CHAPTER 1: Into the Hillside

[Norjax]

...

Luke, Einstein and Knuckles leave the rusted iron column and head into the northern corridor. The 5ft wide passage opens into a 15ft wide by 40ft room that descends with 4in steps approximately every 10ft and turns a corner to the right. A dim light source shines from around the corner. A 5ft square pillar supports the ceiling at the far end. A 5ft wide by 10ft long pit hugs the western wall of the room.

The smell of decay enters your nostrils upon entering this room. Aged wall frescoes cover the polygonal blocks of the masonry walls. Although chipped and somewhat eroded, the scenes captured are still descernable; Kobold warriors and shamans worshipping the Spider Devil, known to them as Muk-Karnu.

Buckminster and Loretta leave the carrion cavern and move to the other unexplored passage. They trek forward for 30ft until the narrow, 3-5ft natural rock avenue narrows, tapers and finally ends in unworked dirt and stone.

Ralph and Terryk join with Aryan into the northern corridor. Arya is annoyed that the two are inpatient and don’t seen concerned with potential traps and pitfalls. She does her best, trying to detect unseen hazards. (Die roll by DM)

Ruby trails the others north.

Derrek expresses his frustration on the lack of shiny treasure and shakes his head at LePlank.

***

Tiberius and Anne are startled by a 14ft black snake that drops from a hidden tunnel above the pool. The serpent strikes at Tiberius, but the dwarf backs away and avoids the toothed maw of the legless reptile! (Miss)

Zeek hears the commotion as he begins to exit the water cavern.

MAP 23


Combat Details:

Snake Int = [1d20+3] = 13+3 = 16
Snake = [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6 atk., [1d4] = 1 dmg.

OOC: Due to the split groups in the party, I will account for delayed reactions accordingly. Until someone yells an alarm from under the grating hole, those upstairs will be unaware of the combat.

Actions?

Light Sources: Torch (Loreta), Torch (Anne), Torch (Terryk), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [15]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Ralph 1/1 [6]
Terryk 1/1 [13]
Buckminster 1/1 [12]
Loreta 1/5 [17]

Zeek 5/5 [12]
Tiberius 2/2 [13]
LePlank 3/3 [10]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[rossik]

"GAAAH, SNAKE!" Tiberius shout. He tries his best to hit the creature!
[1d20] = 11[1d4+1] = 4+1 = 5 (OCC: the note say 1d4+1 for damage, so i assumed the Lucky sign bonus is that +1. Otherwise, i have another +1)

Anne almost sheet herself, so start running for help. She is sure sir Honkalot the Brave will be safe.

Zeek come to help! He raises his fork and swoosh against the evil doer
[1d20] = 3[1d8] = 4

LePlank joins the big group, unaware of the danger. He tries to inspect the walls for mysterious things

[Urson]

Arya continues her search. She calls to the ones who have rushed past her, What you're doing is a good way to get killed in some horrible fashion. But- it does make my job easier, since you're likely to trigger any deathtraps before I find them.

Derrek and Ruby follow the others. Ruby dawdles, easily distracted by anything. Derrek hurries, trying to catch up with the leaders.

[drpete]

Luke calls back to Arya "You're right, but someone has been through here recently... they moved the gate, and triggered the traps... bet somebody is in this pit hew..."

Luke, Einstein and Knuckles fan out... Luke by the east wall, Einstein on the left, and Knuckles up the middle. They go to the edge of the step with the pit on it. Einstein will look down into the pit, and Luke and Knuckles will check to see how sturdy the floor to the left of the pit is...

[shaidar]

Hearing call calls for help Buckminster and Loretta rush to assist (although they'd stay out of melee range of the snake, if possible)

Ralph and Terryk watch the 3 others examine the pit. They keep a look out while the others work, ready to assist if needed.

[Norjax]

...

Tiberius swings his staff at the black-scaled snake. (Miss) The slithering serpent avoids the dwarf’s strike and counter attacks.

• The snake strikes at Tiberius, but the dwarf continues to dodge the giant serpent! (Miss)
  
  Combat Details, Round 2:
  Snake Int = [1d20+3] = 6+3 = 9
  Snake = [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4 atk., [1d4] = 3 dmg.

Anne’s shock causes her to turn and run for help. She heads back out into the dead snake room and yells down the next passage for help. She continues to the rope and hole in the ceiling, yelling up to those above. She’s puzzled by an iron grate that covers the opening. (She used her action to make a second 30ft movement. Those above may react to Anne’s call next round.)

Zeek charges in, past Anne, to help the mushroom farmer. He jabs the snake with his pitchfork, but misses due to the lack of light caused by Anne leaving with the torch. (-4 to hit; Miss)

LePlank inspects the walls around the group in the northern room. (Die roll by DM)

Arya continues to search the room. (Die roll by DM)

Derrek and Ruby gather in the stepped room with the others.

Einstein slowly walks to the edge and looks into the pit. 10ft below, he sees two bodies impaled by iron spikes. The condition of the remains indicates they were killed a few months ago.

Luke and Knuckles carefully test the sturdiness of the floor to the right of the pit. Initial indications conclude the polygonal floor is solid and stout. (Die roll by DM)

Buckminster and Loretta hear Anne’s cry for help. They rush back out of the dead-end tunnel, see Anne run east, and hook into the west tunnel towards the pool. (Both spend their actions making a second 30ft move.)

MAP 24

Initiative and Actions?

Light Sources: Torch (Loreta), Torch (Anne), Torch (Terryk), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [15]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Ralph 1/1 [6]
Terryk 1/1 [13]
Buckminster 1/1 [12]
Loretta 1/5 [17]

Zeek 5/5 [12]
Tiberius 2/2 [13]
LePlank 3/3 [10]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[Urson]

Arya looks down into the pit, also. Not that recently, judging by the stench, she says.

Derrek joins the others at the edge of the pit. Maybe they had something we can use... He studies the visible part of the pit walls, looking for a way to climb down.

Ruby makes a disgusted sound when she smells the corpses, and stays well back from the pit. She casually begins looking at the walls of the stepped room.

[drpete]

Einstein helps Derrek climb down by lowering him down into the pit.

Knuckles slowly heads across the sturdy ground to the next step, which he prods to see if it is sturdy.

Luke joins Ruby in investigating the frescoes.

[Urson]

addendum:

Derrek protests I didn't mean _ME!_ but still allows himself to be lowered among the spikes.

[rossik]

"Argh, damn worm!" Tiberius attacks again, trying to lure the beast backing up, so more people can help hit it. "Hey doofus, watch my foot! To the upper left spot!" finishes cursing

"Alright, alright!" answer the farmer nervously

Anne tries her best to gather courage. She start a low mantra, humming. Then, the image of a sir Honksalot appears to her, saying that she must not be a coward! !he goes back, with her mantra on her lips:

"The Golden Goose is on the loose
And never out of season
Blackened pride still burns inside
This shell of bloody treason
Here's my gun for a barrel of fun
For the love of living death"


Tiberius:
[1d20] = 9[1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3

Zeek:
[1d20] = 1[1d8] = 6
(OOC: oh-oh, i think Zeek must have hit the other left!)

[shaidar]

init [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6

Loretta moves to get a good shot at the snake, throwing her quill:

quill (dart): [1d20] = 12, [1d4-1] = 2-1 = 1

Eyeing up the damage that the other snake did to Loretta, Buckminster also stays out of melee range, throwing his dagger:

dagger: to-hit [1d20] = 16, dmg [1d4] = 1

Ralph watches Knuckles cross the floor. If he makes it across safely, he will follow once Knuckles is off the floor next to the pit.

Terryk stays and provides illumination to Luke and the others examining the pit.

[Norjax]

...

Arya peers into the pit for the source of the stench. She wonders who the two strangers were and if they had companions.

Derrek wonders if they might have useful possessions. He investigates the walls of the pit and looks for a means to descend (with assistance).

Ruby keeps her distance from the pit after catching a whiff of the residual decay. She examines the crude plaster decor flaking off the walls. She works around the room, along the west wall, away from the pit. After crossing the entrance, she notices a rectangular crack on the east wall, just inside the room. (Die roll by DM) The fresco has separated in a regular shape not following the polygonal patterns.

Luke examines the east wall from the pit to Ruby’s location. He investigates the curious erosion noticed by Ruby.

Einstein helps Derrek scale the pit of the wall. (Die roll by DM) He lowers Derrek safely into the cavity, and the elf negotiates around the spikes and bodies. Derrek uses an ancient elven trick to avoid smelling the rotted corpses. He picks through the remains and finds the following useful items:

• Metal Staff (1d4)
  Wooden Club (1d4)
  20ft of cheap rope
  (2) small sacks
  (4) torches

Knuckles carefully probes the floor to the next step. (Die roll by DM) It proves stout, so he looks around the corner to the east. The 15ft wide room turns 90-degrees and continues to descend with steps to an angled exit, where the walls and ceiling taper and then terminate at a 1ft by 1ft square hole with a light shining from beyond. The walls, floor and ceiling are polygonal masonry with the walls covered by similar aged fresco decorations.

***

• Once again, the snake snaps and bites at Tiberius. The dwarf continues to elude the deadly serpent! (Miss)
  
  Combat Details, Round 3:
  Snake Int = [1d20+3] = 17+3 = 20
  Snake = [1d20+2] = 6+2 = 8 atk., [1d4] = 3 dmg.
  
  Zeek fumble = [1d4] = 1

Tiberius smacks his staff at the reptile, but cannot match the serpent’s moves. (Miss)

Zeek tries his best to stab the snake with his pitchfork. Unfortunately, he trips during the swing and splashes through the shallow pool in the room. Sir Honkalot is startled and tries to fly out of the room.

Loretta takes advantage of Zeek’s mishap and assumes his position next to Tiberius. She tosses a dart into the snake, and its sticks into the serpent’s black scales. (1pt. dmg)

Buckminster threads the narrow gap between his companions and stick his dagger into the snake’s body. (1pt. dmg)

Ralph watches Knuckles successfully cross the floor and waits for him to step down to the next level, before he moves forward.

Terryk continues to provide illumination for the exploration of the pit.

LePlank watches Luke and Ruby inspect the wall.

MAP 25

OOC: Anne gets a +1 to her next action/attack roll for the inspirational sampling of Two Minutes to Midnight!

Initiative and Actions?

Light Sources: Torch (Loretta), Torch (Anne), Torch (Terryk), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [15]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Ralph 1/1 [6]
Terryk 1/1 [13]
Buckminster 1/1 [12]
Loretta 1/5 [17]

Zeek 5/5 [12]
Tiberius 2/2 [13]
LePlank 3/3 [10]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[rossik]

Zeek splashes water as he tries to adjust his step closer, trying to get the serpent from its flank (so more people can attack).
"Here, you monster! Let me have another snake skin to make a nice pair of shoes!"

(OOC: i dont know how Luck points work, but i think i can spend one to increase my attack value by one? If so, im doing this!)
[1d20] = 8
(well....not so great. if i get to damage, the value is [1d20] = 8 (yeah, go figure)


Tiberius fight for his life! This is the most dangerous fight he ever had, maybe even more that the cave pigs he helped his cousin capture
[1d20] = 12[1d4+1] = 1+1 = 2


Anne comes charging, her spirit high
(OCC: if she gets to attack now, she will. If not, she will position herself next to Zeek, if possible)
"scream for me, serpent!"
[1d20] = 14[1d8] = 3


Meanwhile, LePlank will help investigate the crack. "Hey, thats crack me up!" say the jester to Ruby and and Luke. He runs his fingers across it, trying to move anything movable

[Urson]

Arya calls down to Derrek. Are there any signs of doors down there?

Derrek is having none of that. He'll rig one of the bags to hold the rest of the goods from the dead guys, and tie it to the end of the rope. Get me out of this place! he yells, scrambling up the rope.

Ruby pokes at the crack/seam/edge of a secret door with her fingers. That's cool! I wonder how it happened. She sighs in disgust at the Jester's bad joke.

[drpete]

Knuckles continues down toward the light, probing the floor as he goes. He looks into the hole... does the hole lead outside?

Einstein helps Derrek up with a smile, and pats him on the back.

Luke joins Ruby in investigating the crack. He tries to peel back the plaster to reveal whatever is behind it.

[shaidar]

Loretta and Buckminster continue to attack the snake:

init [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22

Loretta:

quill (dart): [1d20] = 13, [1d4-1] = 3-1 = 2

Buckminster:

dagger: to-hit [1d20] = 14, dmg [1d4] = 3

Ralph follows Knuckles, checking the walls if Knuckles seems intent on the floor.

Terryk is content in his roll as torchbearer for the moment

[Norjax]

...

Zeek avoids a fumble and steps across the water to make a flank attack on the snake. (Miss)

Tiberius smacks the serpent with his staff. (2pt. dmg)

Anne busts through the crowd and stabs the black reptile with her pitchfork! (3pt. dmg)

• The snake snaps at the dwarf, but continues to miss.

LePlank uses his fingers to feel and pick at the loose fresco decorations. He peels off an area and sees a crack in the polygonal masonry that is void of mortar.

Arya helps the unamused Derrek up the wall of the spiked pit. He places the bag and weapons on the floor.

Ruby follows LePlank and peels away the dilapidated wall coverings. More of the un-mortared seam is exposed and begins to resemble a door.

Knuckles probes the floor as he walks ahead. After rounding the corner, he begins to feel the floor shift and drop! (Make a REF save vs. DC 15. You gain a +2 bonus for probing ahead as you walk)

Einstein offers a hand to Derryk and pulls him out of the cemetery hole.

Luke joins in peeling away the wall coating to reveal a secret door.

Loretta and Buckminster yield their positions to Anne, since they currently lack a means to attack the snake. (Both used their weapons in a ranged attack. These weapons are stuck in the hide of the serpent, currently in combat. Do they have a second weapon?

Ralph begins to follow Luke and then witnesses the floor collapse under the woodcutter’s feet.

Terryk looks in the direction of Ralph when he hears the floor collapse.

MAP 26

Combat Details, Round 4:

Snake = [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4

Actions?

Light Sources: Torch (Loreta), Torch (Anne), Torch (Terryk), Torch (Knuckles), Candle (Derrek)

Hit Points [Luck Points]

Knuckles 3/3 [15]
Einstein 1/1 [3]
Luke 1/1 [0]

Ralph 1/1 [6]
Terryk 1/1 [13]
Buckminster 1/1 [12]
Loreta 1/5 [17]

Zeek 5/5 [12]
Tiberius 2/2 [13]
LePlank 3/3 [10]
Anne 4/4 [14]

Arya 4/4 [11]
Derrek 4/4 [16]
Ruby 1/1 [11]

...

[drpete]

Knuckles Fort Save [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11 (vs 15)

Knuckles cries out in surprise as the floor gives way, dropping the torch!

Knuckles will spend his luck to catch himself before falling to his death!

Seeing his friend in trouble, Einstein wails, and rushes over to the edge of Knuckles' pit, and looks down. "Nooooooooooo!"

Luke briefly bows his head in frustration at losing another companion, then gets back to trying to see what is beyond the secret door.

[rossik]

LePlank is very happy! Maybe they can dig a treasure out of this!
No one would put a trap on a door no one is suppose to find, right? So he tries to open it.

Tiberius still tries to poke the beast, truing to act a as a combat group with Anne and Zeek.

Tiberius:
initiative[1d20] = 20 (doh! wasted a 20)
Attack [1d20] = 3dmg[1d4+1] = 4+1 = 5

Zeek
init[1d20] = 13att[1d20] = 11dmg[1d8] = 2

Anne
init[1d20] = 4att[1d20] = 1dmg[1d8] = 1
(OOC: ffffffaaaaaaak)

[shaidar]

Being adjacent, is there any chance Ralph can grab Knuckles as he falls?

Are there any rocks on the floor that Loretta or Buckminster could throw at the snake?