IV. The Witch Tower

[hedgeknight]

"Might be," Festus murmurs, walking over to the iron door. "Then again, might be they were guarding whatever lies behind this here door."
Festus looks closely at the door frame and at the door itself, but does not touch it. "Hey Shorty! When ya finish examining that bucket o' rust, check out this door, will ya?"

[dmw71]

Sylvan prods at one of the beds with his spear and the disturbance merely sends dust flying. They are nothing more than simple, ordinary beds which apparently haven't been used in some time.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow quickly stows his rope and checks the dirt floor for any tracks that aren't their own.

[dmw71]

I want to continue to use the Google Drive maps so I can get actual placement for the different characters.

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Please feel free to reposition your character by indicating the desired cell number (e.g. m3), and let me know whatever else you want your character to do.[/ooc]

[AleBelly]

Sylvan walks slowly over to G6 in order to illuminate the western chamber. He has a white knuckle grip on his spear. "The air down here is stale. Festus, how do your people stand it underground?"

[Storm11]

The gnome will continue to watch for signs of movement or danger, daggers at the ready, guarding the escape route

[onlyme]

Fulp will walk about the room, examining the beds, etc to try and determine whether it appears more like barracks or a prison. (looking for chains, writings, etc starting with the B2 corner)

[Alethan]

Ciar studies the statue for a moment and then says, "I don't know what this room was for or who used it, but it's creepy. Or, rather, anyone who could sleep over there in those bunks while someone was stuck in an iron maiden here was creepy."

[Alethan]

Standing to one side, Ciar then reaches out and pulls up on a pin on one side of the iron maiden, releasing the lever that keeps it closed...

[hedgeknight]

Sylvan walks slowly over to G6 in order to illuminate the western chamber. He has a white knuckle grip on his spear. "The air down here is stale. Festus, how do your people stand it underground?"

"Ah, it's like being in me mother's womb again what with tons of rock over yer head and the feeling of closeness. Real comfortin' ya might say."

Festus clears his throat and kinda blushes a bit after he realizes what he's saying. Then he says, "The air ain't that stale...once ya get used to it."

And then he gasps for air when he sees Ciar toying with the statue...and hurries over in that direction, hoping there are no surprises...

[dmw71]

Kassal remains fixed in his position at the bottom of the rope, keeping lookout and Sparrow begins to study the ground, looking for footprints in the group that weren't created by them.

Sylvan slowly begins to move west; light from his lantern spilling into this half of the larger chamber and allowing Fulp to move into the far northwest corner and begin searching the room, which appears to be barracks. He slowly begins moving south along the western wall.

Ciar studies the statue for a moment and then says, "I don't know what this room was for or who used it, but it's creepy. Or, rather, anyone who could sleep over there in those bunks while someone was stuck in an iron maiden here was creepy." Festus, hearing the words "iron maiden," turns to see the halfing examining the device of torture and turns from the door in the southern wall and hurries across the room to join Ciar... who, standing to one side, reaches out and pulls up on a pin on one side of the contraption, releasing the lever that keeps it closed.

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At the same time...
Fulp nears the southwestern corner, he disrupts a pile of debris with his walking stick which sends three giant centipedes scrambling. The lengthy, segmented horrors writhe and twist; pulsing their mandibles in Fulp's direction.

Ciar opens the iron maiden allowing the last victim’s bones to tumble out.



Rolls

Surprise: Monsters [1d10] = 9, PCs [1d10] = 9

[onlyme]

Fulp will do a defensive retreat back toward the others while yelling, Over here... some critters that might be hungry...

ONLY If they attack, will he swing back. Staff attack [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 ; Damage [1d6+1] = 4+1 = 5

[AleBelly]

Sylvan carefully places his lantern on the floor, arming himself with his shield. He advances towards the centipedes with scimitar raised. If they attack Fulp, he'll join the fray.

[dmw71]

Still need actions from Sparrow, Festus, and Kassal.

[Storm11]

Kassal trusts the others to take out the threat. He's too far from the action to be much good at the moment anyway. He will continue to stand guard and keep look out for further threats or signs of danger whilst the others are distracted. If one makes a beeline for him however he will throw two daggers at it

[OGRE MAGE]

Sparrow will stop his search and draw his sword. He rushes in the direction of the insects and, if one comes at him or if he can get to them, he attacks.

Attack w/ Scimitar [1d20] = 2 Damage [1d8] = 3

[dmw71]

On the eastern end of the chamber, Kassal continues to stand watch over the portal overhead.

At the base of the alcove in the northern wall, Ciar jumps back to avoid being touched by the bones tumbling out of the iron maiden opened moments earlier. He begins rifling through the bone pile with his short sword.

Across the chamber, in the southwest corner, a trio of foot-long creatures with seemingly endless legs rapidly slither from their hiding place in their undulating motion and are upon Fulp almost before he can react. The repulsive creatures quickly begin to climb the legs of the backtracking Fulp, seeking vulnerabilities in his defenses. One manages to sneak beneath his leather armor.

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"Over here," Fulp calls out as he begins to defensively retreat. Suddenly, his words begin to slur, then stop completely, as his muscles stiffen and cause him to fall over backwards.

Sylvan carefully replaces his lantern with his shield and unsheathes the scimitar hanging from his waist in a fluid motion as he begins to move to Fulp's defense. The slithering pests swarming the fallen form of his companion causes some hesitation and reluctance to actually attack the creatures, and his effort to use his blade to pry the creature free from the fallen form of Fulp is unsuccessful.

Sparrow, who was stooped low and intensely scanning the floor of this basement level, also halts his previous actions and, like Sylvan attempts to pry one of the centipedes off Fulp with the blade from his scimitar, but is unsuccessful.



We will retroactively apply Festus' declared action. (Gary, please provide actions for round 1 and round 2 in your next reply.)


Actions?




Rolls:

Initiative: Monsters [1d10] = 4, PCs [1d10] = 5

[Storm11]

Kassal will call out to the others about the danger that has arrived in the western portion of the room.

[hedgeknight]

Seeing Fulp in trouble, Festus glances at the remains which fell from the iron maiden, and if they are not moving, he rushes toward Fulp's position, bringing his axe to bear on one of the creepy crawlers.

Battle axe: [1d20+3] = 5+3 = 8, [1d8+6] = 3+6 = 9

He gathers his wits about him, and attacks again, "Get away ya vermin!"

Battle axe: [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6, [1d8+6] = 3+6 = 9

[Alethan]

Ciar approaches the motionless Fulp, sword still drawn, and attempts to slice one of them without hurting the human...

To Hit, Short Sword [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 Damage [1d6] = 1