Session 2b: Unlikely Allies

[C. Steven Ross]

GUYS!

Popping in just for a moment, absolutely destroyed with work trying to cram a week into the two days I actually have in the office. But! I can answer some questions you've raised.

Town - You go to town when, in the game fiction, you actually find a way to a town. How do you expect to accomplish this? The way you came in, which is unmapped, is full of lava.

Eels - They are driven off. Things (such as adventurers) don't generally die in Drive Off Conflicts, merely get hurt. Unless they're already badly hurt, I suppose (Injured twice equals dead).

Doors - both have no traps. Huzzah!

[thesniperknight1]

No, I was trying to open the locked door

[C. Steven Ross]

Ah gotcha! The bolt is on the outside, so bing bang boom! You got it.

AFK right now, will describe the room later today!

[C. Steven Ross]

Thanks for your patience!

This darkened, small room is still chest-high into black, oily water. It is totally gross. A massive slab of red clay stands half-submerged in the water. Faint runes have been etched into its surface. In the center of the shaped clay slab, about 6" below the top, is a small green gem, glittering and reflecting your torchlight.

[Rusty Tincanne]

loot!!!!
Is there anything else obvious in the room? Silver mirrors on the wall? Chests of gold just beneath the surface of the water? A pack of kobolds aiming arrows at us?

i am tempted to read the writing but want to wait to see what you all think. Maybe Norgrim can shoot the clay to see if it does anything when touched?

Steven, is the clay slab something we could camp on? Because the next test takes us to a grind. Camping now would be smart.

[Marullus]

Ulrich is standing by to help you with your theology test. We need to read the words and find out the powers of this magical gem... I am hoping it is a magic-jar of daedra containment.

[C. Steven Ross]

Good thinking, but the clay is way too narrow. It's about 8 ft tall, 3 ft long and maybe a foot to 18" wide and sloped at the top.

[thesniperknight1]

Can I give him a boost?

[C. Steven Ross]

Rand: The room is otherwise empty. The water is still.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Rand approaches the clay slab slowly, holding the torch out so he can see the runes better. is he able to read them? (Are they similar to the runes on the gong or the dragon statue?) If not, he will try.

[C. Steven Ross]

They are not similar! Futhermore, when you start unraveling the clues to decipher this little puzzle, many of the runes you need to look, which would help make that next leap of logic, are obscured by the 3 feet of water you're standing in.

Make a Loremaster Ob 6 test (arcane symbols, water, exhausted).

[Rusty Tincanne]

yeah. Right.

Steven, when I tried reading a the statue, it was a theologian test. I am curious about me hanics here, so I am interested to know why this would be a lore master rather than theologian or scholar. Is that info you can divulge without giving us any extra information? Thanks.

Rand stills his mind, searching for a recollection of anything he might have read in his past. He feels he might have read about a gem associated with hobgoblins, but nothing solid comes to him. He feels a call to touch it. Or was it just a urge to hold something so precious? Surely a mere Initiate does not deserve to hold it in his hands. He cannot trust the feeling. Instead, he focuses on the runes below the water, but he reflected torch light disturbs his concentration.

Ob 6 vs 3D (BL will 5/2) -1D (touched by the gods) = take the check and a test towards loremaster. So What'll it be Steven?

[Rusty Tincanne]

To expand on my earlier question, I am guessing that this object is arcane in nature, whereas the statue as a religious thing. But IIRC, Norgrim's first test (involving the gong) was a scholar test.

[C. Steven Ross]

Correct, the difference is in origin: arcane vs. divine.

Will get back to you with test results soon hopefully.

[C. Steven Ross]

Your investigation is rudely interrupted by the arrival of someone new into the room. Water sloshes away as the door is opened, revealing a Hobgoblin unlike any you've seen before. He is shorter than the others, mostly bald, with a few long gray hair sticking out behind his elongated ears, and his frail arms visibly weaker than the warriors seen earlier. He has a hunched back and leans on a gnarled, wooden staff. He calls out in a nasally voice,

"What trespassers dare defile mine arcane laboratory?! What madness consumes thee that thou wouldst challenge a mighty and powerful wizard such as I?! Go now, flee, vermin! Lest you unleash my fiery anger!"



END TURN 4
3 Turns to rewards

Everyone becomes hungry/thirsty.

[Rusty Tincanne]

"Many pardons." Rand backed away from the clay a few steps to demonstrate his sincere hope to avoid a confrontation with this creature. "I am Rand, a humble Initiate of the Order of the Moon. My companions and I stumbled upon your laboratory while fleeing from the eels. We did not intend to threaten you, not that that seems likely considering your obvious power." He paused a moment before asking, "I do not wish to be disrespectful. How do you prefer to be addressed?" The cleric felt confident he already knew the answer, but considering the cunning nature of the earlier hobgoblins, he wanted to see if the hobgoblin would identify himself as Drum-Haak. While awaiting response, he drank his water, thereby quenching his thirst.

When finished with the water, Rand pointed back to the runes, "I am curious about these runes. Did you make them? Do you know what they mean? They are beautiful. And skillfully carved."

If he will talk, I will just converse with him. If it is required, I will attempt to charm him, but considering my stats, I will avoid using my instinct so I can invoke help from the others.

If it matters, I am looking for information about the runes/stone (what they do) and a dry, comfortable place to make camp. We can try asking for more after that, I figure.

[C. Steven Ross]

The Hobgoblin smiles a bit at your display of subservience. He says,

"Yes, pinkskin, you do seem to know your place in the world. For I am none other than Drum-Haak the Mighty. These runes have been etched by me following an ancient scripture left by my ancestors in this place millenia ago. This chamber and its mystical contents were foretold to me by prophecy and I do not intend to share my very DESTINY with, ugh, worthless slave-races such as yourselves."

He then tells you that this whole section of the dungeon is flooded and you'd best head back to someplace dry to camp. He travels back to the enclave of his kinsmen when he needs to rest.

[Rusty Tincanne]

"Drum-Haak, we four desire to rid this world of the foul Daedra-spirit that lingers in this Keep. And to assist in restoring the statue of Tiamet. It is clear that one so powerful and clever as you would have information to assist us in this task. Indeed, when we mentioned our task to your kinfolk, the only assistance the only assistance we could garner was your name. You are the only hobgoblin in this Keep with such knowledge. We humbly ask for your aid."

I am unclear about the room. Is there only one door evident? If so, is Drum-Haak blocking our way out?

[C. Steven Ross]

There is only one door in and out of the small room. Drum-Haak is in the doorway, leaning against a staff for support.

He tells you how unsurprising it is that Ghaaldar would fail you in your time of need, how he is used to disappointment with him, but that he will not help you for Drum-Haak's true goals do not coincide with yours.

[Enoch]

Norgrim grunts sourly. "And what are your true purposes, goblin?"