she goes behind him and tries to help.

Aid another (if applicable)
If roll=&gt;10, Kurt gets +2

 (1d20+1)[ 21 ] 
Athedia
  "Miriam, this cup's water is pretty useless.  I can not channel power, or choose on a whim what spells to cast.  I have what I chose this morning, unfortunately I did not expect us to be deep in a tunnel by noon.  My available spells are useless in a fight, unless I am really tricky with some rope.  But finding magic will not do me or anyone else any harm."  

Mithril said this mostly to make Natalia feel better, magic was confusing and with all the different types even Mithril was lost sometimes.  The rogue had been Mithril's first friend since she left the city and she felt a need to protect her.

She tightened her grip on the rope, bracing her feet.  As she helped Kurt lower the rope, she briefly thought  if the halfing wasn't already hurt I would be tempted to let him fall for a bit for that trick.  The kobold would break his fall. 
achinca
While aiding Kur, Miriam replies to Mithril. "  Sister, our magic is similar .... you learn your spells in the morning, I pray to St. Cuthbert for spells in the morning .... What He grants me that morning is all I have for that day .... Waiting so early in the day is dangerous because it will allow the kobolds to find us and organize .... my master taught me to be stingy with my spells to avoid emptying the cup and delay for as long a possible before pausing for rest ... He told me that you want the enemy to need the rest as much as you do ... right now the kobolds do not need to rest ... so we need to push on ... or push down in the case of the shining liar ...   
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods in understanding.  "Then maybe drain the cup before bed. Later." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Elevator 

The party slowly and carefully lowers Shiny to the ground.  He swings his feet in the air anxiously.  Eventually, Shiny spots the squid platform Kurt had previously lowered to the ground.  First the kobold lands on it, then Shiny.  The rope gets exponentially easier to handle with their landing, until finally the party can let go.  Shiny examines the area; it's still a cold, wet, five-by-five foot shaft, with a dirty mold growing on the walls.  The rapier does bring something special to light, however - the platform's hole lined up perfectly with a lever in the wall.  This lever seems to be of a lighter, beige stone - like the levers before - instead of a dark gray, like the wall it is on.  The kobold looks at Shiny with dead eyes.   "You don't like our elevator?  We built it for you." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - Elevator 

The party slowly and carefully lowers Shiny to the ground.  He swings his feet in the air anxiously.  Eventually, Shiny spots the squid platform Kurt had previously lowered to the ground.  First the kobold lands on it, then Shiny.  The rope gets exponentially easier to handle with their landing, until finally the party can let go.  Shiny examines the area; it's still a cold, wet, five-by-five foot shaft, with a dirty mold growing on the walls.  The rapier does bring something special to light, however - the platform's hole lined up perfectly with a lever in the wall.  This lever seems to be of a lighter, beige stone - like the levers before - instead of a dark gray, like the wall it is on.  The kobold looks at Shiny with dead eyes.   "You don't like our elevator?  We built it for you."  
 

 "To the contrary,"  says Shiny,  "I find it irresistably charming." 
 
 Spoiler 

Search the lever for traps:  (1d20+3)[ 20 ] 
 


If Shiny finds no traps, he shouts up the shaft,  "Found a lever! Going to try pulling it!"  and pulls.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Elevator 

Shiny doesn't find any traps and, without giving his party time to react, he swiftly pulls the lever.  It comes down easily.  Behind Shiny, a three-by-three foot square in the floor drops out.  Luckily, Shiny's small feet were close to the lever and wall when he pulled it, so he doesn't fall in.  Looking down into the hole, the gnome finds dark water just a few feet beneath the platform.  The water is still, as if it hasn't been disturbed in years.

Above the shaft, the large stone door slowly begins to come down from the cieling.
Admiral
Shiny turns to the kobold triumphantly.  "Does one of us have to swim through that to proceed? I would volunteer, but I have a dreadful allergy to water." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Elevator 
 "That is unfortunate.  Yes, the two paths work in tandem." 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - Elevator 
 "That is unfortunate.  Yes, the two paths work in tandem."  
 

Shiny thinks about pushing the kobold into the water, but comes to the conclusion that he's hardly reliable enough to handle whatever he needs to in the water.

Shiny unties the rope from around his waist, though he leaves it tied to the kobold. He also takes off his chain shirt and ties it to the rope- can't swim while wearing that. He shouts up the shaft,  "There's a pool of water down here, I think I have to swim through it! The kobold's tied to the rope with my armor. If you don't hear from me in ten minutes, you pull him back up. And then you come and rescue me!" 
CoffeeIncluded
When Natalia hears the grinding of stone, she turns around to find the door to the next room slowly opening.

 "...Uh..."  Natalia motions to the others that she's going to let go of the rope and investigate the room; when they grab onto the rope Natalia carefully peeks her head around the corner of the door.
Athedia
Mithril shook her head at Natalia when she saw the gestures.  She whispered   "Don't risk it, you are sneaky but also big.  Let a smaller creature do it, Whiskers can look to see if it is safe. If you want, if you still want to peek it's your head."    She motioned for Whiskers to get down.  (OCC: If natalia decides to take Mithril's offer, whiskers will try to sneak into the next room and hide/listen/spot.  I don't have the sheet up right now and have to log off until tomorrow.  Whiskers will move as soon as permission is granted from Natalia.)
CoffeeIncluded
 "Right,"  Natalia says. She had forgotten all about the little familiar.  "Sneaky weasel. Good idea." 

(OOC: Natalia gives permission)
CoffeeIncluded
 "Right,"  Natalia says. She had forgotten all about the little familiar.  "Sneaky weasel. Good idea." 

(OOC: Natalia gives permission)
Admiral
Shiny is worried for a moment that no one heard his earlier shouts.  "If you heard what I said,"  he yells up the shaft,  "then remain absolutely silent!"  Satisfied, he takes a deep breath and dives into the pool, his rapier at the ready. The clock is ticking on his Lightbringing sword, so no time to waste.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
If necessary, a Swim check:

 (1d20)[ 13 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 3  ((I got a bit confused with the two floors.  This makes more sense to me.))

Mithril's animal slinks through the doorway.  It scurries down through the doorway, which has shown a hallway about fifteen feet in length, with a staircase down for the last ten, then turning right.  The weasel continues down the path.

Mithril's Empathic Link:
 
 Spoiler 
Calm - Calm - Calm - Calm - Panic! - Panic!
 


The weasel comes racing back up the path and leaps into Mithril's arms.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4 

A confident Shiny leaps into the water.  The water is freezing.  But more importantly, completely dark.  It is very fortunate that Shiny has a shining weapon.  The elevator shaft, which had been five-by-five foot all the way down, opens up exactly at water level in front of Shiny.  The water comes up exactly to a stone ceiling everywhere around Shiny, so that if the gnome were to investigate the area around him, he would need to swim underwater, and return to this area to take a breath.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 


((OOC: You have eight minutes left with the Light spell, and fifteen minutes with the Charm Humanoid spell.))
Admiral
Shiny takes a few deep breaths and then dives to head straight forward under the water.

 
 Spoiler 
Thanks to my Con score I can hold my breath for 16 rounds. I'll take 10 on each swim check to swim at half my speed, 10ft per round. Going to go to A4 now.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia takes one look at the familiar tear around the corner and leap into Mithril's arms, asks,  "What did he sniff out?"  and reaches for her rapier.
Athedia
Mithril held Whiskers close to her and stroked his fur.  Whispering to to the rest of the group she said  "We can't talk exactly, but I can feel his fear.  Kobolds down that path is the only explanation I can think of. I think we should wait for them to come to us.  Then we can attack them as they approach, and have more room to swing weapons.  I don't think we need to hold the rope anymore, Shiny can always just climb up it.  We have our own problems right now."  
Cavelcade
Kurt nods grimly, stepping to one side of the door and holding his axe.  "All of you should get behind and get ready. If it's going to come to fighting I want them to concentrate on me." 
Athedia
Mithril stepped back so Kurt had some room and readied her quarterstaff   "Hope the lizards like headaches.    She cursed her lack of spells but was glad she had something to hit any kobold that came to close.

(OCC: Quarterstaff is held in both hands but Mithril only attacks with one end so it doesn't get the penalties, of course I may be mistaken correct me if I am wrong)
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "No, not if empty cups are so dangerous."  Drawing her rapier and sickle, she sneaks over to the other side of the door, opposite of Kurt, ready to strike anything passing through. (OOC: So anything attacking will get a faceful of Kurt's axe, and Natalia's rapier and sickle. And they'll be open to attack. And they'll be flanked by a barbarian and dual-wielding rogue.)

She whispers to Kurt and whoever is close enough to hear,  "Noisy lures?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "No, not if empty cups are so dangerous."  Drawing her rapier and sickle, she sneaks over to the other side of the door, opposite of Kurt, ready to strike anything passing through. (OOC: So anything attacking will get a faceful of Kurt's axe, and Natalia's rapier and sickle. And they'll be open to attack. And they'll be flanked by a barbarian and dual-wielding rogue.)

She whispers to Kurt and whoever is close enough to hear,  "Noisy lures?" 
Athedia
Mithril whispered   "I could be the lure. If the sound isn't coming from where you guys are they will not be expecting you."  
Cavelcade
Kurt shrugs a little, easing his shoulders.  "If you feel safe..." 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Make them think the cup is empty?"  she whispers. Natalia then tenses, ready to strike with both rapier and sickle.
achinca
Miriam raises her mace and her buckler. "  let's create a gauntlet to stop them ..... and let me know if you get hurt. I will heal you by the power of St. Cuthbert.  "

Although the expression on her face was relatively calm, the anxiety inside was maximum. " Last time I had to fight I lost Calric. Will I lose anyone I love anyone today? "
Athedia
Mithril felt a large grin spread across her face.  Sure magic she was good at, but getting attention?  That was her masterpiece.  She bunched her face up and let out a cry of despair as she turned to shout down the hole, the elevator had disappeared down.    "I can't bring you guys up! I can't turn the wheel anymore.  Please help, my leg. "  She let out a scream of pretend agony.    "I think he broke, the cursed lizard broke it.  Please help."   Switching to draconic she shouted to the imaginary lizard   "Curse you kobold, you deserved death, all your kind deserve death."    Then Mithril resumed sobbing and letting out sounds of pain, trying to convince anyone listening she was alone, scared and vulnerable.

She knew her act was a little overdone, but since the lizards would probably not understand most of it she felt it was better to overact than not.  She gripped the quarterstaff tighter as she cried, scared of what she actually may be calling to dinner.
 
 Spoiler 
Not sure what roll this would be
I am going with bluff  (1d20+1)[ 5 ] 
Edit: Crap boogers.  I really hope they are stupid and want to believe this, I guess a bad roll was coming my way
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia winces at the flatness in Mithril's voice and asks, gingerly,  "What about pretending the cup is empty? No magic, no healing?" 
Athedia
 I'm rusty , Mithril thought  its been to long since I ratted out my siblings .  With a snarl of anger at her own foolishness she shouted out in draconic   "Okay, I am mad now. You guys scared Mr. Whiskers. And made me feel like a fool.  Come out and fight me far and square, I have no magic left.  Or if you are to scared I could always rest and bring some friends back with me.  What you going to have, one weak and angry mage or me at full power with fifty of my friends?"    Mithril let all the anger of the day pour out of her in one fell swoop.  No lies this time, well just some exaggarations.
 
 Spoiler 
I don't think this needs a bluff roll since Mithril is not lying. But if you think it does then please tell me so I can make a note of it.
 
achinca
Miriam whispers to Natalia " Natalia, what is Mithril saying? "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia whispers back,  "Wounded, trapped, faking an empty cup, asking for a fight."  She asks Miriam,  "Pretend your healing is gone?" 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia whispers back,  "Wounded, trapped, faking an empty cup, asking for a fight."  She asks Miriam,  "Pretend your healing is gone?" 

The rogue tenses, preparing to strike.
achinca
Miriam nods her head and smiles at Natalia. She has no idea what the rogue just said. "  Oh great! No worry then ......   
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs and looks back to the entrance of the next room. Hopefully they'll find out just what spooked Whiskers soon...
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 3 

Apparently something was lost in translation.  Mithril was pleased with her script, going into the bluff, but quickly she realized that the essentials in a good lie, the emphasis put in particular places,  is difficult when translating into draconic.  She immediately realizes her faulty bluff.  Echoing down the staircase and around the corner, Kurt can almost hear something that sounds like a laugh - then again, their whole yippy language sounds like evil, conniving laughter.  No response comes from her second call down the hall.

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5  ((I'll consider the elevator shaft Room 4 and this new, watery room Room 5.))

Shiny makes his way through the water.  Everything around him and under him is pitch black.  He finds his way around the corner.  He feels walls on two corners of this small area, but in one direction wall gives way for more travel.

((Since you only moved 5 feet, we'll count that as half of your turn.))

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia glares at Mithril when she barely hears the laughter and says,  "Stalemate now. They'll wait for us to truly sleep." 

Natalia does have an idea in case the kobolds try to cut their throats in their sleep, but she wants to try luring them out some other way first. Taking a moment to formulate the words in her mind (she has to get this right; she only has one chance and she can't be misunderstood), the rogue all but shouts, in halting Draconic and not-entirely-false disbelief,  "Empty cup? What...do you mean...No spells left? We're...helpless rabbits!" 
achinca
Miriam starts twirling her hair which is what she does when she thinks .... Finally she looks at Mithril then Natalia "  Could it be that the reason they do not come towards us is because the hallway is full of traps? After all they did not build a bypassing tunnel for nothing ....   "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia frowns. It was certainly possible, but... "Heavy traps only; Whiskers is safe."  Sure, she could go out and check, but no way was Natalia about to check a hallway full of traps while leaving herself open for attack. Besides--She looks at the pit where Shiny and the kobold are and says,  "Tick tock." 
achinca
Miriam nods. "  I am humbled by your wisdom my Sister. I have truly a lot to learn. There is little need to worry about the other kobolds stuck on the other side of the trapped corridors while the lying gnome is in potential danger  ."
Athedia
  "Whiskers can't help anymore.  He is useful for scouting out danger, but the problem is we only share emotions, not sight or sound.  And I can't understand him.  Our conversations are rather one-sided. Anyway they would try to eat him."   Mithril said regretfully, she was mad at the kobolds, first they had lied to her, now they were laughing.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 3 

There is no response to Mithril's call.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs. She turns and says to the group,  "Time to trap the ambush."  She unravels the copper wire bracelet and strings it across the gap of the hallway and their room, making a thin tripwire at about ankle height. If the kobolds rush in, they'll trip, fall, and alert the group of their presence. Then, she takes a couple stones or chunks of rubble that are probably lying around (if they're not, she takes from her pocket) and tosses them into the hallway.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 3 

Again, there is no response from the other end of the hall as the bits of rocks tumble down the stairs and around the corner.

((Not... totally sure what you're trying to do here...))
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 


See my OOC post- doesn't Shiny have a shiny rapier that lets him see?
 
Admiral
Shiny swims ahead around the corner.

 
 Spoiler 
Moving to B5. Upon consideration, I think that since I'm not taking any standard actions I can move twice my speed each round, but I leave it to your discretion.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt shifts his grip on his axe, frowning in worry at the lack of actions from the kobolds. He speaks quietly to the others to try and avoid being heard.  "I think they're not coming...should we go and flush them out? We don't want to wake up with 100 of them out there..." 
achinca
Miriam points to the opening large enough only for a small creature such as Shiny or a Kobold. "  Shouldn't we expect to come in through here?  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at the pit, biting her lip. Kurt has a point and she wants to go after them too, but,  "Shiny and hostage?"  She doesn't want to leave them alone.
Cavelcade
 "He can take care of himself."  Kurt glances at the hole, then shakes his head.  "Besides, he's too far down for us to help. Will I go first?"  He's got a light of anticipation in his eyes now, looking forward to a good fight already.
Athedia
  "I can watch our backs, the strong should go first.  Let's just get out of this room.  Don't worry about Shiny, I know my spell will hold a bit longer, and he can always climb the rope."  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head, evidently outvoted. She points to the copper wire bracelet now functioning as a tripwire and asks,  "Leave it?" 

(OOC: We should tell Shiny...)
achinca
Miriam will follow and close the march.
CoffeeIncluded
With a resigned sigh, Natalia looks back at the elevator, says,  "Tick tock, hurry up,"  and follows Kurt. The tripwire is still strung up at about ankle height; a medium sized character would be able to step over it with little effort but a smaller creature would be more likely to trip, especially if they were running.

(OOC: We're coming back here, right? If not, then Natalia's taking her copper wire bracelet back with her.)
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

The party, slowly, led by Kurt, descends the stairs.  He does his best to remain undetected and is rewarded.  Just before he begins to round the corner, he hears the familair yapping of the kobolds.  He quickly becomes rigid and insists the rest of the party does as well.  Peeking his head around the corner, he spots the kobold hiding not so well behind a pillar.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4 

Shiny continues swimming.  He has 90 seconds (15 rounds) remaining.

 
 Spoiler 
 

((Since we have our rules, you don't have to give me an order, and I'll update this map when the alpha team advances in rounds.  I just thought you'd like to see.))
 
Cavelcade
Kurt waves the others to make sure they stay silent, then leans back to whisper to them.  "I can see some of them hiding behind a pillar. I think I can make it over to them before they're ready...the rest of you should get ready to follow me." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods, drawing her weapons and readying a battle stance.
Athedia
Mithril positioned the quarterstaff, and tried to stead her nerves.  realizing it would probably be a tight fit she started repeating a mantra in her mind,   Only hit the kobolds, only hit the kobolds...  
Cavelcade
Kurt turns back and takes out his axe, gritting his teeth as he suddenly wonders if the floor will be trapped between him and them. Oh well. Nothing for it!  "Follow behind!"  Shouted as he runs around the corner, running straight to the first Kobold he can see and attacking with his axe around the side of the pillar.

 
 Spoiler 

He moves to E1, then goes E1 to E6 in a straight line and attacks the kobold in D7. Assuming he makes it that far! If he makes it he attacks:
 (1d20+5)[ 18 ] 
If he hits, damage:
 (1d12+6)[ 13 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5

Kurt charges through and smashes the tiny kobold, who was hiding behind the pillar.  In one swipe, the reptile is smashed to pieces.  From what Kurt saw rushing through, the rest of the room seems empty.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 


Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4

Shiny takes a left, but finds a wall ahead thanks to his light.  He heads back to the first fork.  He has 14 rounds left.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia winces as she hears Kurt's axe cleave through flesh and bone. She peeks around the corner to see the fearsome warrior standing over the kobold's smashed body. Approaching, she cautiously asks,  "Alone?" 
achinca
Miriam will enter the room after Mithril does. When she sees the dead kobold, she will whisper a few silent words.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4

Shiny takes a left, but finds a wall ahead thanks to his light.  He heads back to the first fork.  He has 14 rounds left.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
 
 

 
 Spoiler 
I think you know based on the rules to go on ahead, with the next leftmost path, but just wanted to make sure 🙂
 
Athedia
  "He may have been a decoy to tempt us into a trapped room."   Mithril eased her way into the room tapping the floor in front of her with her quarterstaff. (OCC: D2 following straightest path)
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

The party doesn't see much of interest in the room.  There is a door ahead of the party.  A lever is on the pillar across the room.
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

The party doesn't see much of interest in the room.  There is a door ahead of the party.  A lever is on the pillar across the room. 
 

Natalia looks at the lever and shakes her head.  "Open one, close another...Don't split the party." 

Natalia doesn't want to go further until they're all regrouped. She doesn't know what door the lever would close and doesn't want to leave Shiny trapped underwater and the kobold woken up and afraid. She doesn't want to leave her wire behind.

She also searches the dead kobold and takes a quick look around the room for anything unusual (prepares for fail).

Search:  (d20+8)[ 11 ] 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

Natalia doesn't find much of interest in the room.  The kobold has a small spear, leather armor fit for a small humanoid, a sling, a dirty copper necklace, and two copper pieces.  The room is undecorated.
Cavelcade
Kurt cleans the axe carefully before nodding.  "Alone."  He takes a look around the room, having to think for a moment to understand Natalia's words.  "Yes...I think we should stay here. Soon we should know about Shiny." 
achinca
Miriam nods in agreement to Kurt's statement.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia removes the armor and necklace, and gives one copper piece to Kurt while pocketing the other. She also says,  "Return to tell him?" 

Regardless, at some point she's going back to grab the copper wire and wrap it around her wrist again.
Athedia
Mithril walked to the corner and sat down.    "Would you all mind so badly if I took a nap now?  I don't want to appear rude but Whiskers can stay awake for me if you want, he sleeps in my pack half the time anyway and I will wake up if he is afraid. It's just I don't like going this long without spells, and we don't know how long Shiny is going to take..."   She pulled her pack off her back and settled it under her head as a pillow.  Not waiting for an answer she drifted off into sleep. Whiskers curled onto her feet and started cleaning his toes, looking sidelong at the dead kobold as if he thought it would still wake up and eat him.

(OOC: wake her up if you want, just figured if we are staying here for a bit I would get a head start on naptime.)
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia goes to the corridor, removes the tripwire and returns to Mithril while winding the copper wire back around her wrist. She stands guard over her friend while saying,  "Shiny and the fox." 
achinca
Although Miriam does not want to rest, she respect the group decision.

She will go in a corner and start praying.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

The party decides to bunker down for the time being, awaiting the arrival of their friend Shiny.

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4 

((Well, since the party isn't going anywhere, and I already have the rules for Shiny, I can fast forward us to where he's going.))

Shiny swims through the dark water, very grateful for the bright sword, which helps him navigate the underwater tunnel incredibly.  In about twenty seconds, after a total of one half minute of underwater swimming, Shiny, finds a pocket of air - and even better - a ladder!  The ladder is built into the wall and extends as far down as his legs can reach from the water's surface.  The pocket of air is about four feet high, where the roof above him comes to a close except for a small shaft where the ladder leads.  Shiny can already see that the ladder does not extend too far above the four foot ceiling.
Admiral
Shiny gulps in a few breaths of welcome air as he hits the surface, then starts clambering up the ladder, eager to see what lies ahead.

 
 Spoiler 
If a Climb check is necessary, try taking 10.
 
CoffeeIncluded
At some point before the Charm Person spell expires Natalia returns to the trapdoor, pulls up the kobold, leaves a note to Shiny explaining where they are and what happened (leaving the rope behind for Shiny to climb back up on) and returns to the room with the kobold.
achinca
Miriam will stop her praying and help Natalia pulls up the kobold.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia nods at Miriam's help. When they go into the next room, making sure the kobold doesn't see his dead comrade, she asks about the underwater system that Shiny is making his way through, asking in Draconic,  "Pipes beneath us?" 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 
 "Not pipes.  Maze."   Shiny's charm person spell has four minutes remaining.
Cavelcade
Kurt stands watch over Mithral, walking around the room curiously, looking for any unusual stonework as well as listening for any newcomers.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

Kurt doesn't hear anything but his party.  He doesn't see anything particularily important about a specific element of the room, but he does take note of the high quality of the stonework.  He'd be very surprised if it were kobolds that originally built this.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Maze?"  she asks.  "Where's the cheese?" 
CoffeeIncluded
She figures the spell's about to wear off when the kobold doesn't respond, and so reaches for her rope.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 
 "Where's the cheese?"   The kobold, even in his trance, seems confused by this question.   "Great One, not cheese." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia shakes her head.  "What's the...Maze to the Great Mother?" 
achinca
Miriam goes back to praying. She cannot communicate with the kobold as she does not speak draconic and is waiting for Shiny return.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 
 "Yes.  It is the halfling's first swim in our dungeon.  Either he finds the cheese or drowns."   Again, a creepy grin grows on his face.

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 6 

Shiny climbs up the ladder, relieved to finally be out of the water, up about ten feet.  In front of him is a long slender hallway.  The only light is given off by a candle at the end about twenty-five feet away.  At that point, the path turns left.  There appears to be something on the ground beneath the light.  It looks like a chest.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia turns to Mithril and says,  "Underwater maze, with the Great Mother as cheese."  She turns back to the kobold and asks,  "Know the path?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 
 "Yes.  It is the halfling's first swim in our dungeon.  Either he finds the cheese or drowns."   Again, a creepy grin grows on his face.

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 6 

Shiny climbs up the ladder, relieved to finally be out of the water, up about ten feet.  In front of him is a long slender hallway.  The only light is given off by a candle at the end about twenty-five feet away.  At that point, the path turns left.  There appears to be something on the ground beneath the light.  It looks like a chest. 
 

Remembering the pain of his earlier fall, Shiny resists the overwhelming urge to charge straight for the box. He moves forward while checking each square for traps, and tries to reach the corner, look around, and open the chest.

 
 Spoiler 
Search check-  (1d20+3)[ 22 ] 
 
Athedia
Mithril napped on oblivious to her surroundings, dreams of dancing weasels floating through her head.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 
 "Of course I know the route.  Left left left right left left right straight right straight left right straight left." 
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

((Shiny cannot check for traps, only rogues can))
Shiny walks carefully towards the chest safely arrives.  The chest is unlocked and easily flips open.  Shiny's eyes widen as he finds five hundred gold coins!
achinca
Having finished praying, Miriam looks at the rest of the group. She is here to help people. Sitting in that wet room seems to be making little sense to her. But she knows that she is not that smart so she waits.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Wait to refill Mithril's magic,"  Natalia says to Miriam, though she's not quite certain herself.  "Do you rest?" 
achinca
"  I pray in the morning and if I deserve it, St. Cuthbert give me some of his magic. I can only access Him once a day to refill my cup.  "
CoffeeIncluded
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 
 "Of course I know the route.  Left left left right left left right straight right straight left right straight left."  
 

(OOC: Just saw this now. Wow, I failed a spot check.)

Natalia's eyes widened at how easily he spilled the beans. She says,  "Thank you,"  in Draconic while writing down the directions as fast as she can.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
 Shiny walks carefully towards the chest safely arrives.  The chest is unlocked and easily flips open.  Shiny's eyes widen as he finds five hundred gold coins! 
 

Shiny excitedly pockets the coins- more money than he has ever seen, and continues onward down the corridor.

 
 Spoiler 
I believe it turned to the left- is that accurate?
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 7 

Shiny makes his way down the next corridor and finds a ladder, about fifteen feet long, leading down into more water.
CoffeeIncluded
When Shiny's spell on the kobold ends; Natalia binds and gags their captive again.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - Room 7 

Shiny makes his way down the next corridor and finds a ladder, about fifteen feet long, leading down into more water. 
 

Shiny excitedly climbs down the ladder, hoping this water is no more difficult to pass than the last.

 
 Spoiler 
If its another maze, same rules apply.
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sits beside Mithril, her drawn sword in her lap.
CoffeeIncluded
At some point during the eight-hour wait for Mithril to wake up, Natalia carefully searches the entire room. She also looks in the next hallway, as far as she dares to go while still keeping watch over her friends. She runs her fingers over the cool ragged stone, wondering if she can sense the water beneath them in some way.
Hefty Lefty
Hey everyone.  Summer is busier than I thought.


 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 At some point during the eight-hour wait for Mithril to wake up, Natalia carefully searches the entire room. She also looks in the next hallway, as far as she dares to go while still keeping watch over her friends. She runs her fingers over the cool ragged stone, wondering if she can sense the water beneath them in some way. 
 

When would you say you look into the next hallway (which requires you to pull a lever and go through a door)?  Since Shiny is still in acting in rounds, I want to keep the time connected.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

Shiny dives back into the cold dark water, and after about twenty seconds of swimming, he wonders if perhaps he's been swimming in circles.  But about twenty more seconds later, he finds a new ladder.  His careful planning saved himself from the fate of a few misguided adventures now soaking at the bottom of this passageway.  The ladder he finds is again fifteen feet up, but at the top, he finds a panel and with a hinge.  There doesn't appear to be a lock.
Admiral
Shiny crosses his fingers and slowly opens the panel. He'll proceed out slowly with his rapier held before him.
achinca
Miriam looks at the sleeping Mithril and smiles at Natalia. "  So how do you know her?  "
achinca
Miriam looks at the sleeping Mithril and smiles at Natalia. "  So how do you know her?  "
CoffeeIncluded
 "Just met before the town lockdown. Decided to slip out before the patrols started." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 8 

Shiny lifts the latch into a very large room.  It is relatively well-lit by torches along the walls.  There is a bridge across the room, about seventy feet above Shiny.  The walls and floor are familiarly lined with puddles and water stains.  The top corners of the room appear to be coated in a white web.  Everything has the scent and texture of still water building up over decades.  There is a musty smell in the air.

None of this matters to Shiny, because directly in front of him is a giant spider!  The eight-legged beast is covered in a furry black coat and looks like it could eat four or five gnomes like himself.  The spider turns around and its dark red beady eyes stare right at its next meal.

 
 Spoiler 
 

Roll for initiative!  If you beat a   Initiative  - (1d20+3)[ 4 ]  go first.
 
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Initiative:  (1d20+2)[ 14 ] 
 
Admiral
Shiny snaps into action and manages to catch the spider by surprise. He reaches out his hand and lets forth a dazzling rainbow of colors.

 
 Spoiler 
Casting  color spray  at the spider- DC 15 Will save. Assuming the spider has &lt;= 2 HD, failure means it'll be unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds. (Even if it has more HD than that it'll have other effects, as per the spell description).

This assumes the spider is within 15 feet, which is my interpretation of "directly in front." If that is not the case, Shiny will cast  sleep .

If the spider isn't affected by the spell, Shiny will try slamming the hatch back down above him.
 
achinca
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Just met before the town lockdown. Decided to slip out before the patrols started."  
 

"  Same with me. I meet the fighter and the lying gnome as their Grace were being attacked. I guess St. Cuthbert put us in each other path.  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia glanced at Miriam and Kurt curiously.  "You stopped the...assassination?" 
achinca
Miriam shakes her head and points toward Kurt "  It was over when I arrived. Kurt and Shiny took down the attackers ...  ."
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks significantly at Kurt and his axe. She shudders involuntarily as she imagines just what he could have done to the attackers.
achinca
Miriam smiles at Natalia. "  Yep. Our fighter dwarf is nice and jovial but you don't want to face his axe when he is mad. Anyway, when did  you realize that your calling was tinkering with things?  "
Admiral
When he sees that the spider isn't affected by his spell, Shiny slams the trap door above him and clambers back down the shaft. He knows where his advantages lie, and it's not with his glowing rapier.

He dives back into the water and tries to swim through both labyrinths all the way back to his friends. Perhaps they can come back with him to help if he shows them the way. If they won't fit, at least he can be healed and replenish his spells.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks down at her long slender hands.  "Don't sound it, but I'm quick. See things, break them down, take them apart, jumble them in my mind. See how it works. Metal's...beautiful. Machines and magic and shiny wire snares."  It's more than she said in a while, Natalia' thinks as she winds her copper around her fingers. And so...coherent.

 "Traps are...fascinating. Never see them. Never see Nuts, never expect anything but Nuts. Until the snare shines." 
achinca
Miriam shakes her head in approval but she is not sure she understood every thing Natalia said. She looks at her right in the eyes and says "  Why you are calling yourself Nuts? You are Natalia. You should be proud of it. You are a good person with unique talents. I would love to be able to open a box without having my fingers snapped. But my calling is healing and helping people. I have always felt it in me .....   "
CoffeeIncluded
 "Nuts and Bolts,"  she says with a smile.  "Take the bad and make it mine."  She's curious at what Miriam says.  "Finding your calling? How?" 
achinca
Miriam gives a loving smile to Natalia. "  You are not bad, Natalia. And you should not accept the bad. I always had a strong sense of justice and helping people who needed it. I strongly resent injustice and unfairness. I like to give hope to people who have none. ...  " Her voice trails and she seems to lose herself in her thoughts. "  I met this wonderful man .....  " Her voice trails again and her eyes starts to shine a little. She shakes her head and forces a smile. "  Anyway, it is a story for another day. I know I am here to help and heal .....  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia figures it's probably best not to press. She'd never met a man who liked her back, but whatever happened to this man was probably very bad. Instead, she touches Miriam's shoulder and says.  "Thanks...we'll need it. All us." 
achinca
Miriam smiles back "  Nah... What I do is easy. You are the one with all the pressure and the skills ....  "
CoffeeIncluded
Reminded of her failure, Natalia wraps her arms around her legs.  "Haven't proved it." 
achinca
Miriam gets up and goes give a hug to Natalia. "  Yes you have. You have kept us safe ....   "
CoffeeIncluded
 "Shiny and the pit,"  she says shaking her head.
achinca
She smiles. "  Not your fault. Kurt was first. He was the one who activated the trap. And I could heal Shiny. No problem at all.  "
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

Finding his way back through the underwater maze proves much more difficult then going forward.  To make matters worse, just after beginning Shiny's return trip, his lighted rapier turns dull.  In a panic, he hustles back to the ladder with the latch above it.
CoffeeIncluded
Come to think of it... "Where is Shiny?" 
Admiral
Shiny shrugs.   "As my mother used to say, 'When you can't go back, there's nowhere to go but forward,'"   he thinks.   "And she was the first gnome to circumnavigate the continent by swimming, so she would know."   (At his most nervous, Shiny starts lying even to himself).

Shiny climbs back up the ladder and pops the hatch open, this time more quietly and slowly. If he's lucky, the spider might have moved on and he can try sneaking past. If he's not, his rapier is at the ready.
Admiral
 
 Spoiler 
Move Silently check:  (1d20+2)[ 6 ] 
 
achinca
Miriam's face starts to look nervous at Natalia's question "  You are correct. He has been gone ofr a long time. He must have lost his source of light by now. He should be back.  "

She looks at Kurt and Natalia "  What should we do?  "
CoffeeIncluded
Behind her the kobold is glaring at them, but Natalia ignores it. She asks Miriam,  "Your magic light?" 
achinca
A feeling of uselessness takes over Miriam. "  I am sorry. I did not ask St. Cuthbert to grant me the power to cast that spell today .....  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia frowns, then begins tearing apart the room for any source of magical light (or scroll, or whatever) that they can take with them. As she rummages, she says,  "Help allies, but leave Mithril and Kurt? Maybe retreat until Shiny's found?" 

Being with these people, away from the teasing back home, helps her think...more clearly.
achinca
"  I have torches but they would not work in the water. May be Shiny can swim back to a light?  "

Miriam starts to look stressed out, unsure of what to do and feeling useless as an ally is in danger.
Cavelcade
Kurt frowns a bit at that, nodding as well.  "He should be back but...I don't think we can really do much to help him other than sit tight  until one of us can swim to meet him. 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia continues rummaging through the room.  "Can we?" 
Cavelcade
Looking at the door, stroking his magnificent beard.  "It's that or march through the door and see if we can find another ladder down, and see if he's down that one. Hm. 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Light in the dark?"  The kobolds could see in the dark, but just maybe there was something here for a humanoid...though she doubted it. Natalia was quickly realizing that the halfling and kobold duo who made the machines and taught her the traps, who helped her fall in love with hissing steam and clicking levers and whirring gears, were a rarity.
achinca
Miriam listens to Natalia and Kurt and finally chimes in.

"  I am a young girl and I do not know much about anything but I think we should wait until Mithril wakes up. If by then, Shiny has not returned, that means that he is prisoner or worse. We can go then on a rescue mission and then get the jewels or whatever we are looking in this St. Cuthbert forsaken place.  "
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4 

Natalia doesn't find any magical source of light in the room.  Aside from the three mundane torches, the kobold corpse, and the door and the lever, there is nothing special about this room.

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 8 

The spider has not moved from its original location, but it easily hears the gnome open the latch, and it stares down its prey.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sighs and gives up when she finds nothing.  "Best idea, Miriam,"  she says.
Admiral
Shiny looks around the room to see if he can spot any exit, or a hiding spot that he could use to escape from the spider. If the spider charges at him while he's looking around, he'll slam the door.

 
 Spoiler 
Spot check:  (1d20-2)[ 1 ] 
 
Admiral
Not seeing anything that he could use, Shiny closes the latch again. Time to try his luck in the maze again.

Shiny climbs down the ladder and plops into the water. He closes his eyes for a moment and focuses as hard as he can on remembering the twists and turns of the maze, especially the dead ends he'd gone through on his previous attempt to escape. He also prepares himself to memorize the path he tries now.

Shiny casts  dancing lights , takes in a deep breath of air, and then immediately plunges into the water.

 
 Spoiler 
Shiny will follow the lights for 30 seconds, or five rounds (20 feet per round), then go back and get air so that he reaches it before the lights go out. He'll make choices based on his memory of the maze and what paths he hasn't tried yet. If you want to draw the maze I'd be happy to play it that way, or I could make an Int check.

ETA: In case it's not clear, I'm having the dancing lights follow me to show me the way.
 
Cavelcade
Kurt nods as well with a sigh.  "It's annoying not to be able to help, isn't it Miriam?"   Grunts and takes a seat then, leaning against the wall as they await the return of Shiny, or the awakening of Mithril.
achinca
Miriam give a sour smile at Kurt. "  Yes Kurt. It is so frustrating to know that people might be in danger and not being able to do anything about it. It goes against the fabric of who I am.  "

With her head, she points to the sleeping Mithril "  We are going to have to manage the Sleeping Beauty here. We cannot stop as soon as she has wasted all her magic. We could have rescued Shiny by now ....  "
CoffeeIncluded
 "Right,"  says Natalia.  "I said wait until the cup is drained." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4 

The party continues to wait...

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

Shiny again leaves the giant spider behind.  A smart move.  He dives into the water with more magical light and swims out to investigate the first half of his return route.  By the end of the first thirty seconds, when he had planned to turn around, he finds a fifteen foot ladder.  It looks similar to the one he descended after leaving the hallway with the chest of gold.
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Hefty Lefty 
  Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4 

The party continues to wait...

 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

Shiny again leaves the giant spider behind.  A smart move.  He dives into the water with more magical light and swims out to investigate the first half of his return route.  By the end of the first thirty seconds, when he had planned to turn around, he finds a fifteen foot ladder.  It looks similar to the one he descended after leaving the hallway with the chest of gold. 
 

Shiny clambers right up the ladder, hoping he can make it to the top before his light runs out.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 5 

Shiny goes up the ladder.  The hallway in front of him appears to be the same one he left earlier.  He spies the still-opened chest in front of him just before the light goes out.
Admiral
Shiny gets down on his knees and crawls along in the darkness- he knows where he is now and he doesn't want to waste a moment of the precious light he has left.When he finds the turn he takes it, and crawls along checking very carefully in front of him for the ladder back down.

If he finds the return ladder, he'll take his time climbing on to it and climbing down until he reaches the water. Once he does, he casts  dancing lights  again and dives under, once again trying to navigate the maze to get back to the start (and ready to return if thirty seconds runs out).
CoffeeIncluded
Finally giving up, Natalia sits down and waits for Shiny to return. She's quickly bored, and finds herself occasionally nodding off. When she jerks her head upright, she sees that everyone else has started napping too. Natalia shifts position, and waits for someone else to wake up or walk in before resting herself.
achinca
Miriam falls asleep and the familiar dream starts again .... It all begin with a beautiful sunshine and Calric's face smiling on her. They walk in a flower field holding hands and they see a peaceful farm. As they walk toward it, the weather become stormy. They keep walking towards the farm but the rain is now tiny knives falling on her. When they finally arrive to the farm, all the cannibals inhabitants are dead and Calric is lying in her arm, dying. He says " do good and right the wrong because it is the right thing to do, not because you expect anything in return "

She wakes up all sweaty. "  Is it my turn to watch?  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia sits upright, startled by heavy breathing behind her. She turns around to find Miriam almost gasping for air, her face shiny with sweat. Natalia looks at the cleric with concern and says,  "Prefer waking over sleep?" 
achinca
Miriam's nods at Natalia. "  Yes. My dreams are .... how do I say it .... not pleasant. I am reminded of my past and my mistakes .... St. Cuthbert is testing me ... to prove to Him that I am worthy of his divine magic .....  "

However, the tone of her voice is more unsure than the words she says.
CoffeeIncluded
 "...Hate bad dreams,"  Natalia eventually says.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 4 

In a filthy, dripping, moldy aquatic nest of kobolds, spiders, and other "Great Mother" beasties, the party somehow finds sleep.  They comfort themselves with the knowledge that one of their members is looking out for them.  First it is Natalia, whose soft pacing does little to disturb the sleep of her mates.  She's lost in thought about twenty minutes in and barely hears the scrambling footsteps from up the stairs.  Her stomach turns in a knot.  She grabs her weapon and readies for an attack.  The steps grow louder and quicker.  She braces for impact... but it is only her party's faithful gnome friend.  A soaking wet Shiny finally meets with the party.  He shares his stories with Natalia before doing his best to dry off and go to sleep.  The party cycles through their planned sleep patterns, each one being pleasantly surprised to find their new member.  In what you believe is the morning, the five party members are awake and united again.

((Feel free to roleplay whatever happens during the night, but whenever you want, you may continue.))
CoffeeIncluded
 "Shiny!"  Natalia shouts, quickly quieting herself so Mithril does not wake. She hands him the paper with the route the kobold told her.  "Path to the Great Mother." 
Athedia
Mithril woke up surprised to see Shiny back.    "When did you get back here?  Did you find anything?"    She stretched working out the kinks she had gotten from sleeping on a cold floor.
achinca
Miriam sees Shiny behind Natalia and jumps to give him a huge hug. "  SHiny! You are alive! Thanks  you St. Cuthbert for listeing to my prayers. I was so worried  ."

Then she lets the gnome go and takes a steps back. "  hum... well I am just glad that halflings everywhere still have a qualified public defender to represent their interests in a court of law ....  "

She turns red and moves away.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Secrets in the maze? We all waited."  She doesn't really want to say that Mithril was also a major reason for their stop.
Admiral
Shiny takes a deep bow, water dripping off his tussled hair.  "Shiny Deepwater, world champion diver and failed architect, at your service."  He speaks in a quiet voice as well, to avoid waking the others.

He nearly collapses onto the floor out of fatigue, but manages to tell his story.  "I swam through two terrifying mazes, before I found an enormous spider blocking my way- one immune to my magic,"  he says, gasping.  "Oh, and I found this along the way!" 

He pulls out the bag of gold and lays it down on the floor.  "500 pieces of gold. It was 1000 when I found it, but on my way back here I bet on the wrong horse at the racetrack. What did you folks do?" 

Unable to stay upright any longer, he slouches to the floor and curls up.  "Never mind, tell me in the morning." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia gapes at the gold, but isn't quite sure if Shiny's telling the truth about the spider. Nevertheless, she says,  "Found the true path,"  before Shiny falls asleep.
Admiral
From the floor, Shiny grabs the sheet.  "Oh! I can't tell if this is the same path I took, but I'm sure I'll figure it out by morning, or could try again."  He says all this with his eyes firmly closed, while still curled up and ready to sleep.
Athedia
Mithril walked over to Miriam   "I know I rather slowed everyone down yesterday, and I apologize.  Maybe today we can work together for spells, so I don't study anything you are going to pray for.  You have a much better grasp of what is needed for things like this"  
Cavelcade
Kurt, once asleep, has a very magical ability of his own - the ability to sleep through any amount of noise and activity short of someone kicking him. Thus he is managing to miss the rather interesting return of Shiny as well as the discussions going on around him.


(( OOC: And thus his mysterious silence is explained. ))
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia agrees with a nod.  "Better to specialize. Shiny's masks, my rope. No need to mimic." 
achinca
Miriam goes into a corner and prays. After that she returns to the group, smiling "  I can cast Light, Guidance, Read Magic, Obscuring Mist, Divine Favor and either Enlarge Person or Sanctuary and well as healing. Hopefully this will be the right selection  ."
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia bites her lip.  "Fog affects everyone, right?" 
achinca
Miriam nods "  Yes. It is a protection. It hides us and it hides us. This is in case we face a bigger threat than we can handle.  "
Athedia
Mithril went back to her corner and started to study.  After she was done she walked over to Miriam,  "I think my spells will compliment your choice,well you seemed to have covered the defense, I have the offense under control. "  
 
 Spoiler 
 2 Acid Splash, 1 Ray of Frost, 1 Mage Armor, 1 Magic Missile
 
CoffeeIncluded
As before, Natalia peers over Mithril's shoulder as the wizard prepares her spells. She says,  "New day, new luck." 
CoffeeIncluded
At some point, when they're all prepared, Natalia pulls the lever.
Cavelcade
Kurt, awake at this time, readies his axe just in case something comes through - like a huge scary spider for instance.
achinca
Miriam has her mace ready, just in case ......
Admiral
After his restful night of sleep, Shiny leaps up. He stands behind Kurt, ready for action- though he can't help wondering if he'll need to head back down through the tunnels before long.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos - Room 9 

The party opens the door.  Natalia finds herself in front of a long, five-foot wide path.  The edges of the path quickly drop off to a very long fall.  Down below is wet, puddly stone floor.  A wooden trap door is guarded by a giant furry spider, larger than any spider anyone in the party has ever seen.  Well, perhaps not Shiny.
Admiral
Shiny points down and starts hopping up and down almost involuntarily.  "That's the spider! That's the spider!"  he whispers excitedly.
Athedia
  "Oops, well seems like we don't need to swim"   Mithril said looking at the narrow path and the drops on either side.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia pales at the steep drop and spider beneath. Evidently Shiny wasn't lying. She looks at the path before her. It's clear, and wide enough for her and the rest of the group to cross without any trouble, but she doesn't want to take any chances.

Natalia ties one end of the rope around her waist in a harness and the other end around the bridge; if she's knocked off by a trap she'll swing above the spider and be able to climb back up. The rogue motions for the others to follow and begins to search for traps as they go.

(Prepares for fail)
Search:  (d20+8)[ 15 ] 

EDIT: See? See?
achinca
Miriam looks nervous. "  Spiders! Why did it have to be spiders! Should we tie each other with one rope in case one of us slips? Should we shot the spider from here?  "

OOC: Where is the kobold?
Cavelcade
Kurt stares down with a shiver, shaking his head grimly to get rid of the awful mental images that pop up at the sight of a spider that big.  "I think...if it's happy down there then I'm happy with it down there too." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos 

The party shimmies across the platform, apparently free of traps.  They make it to the other side of the bridge where they find another large stone door.
CoffeeIncluded
The search for traps helps distract Natalia from the spider beneath, but not entirely. When they get to the other side she shudders and says,  "No flies today." 

Natalia searches the door for traps (take 20 for 28). If there aren't any, she removes the rope, slings it around her, and opens the door.
CoffeeIncluded
The search for traps helps distract Natalia from the spider beneath, but not entirely. When they get to the other side she shudders and says,  "No flies today." 

Natalia searches the door for traps (take 20 for 28). If there aren't any, she removes the rope, slings it around her, and opens the door.
Cavelcade
Kurt nods happily at that, peering over at that spider again.  "Yes that worked out pretty well I thought..." 
CoffeeIncluded
As Natalia searches the door, she voices a concern that suddenly comes to her.  "Why a giant spider here? Moved in, or a guard?" 
Athedia
  "Maybe an escaped pet?   Mithril shivered at the thought.
CoffeeIncluded
 "...Rather not see that familiar's wizard,"  Natalia says eventually,  "Whiskers is nicer." 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos 

Natalia checks the door.  There doesn't appear to be any traps... or a lever to open it, either...
CoffeeIncluded
The rogue's smile falters when she realizes that the door is completely devoid of an opening mechanism as well as traps.  "Uh...Uncooperative door." 

She takes a long look at the rest of the room. (OOC: Do I have to roll for spot here? And is it possible to force this door open?)
achinca
Miriam is glad that the spider stayed below.

When Natalia summarizes the situation, she says "  Is the door locked? Can it be pushed in?  '
Admiral
Shiny thinks silently for a moment (it's not a good look for him).  "The kobold said someone would have to go through the tunnels if you were to proceed forward. I'm guessing the way to open that door is somewhere down there."  He points downward towards the spider and the tunnel.  "Luckily we can take a shortcut- you can let me down on a rope from here!" 

He thinks for a moment.  "Maybe we should kill the spider from up here first. It's been a long time since Shiny Arachnobane, spider-killer and dread pirate, fought a spider that size." 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia thinks.  "Or lure the spider..."  Something that big is probably dripping with venom; she's been on the receiving end of a spider bite before and it's not an experience she wants to repeat. Especially with one several times larger than her.

She looks around to see if there's another lever in the area (prepares for fail).
Spot:  (d20+5)[ 25 ] 

(EDIT: Whoohoo! Except that now it's going to be a totally unnecessary spot check, right?)
Cavelcade
 "If the spider doesn't want to come up you can lower me down. I'm good at getting things' attention."  Not that Kurt really wants to, though he can't seem to take his eyes off the monstrous thing now that they've stopped moving.
Athedia
  "We could attack it from up here Kurt, I would rather you didn't get hurt when we can prevent it."   Mithril peered over the ledge at the spider   "And that spider looks nasty."  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia looks at Mithril and asks,  "Any magic lightning today?" 
Athedia
  "A bit but it will not hit hard, probably just annoy it."   Mithril shrugged and adjusted her quarterstaff in case she need to cast.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grins and holds out her wrist--the one with the long copper wire bracelet.  "Fishing with volts." 

(OOC: The copper wire is long, about 50 feet. And it's  copper.  I think it's obvious what Natalia's intending to have Mithril do with this.)
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 (OOC: The copper wire is long, about 50 feet. And it's  copper.  I think it's obvious what Natalia's intending to have Mithril do with this.) 
 

 
 Spoiler 
I don't follow- she doesn't have any lightning spells.
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos 

Down about seventy to one hundred feet beneath the bridge they stand on, there appears to be a stone lever next to another stone door.  The spider stands with its back to both of these.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia quiets down, tapping on everyone's shoulder and pointing in the direction of the other lever and door.

 "Lever,"  she whispers when they're close enough to hear.  "Open with the rope like outside? Two rope lengths away..." 
Admiral
Shiny scratches his head and grins.  "I think we have an easier way."  He produces the slings they took from the kobolds the previous day, and presents them to Kurt.

 "Perhaps you could do the honors, muscleman?" 
 
 Spoiler 
How many bullets did the kobolds have?
 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Try sneaking past it first?" 
CoffeeIncluded
 "Try sneaking past it first?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
  "Try sneaking past it first?"  
 

 "You don't to kill it? It's just a spider. Everyone kills spiders."  Moments later he adds a quiet and thoughtful   "squish..."  
CoffeeIncluded
She looks again at the large spider.  "Could squish us." 
achinca
Miriam shakes her head. "  As I said earlier, we could have tried to shoot it from here.  "

She points to her crossbow in her back, with an annoyed look on her face ....
CoffeeIncluded
 "Saved the day!"  Natalia exclaims with a grin. She holds out her hand and asks,  "May I?" 
achinca
Miriam smiles and give her crossbow and bolts to Natalia. "  Be my guest Sister!  "
CoffeeIncluded
Looking at Shiny, Natalia draws the crossbow and says,  "Ready?" 

(OOC:

 Is this spider large or huge?  Natalia only attacks if it's Large. 

 The spider doesn't know we're here, which means that it doesn't have a dexterity bonus to AC, which means it's sneak attack time!)

(Prepares for fail)
Attack:  (d20+3)[ 10 ]  (EDIT: Wait! I have high ground, right? That gives me a +1, which means that I rolled an  11.  Please please please tell me that makes the DC; I rolled nearly max damage...)
Crit confirm (as if that's gonna happen):   (d20+3)[ 11 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 8 ]  plus Sneak Attack!  (d6)[ 5 ] 
CoffeeIncluded
Looking at Shiny, Natalia draws the crossbow and says,  "Ready?" 

(OOC:

 Is this spider large or huge?  Natalia only attacks if it's Large. 

 The spider doesn't know we're here, which means that it doesn't have a dexterity bonus to AC, which means it's sneak attack time!)

(Prepares for fail)
Attack:  (d20+3)[ 9 ] 
Crit confirm (as if that's gonna happen):   (d20+3)[ 10 ] 
Damage: [d8] plus Sneak Attack! [d6]
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos 

The spider hisses and ducks out of the way of the bolt.  Whatever surprise attack the party might have had, they threw away by yelling from atop the bridge.  The bolt plunks to the ground right where the creature's eyes would have been.  It scurries to the other side of the room.

 
 Spoiler 
 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Appearing for a moment as if she's going to loudly curse and hurl the crossbow to the ground, Natalia instead clenches the weapon and sighs. Rubbing her hand over her eyes, she tries again.

Attack:  (d20+2)[ 6 ] 
Crit confirm:  (d20+2)[ 19 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 8 ]  Plus Sneak Attack just in case, though I doubt it because frankly my luck sucks and I lost my chance to take out half its health in one shot because I was 1 under the DC apparently when I thought I had just made it:  (d6)[ 3 ] 

...
*Sobs*
Can you please please please switch the two attack rolls? Just this once?
achinca
Miriam puts her hand on Natalia's shoulder, trying to recomfort her and calm her down. "Breathes and relax Sister. You are doing fine. You will kill that critter!"

Aid Anoter to hit (if alowed by DM):

 (1d20+1)[ 14 ]  (unsure of the modifier) if &gt;=10, succeeds.
Hefty Lefty
((You can only Aid Another on a skill check, sorry.))
Cavelcade
Kurt takes the sling and the bullets then, peering over the edge again and taking aim with his eye, standing relaxed before sending the bullet towards one the spider's creepy creepy eyes.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+2)[ 13 ] 
Roll to confirm critical:  (1d20+2)[ 18 ] 
Damage:  (1d20+2)[ 10 ] 
 
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos 

The bullet flings down from the bridge and bashes the spider on its large, bulbous back.  It hisses again and starts to climb up the side of the wall.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia blanches; her face turns white, creating a disturbing contrast with her ink-black hair. She picks up the crossbow and starts firing as fast as she can.

(And of course none of them are going to hit because the laws of probability don't give two ****s where I'm involved. And any that hit will hit for like 1 damage or something.)

Attack:  (d20+2)[ 16 ] 
Crit confirm (unnecessary since I'll miss every time):  (d20+2)[ 9 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 7 ] 

OOC: Huh, what did you know, it actually worked for once. 🫤
Admiral
Shiny grins and pumps a fist when he sees the bolt hit.  "Kurt and Nuts, squish and squash!"  he shouts. Despite the sling in his hand, he seems content to play cheerleader for the party.
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia grins at Shiny and the rest of the party as well.  "Too big to squash, but not too big for this!" 

She looks at Mithril with a smile and says,  "Waiting for a closer shot?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt grimaces at the sound and again at the sight of all those legs moving.  "Let's just try and kill it before it gets here, okay?"  He quickly reloads and shoots again.  "Shiny could you hold my axe for me, I don't want to have to take it out when that thing gets here?" 
 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+2)[ 3 ] 

Crit:  (1d20+2)[ 9 ] 

Damage:  (1d20+4)[ 24 ] 
 


OOC: Oh come on, max damage and an automatic miss? That's just...agh.
achinca
Miriam watches the two heroes hit the spider and cheers each hit. She hopes the spider is dead before it reaches the bridge.
CoffeeIncluded
Spurred on be her success at last, Natalia fires again.

Attack:  (d20+2)[ 5 ] 
Crit confirm:  (d20+2)[ 20 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 1 ]  plus Sneak Attack:  (d6)[ 5 ] 

EDIT: Okay, this isn't funny. 😡 (Also, I accidentally did a bad roll on this and the next post, so I removed it. Sorry.)
CoffeeIncluded
(OOC: Wait!  Hefty, please add Sneak Attack damage to my last hit:  (d6)[ 6 ] ) 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by Cavelcade 
  "Shiny could you hold my axe for me, I don't want to have to take it out when that thing gets here?"  
 

 "You got it!"  Shiny says, grabbing the greataxe from Kurt.  "And I can always take a swing with it myself,"  he adds, just as the weight of the axe almost topples him over.
Hefty Lefty
((I'm confused, Coffee, with your last attack.  If you missed, you missed.  Sorry.))

 Shrine of Aquatos 

The spider continues to climb up the wall.  It's about forty feet off the ground, now, and looking much weaker than a minute ago.
Cavelcade
Kurt just shakes his head and laughs at Shiny.  "Just don't fall off."  He then takes aim again, more carefully this time before loosing.

 
 Spoiler 

Attack:  (1d20+2)[ 15 ] 
Crit:  (1d20+2)[ 9 ] 
Damage:  (1d20+4)[ 17 ] 
 
CoffeeIncluded
Gulping at the oncoming threat yet bolstered by its wounds, Natalia smiles at her teammates and tries to hit the spider again this time (which of course she won't).

Attack:  (d20+2)[ 12 ] 
Crit confirm:  (d20+2)[ 12 ] 
Damage:  (d8)[ 4 ]  plus Sneak Attack  (d6)[ 4 ] 
Athedia
  "Looks like you folks, got this part down."   Mithril relaxed a little, with Kurt's strength and Natalia borrowing Miriam's crossbow the spider should be dead soon, with no need for her to "empty the cup" as Natalia put it.  Mithril looked at the web wishing she had a torch instead of her lamp.  One good throw and it would be spider heaven for the creepy crawler.
achinca
Miriam smiles as the group is finally bonding and defeating the spider. She has been totally useless but she is fine with it. Calric taught her that healers and helpers are usually in the background. They don't shine. They just help. They need to be reliable and suits her fine.
Hefty Lefty
 Shrine of Aquatos 

Splat!  With one more strike from Kurt, the giant spider explodes across the room in a disgusting mess of black and brown guts and spider pieces.  Its large body plummets off the wall to the ground, leaving a long brown stain on the gray wall.  A large pool of guts quickly forms on the bottom floor beneath the bridge.
Athedia
  "That was...disgusting"   Mithril wrinkled her nose at the long smear of destroyed spider.    "Congratulations Kurt and Natalia, good job.  Is there anything we need here? The web? Spider guts? Was it poisonous?"  

(OCC: Knowledge Check Nature  (1d20+5)[ 9 ]  to see if Mithril knows anything about spiders)
achinca
"  Good job heroes. Someone goes down to see if we can open the door from there ....   "
Admiral
 "OOOH! OOOH!"  The party is treated to the familiar sight of an eager Shiny hopping up and down while raising his hand.

 "But we don't know what's behind that door. Someone else should come with me... a spiderkiller. Do you think we could all climb down if we tie the rope to something? And would we be able to climb back up?" 
Cavelcade
Kurt considers it for a moment before getting down to examine the bridge.  "....maybe we could tie it here? I think that would work best myself...I'll just check to see if it's safe..."  Using his keen dwarven senses to examine the stonework on the bridge to see if it's stable.
achinca
Miriam recuperates the crossbow from Natalia. "  Well done sister. How many bolts did you use?  "

"  Can you see if there is a build in ladder or a rope ladder or stone stairs? The builders of this temple must have made a way down. I wonder how the spider stayed alive .... What was its source of food?  "

She tries to spot something that would help making the trip down easier.

Spot Check:
 (1d20+4)[ 21 ] 
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia laughs a little as she sees the spider explode, then pumps her fist in the air.

 "Thanks everyone,"  she says to the group, flashing a second smile at Mithril for her complement.  "Five, I think,"  she says to Miriam while handing back the bolts.

She leans over the ledge and says to Mithril,  "Bitten by a spider, hand swelled up, useless meat for the week. Could be useful for us."  Natalia also looks at the bound kobold and says,  "So, the spider?"  and waits to see their captive's reaction.

She also responds to Shiny and Kurt by holding up the silk rope securing her to the bridge and says,  "Rappel down and climb up, but we need two." 
Admiral
 "We need the ropes back? Say no more!" 

Shiny spins around, and trots back to the bound kobold.  "Remember me, old friend?"  he says cheerfully, right before he casts his charm.

 
 Spoiler 
 Charm person,  Will save DC 15, he gets +5. Shiny does it quickly, before anyone can object or stop him.
 
achinca
Miriam smiles as Shiny charms the kobold. She knows that Shiny will not put him into harm's purposely.
CoffeeIncluded
 "Wh--Hey!"  Natalia shouts in protest as Shiny interrupts her to cast his spell.  "...I was talking..." 
CoffeeIncluded
Throwing her hands down at her sides, Nuts looks to Mithril for help when it becomes clear that Mirian's okay with this. It's not that Shiny charmed the kobold so much as he did it in the middle of a conversation.
achinca
Miriam taps Natalia on the shoulder "  It is ok Natalia. The lying gnome is very impulsive and lacks manners but his heart is in a good place. He did not mean to interrupt you. He just get an idea and do it. Don't take it personally.  "
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia just sighs. Magic is a wonderful, amazing, awe-inspiring thing, but it's also dangerous. Shiny slings around these useful but frankly unnerving spells without any regard for anyone else, while Mithril is more prudent with magic. Maybe that's because...

 "Shiny,"  she asks.  "Born with the magic, or did you have to grasp it on your own?" 
Admiral
 
 Originally Posted by CoffeeIncluded 
 Natalia just sighs. Magic is a wonderful, amazing, awe-inspiring thing, but it's also dangerous. Shiny slings around these useful but frankly unnerving spells without any regard for anyone else, while Mithril is more prudent with magic. Maybe that's because...

 "Shiny,"  she asks.  "Born with the magic, or did you have to grasp it on your own?"  
 

While waiting to see the effect the spell has on the kobold, Shiny looks over his shoulder at Natalia.  "Neither, actually. It was a freak accident involving a lightning storm, a dwarven card game, and a truckload of dragon meat." 
Athedia
Mithril spoke up at hearing Shiny's newest tale.   "Natalia, don't worry.  I am mostly sure that he is lying, although magic can be strange....  
CoffeeIncluded
Natalia's stunned silenc0e, where she's not quite sure whether to say something or start laughing, ends as she nods and says,  "Thank you,"  to Mithril's explanation. So that explained it. Shiny was probably born with the magic while Mithril...

 "You struggled for the magic,"  she says.  "Worked for it and made it your own. You're amazing." 
Athedia
Mithril laughed,   "Not so much, I was tutored and learned mostly from my teacher, but only because I turned my brother green after learning how from some books.  It didn't come as naturally for me, but I didn't struggle.  I guess Boccob decided to bless me."    Even though Mithril spoke jokingly about her magic, she realized that she had never really thought about it.  She knew the spells alright, she had worked hard to learn them, but was she born with magic?  She had always been inquisitive, but that didn't explain it.  She spoke again hesitantly,    "I don't think I really know...."  
CoffeeIncluded
 "Maybe not quite struggled,"  she says sheepishly.  "...Green? Like your shirt?" 
Cavelcade
 "As in, with envy."  Kurt shrugs a little.  "You have to be careful making people jealous. Can make them...rash."  Subsiding again after a moment.
Athedia
  "More like a lime actually"   Mithril blushed, a little embarrassed to tell the story   "And I wasn't jealous or envious.  He was being mean to me."  
achinca
Miriam chips in "  My magic comes directly from my connection with St. Cuthbert. As long as I follow his teaching, I am able through my prayers to channel the divine magic gods have. So I learned to do so but the ability to channel it was in me.  "
CoffeeIncluded
 "Good as tree snares,"  she says with a snort.  "Maybe both, so nobody finds them until night." 
CoffeeIncluded
In any case, somehow Natalia gets the rope off the kobold (if the charm doesn't work, she has another person restrain the captive), ties both ropes together, ties one end around the bridge, and lets the other end fall to the ground.
flat_footed
  The Fullmetal Mod   : Raise Thread 