In Gods We Trust

[GreyWolfVT]

Kel silently nods his acknowledgment of Gavin's reply.

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Esilia Willow – Pixie

Esilia flies up behind and above Caiden, contrary to Gavin's orders, with a light rod in one hand, her spatha with bronze hilt in the other, and whispers, "Let me help Caiden." She gently pokes the tip of the light rid through the cracked doorway. "Does that help?" she whispers again and tentatively peeks through the crack, unsure as to whether or not she really wants to know what's actually in the room.

[Antman9]

Ex Āctiōne: Caiden Braves the Darkness!
Calendar: 7:15 am - July 10th, 9001
Location: 2nd Sublevel Outer Door

Caiden cautiously peeks through the cracked outer door, light rod in hand, to get a better idea of what’s inside the room. Esilia fies up behind to assist with a whisper in Caiden’s ear: "Let me help Caiden." She gently pokes the tip of the light rid through the cracked doorway. "Does that help?"

The bright white light from the light rods fills nearly half of the circular chamber revealing a dusty mess. In the center of the room is a circular staircase leading down into darkness with a half-wall, nearly five feet high, surrounding ¾ of the opening. Several large tables, partially decayed and falling apart, their contents laying in the thick dust of the floor, flank a large throne chair (nearly 5’ wide & 7’ tall at the back) on the south wall.

Caiden’s heightened awareness quickly spots a 9’ bone-white humanoid skeleton seated in the throne chair. Kneeling prone at each side of the throne chair and out in front, are two gruesomely withered smaller humanoid figures, roughly 5’ tall and completely naked, kneeling in prone positions as if bowing or worshiping the 9’ tall skeleton. The skeleton is wearing armor (helmet and chest plate) and clothing similar to the Humanoid Caiden encountered in front of The Belfry Tower (Inn & Pub) a few weeks ago (see figure below for armor and clothing).

9’ Humanoid Clothing

Moon_Men.jpg (30.05 KiB) Viewed 1062 times

Map

2nd_Sublevel_Color_15.jpg (104.56 KiB) Viewed 1062 times

OOC: Please forgive my hastily sketched map

Actions!

Translations:

[Dram]

Lyeara- Hands her light rod off to one of the party members that did not take one. Than she will move off into the shadows. Before she moves off she tells group to hold moving into the room till she is sure that she that they are not walking into a trap.
Wait here I will make sure it is not a trap.



What do i need to roll? I am attempting to hide in shadows & move silently.

[Antman9]

Lyeara-
What do i need to roll? I am attempting to hide in shadows & move silently.

Thanks for asking Dram. This is a great example of the scaled system (Difficulty Class) (so I'm gonna make a longwinded reply for the sake of everyone).

For this situation a character is relying on various elements:

• DEX
• Gear Carried
• Armor
• Situational Awareness
• Experience/Background
• Size
• etc.

Lyeara has the following attributes:

• Appearance: 4’9”, 115 lbs, midnight black hair
• Natural connection with the circus animals
• Knife thrower
• Made a living by robbing fairgoers.
• Sticks to the shadows, opportunistic attacker.
• Low-light vision

Then we consider the environment:

• Pitch black room
• door has already been cracked open and lit partially (so if anything is alive it most likely knows you are there).
• Environment is unknown
• Floor is covered in thick dust but has an unknown quantity of loose items lying about.

So, considering all the factors, a character is at a disadvantage from the start. However, considering nothing has been seen moving and Lyeara is a slinky slinker Dark Elf she would have a much better advantage over other characters like Gavin or Kel.

So long story short, the character would need to make a DEX-DC Check (3d6 + DEX modifier + ½ PC's Level). The DC for this scenario and Lyeara, the level of difficulty required to surpass the obstacle (succeed), would be fairly low, between "10" and "15" (average to tough difficulty). Gavin or Kel would have a DC closer to a "15" or "20". The actual roll itself, depending on where it falls (high or low compared to the DC) will also determine what outcome/effect takes place (result of the action taken). Because Lyeara is a 0-level character and has not encountered many creatures yet, she most likely won't have an advantage on the high/low scale of her roll for any creatures encountered during her slinky slinking.

Here is a generic DC table:
Difficulty (DC)
Easy (5)
Average (10)
Tough (15)
Challenging (20)
Formidable (25)
Heroic (30)

Link to SRD20 - Using Skills


Do me a favor and add a little description as to what exactly you plan to do when you enter the room, such as: slip quietly through the cracked door, staying low, moving to the right or left, approach the skeleton, inspect the stairs, see what is on the other side of the stairs, making a careful circuit of the room clockwise/counterclockwise, etc. That way I can better adjudicate the outcome of Lyeara's actions (without guessing or making assumptions) and describe in greater detail what she sees, hears, and experiences. You can modify your existing post, adding the DEX-DC and additional details at the bottom.

I hope I stated that clearly and it helps.
Thanks Dram.

[Dram]

Lyeara will have everyone with light source stand opposite of the doors opening. She will then slide thru the door into the shadows. Moving along the wall slowly towards the skeletal remains. Listening & looking for any danger. Once she is at the Throne chair she will carefully inspect without touching anything. She will continue to move along the wall back to the door. If there is any movement in the room at all she will backtrak and return to the rooms with the others.


DEX-DC Check [3d6] = 15

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden Cross – Human (HP: 10/10) (AC: 13)

Caiden can't help but smile at the little flying bundle of innocence trying to help him, he sees her and thinks for a second that the world isn't that bad, so he needs to save it then he remembers that he is only on puny human who holds no true power or knowledge and silently sighs while still holding the smile, he whispers back "Thank you very much, very helpful"

Once he sees the skeleton he will relate the situation to the others then once Lyrea volunteers to step up and assess the situation, he gives her a stern look,"Be careful"

He then moves away from the door per Lyrea's request

[Antman9]

Ex Āctiōne: Lyaera's Reconnaissance
Calendar: 7:20 am - July 10th, 9001
Location: 2nd Sublevel Room

Caiden and Esilia back away from the doorway to give Lyaera room to perform advance reconnaissance. Lyaera slips through the door and quietly slips along the southern edge of the circular room toward the throne chair. The dust coving the floor, a fine, powdery, soft grey material, puffs up with each step and partially covers the skeleton and the two figures on the floor. Lyaera can discern no visible footprints or activity of any kind in the room. It is as if the room has been locked shut for decades upon decades, although the layer of dark grey dust, several inches thick, is a mystery.

The skeleton in the chair is a massive 9' tall humanoid with heavy bones and is fixed with dull bronze midriff, bracers, and helm with strange deer-like antlers. The armor has been supplemented with a heavy dark blue cloth of unknown material, including an ankle length skirt . The bracers and midriff plate have the symbol of a star surrounded by a circle and flanked by two dots. Lying across the knees of the skeleton is a large lense-shaped bronze shield covered in the same dark-grey powder, and strapped to the side of the chair in an upright position is a large broadsword (4" wide blade and 5' long) in a bronze scabbard.

The humanoid figures kneeling prone in front of the throne chair are Human in size, shape, and appearance. Their fresh is wrinkled and desiccated as if they have been preserved in some fashion, and have no discernible clothing whatsoever.

A quick glance into the shadows of the room reveals a couple of large stone chests on the west wall, various weapon racks full of weapons on the north wall, and various other pieces of furniture mostly crumbling into the dust.

Neither the skeleton nor the desiccated figured give the slightest hint of movement in the presence of Lyaera. Having surveyed room, Lyaera returns the way she came to report her findings to the group waiting in the outer shaft.

Symbol on the Armor

Chest_Piece.jpg (10.94 KiB) Viewed 1064 times

Actions!

Translations:

[Dram]

Lyaera- Reports back to the others. There has been no movement in that room in many years. Kel if you are in need armor and a good weapon I think your in luck. There is weapons racks and 2 chests. I did not touch anything. In fear that it may come alive.

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Gavin Moorehouse – Human

Gavin approaches Lyaera, and glaring through his black helm says, “What do you mean by It? What did you see that might come alive? Do not be sparse in your details young woman. There are lives at stake. Be precise, your life, and that of innocent bystanders may depend upon it.”

[MonkeyWrench]

Rakjak

Rakjak peers into the room before cocking his head to the side and giving a low whine. He turns back to Gavin, "Rakjak see big skeleton, tall man. Wit little ones..." He turns back and sniffs the air before shaking his head distastefully, "Smell bad, old dead... Like da old dogs in pack, too long alive in sun but like raisin... an' dead." He gives the knight a shrug before turning back and slipping into the room, now lowered on all fours as he sniffs around keeping clear of the dead as the slow rot of the preserved flesh smells wrong to him.

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden Cross – Human (HP: 10/10) (AC: 13)

Caiden nods in response to the cook's words looking at Gavin, "Seems we face undead, what we can do is flank them. Me and Lyeara can sneak in there and go across the room, I will fire an arrow, and she will stab one of them, and once they turn to us all of you can attack them from behind. Getting them rattled up can work I suppose, anyone has a different plan?", he stares around the room to see if anyone would speak up.

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Gavin Moorehouse – Human

"Hmmm," Gavin says from under his helm. "Two have now entered the room and these things have not moved. Either they are not Undead, just dead things, or they have a trigger. Perhaps entering a certain area of the room or removing a specific item will trigger them. If we keep guard while passing straight through to the central stairwell, maybe they won't be triggered, as Lyaera suggests; unless anyone else has a better idea. I have the ability to turn Undead if need be, if we take Caiden's approach." Gavin goes and peeks into the room to get a better idea of the layout/situation, while he waits for a group decision.

[Antman9]

Ex Āctiōne: Rakjak's Reconnaissance
Calendar: 7:25 am - July 10th, 9001
Location: 2nd Sublevel Room

Rakjak give the room a once-over, keeping low and steering clear of the dead things. A full circuit of the room reveals nothing but several inches of dark grey powdery dusk, two large stone chests, various ornate items - such as vases, urns, goblets, bowls, etc., crafted from various materials (bronze and silver mostly) - crumbling overly large wooden tables and chairs (taller than 5' Humanoids would normally use), and several wooden racks with weapons and armor of various designs. The items, overall, seem to be from various places and time periods; markings and design vary widely.

Once Rakjak returns to the outer shaft he finds the dark grey dust has covered his underside, tail, and paws, creating a static mess of his fur, and begins to cause an irritating discomfort to the air passages of his nose and the soft lining of his mouth (like he's been chewing on course gravel dust. Moving around outside the room, the dust begins to grind the skin raw between his toes and causes severe irritation to his paw pads.

Actions!

Translations:

[GreyWolfVT]

Kel "Skeletons eh what of em. I care not for being afraid of the dead. I'll cleave em apart either way." the half-giant proclaims boldly.

[MonkeyWrench]

Rakjak

Rakjak takes a moment to head back towards the group, walking into the room with everyone. he takes one look and starts sneezing heavily, directly onto the others as he begins to involuntarily shake off the grime and soot from his fur and clothes.

[Dram]

Lyeara- jumps behind Kel feeling that she was being threatened by Gavin. I? I was afraid the dead in the room may come to life if I touch anything. she points in the room.

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden

Caiden thinks for a sec, "Well, shall we try Gavin's approach? And if it goes south then we will just have to fight, let's just try not to touch anything", he looks at Rakjak, "Please resist the temptation of making soup out of their bones", he smiles, "Everyone on board with this plan? Going in without touching anything and one after the otherg"

[Antman9]

NPC Post: Gavin Moorehouse – Human

Gavin hands his light rod to one of the Kobolds, removes his helmet, and bows to Lyeara, "Est Sularus oth Mithas. My apology Lyeara. I forget my oath. Let us get on with this foul deed before our hearts get the better of us."

Gavin dons his helm and readies his heavy mace, then swings the outer door wide. Caiden's voice stops him short of marching into the room, intent on seeing for himself what evil lies in wait. He eyes the skeleton on the throne and then the two figures on the floor. "Very well master Caiden. Perhaps Rakjak, Zirus, and Tobias can take lead, move into the stairwell as advance scouts while you, Tafri, Esilia, and Lyeara flank the Kobolds. Kel, and myself can take the rear in case these things come to life. Any dissenters to this plan?”

Gavin will wait for consent then follows in behind the group should they move forward. While he awaits the party’s answer he straps the light rod to the side of his right leg and retrieves a 6” cross from a belt pouch, in preparation to turn any undead that may rise up.

Translations
"My Honor is My Life"

[thesniperknight1]

Caiden nods in aggreemebt