Chapter 1: Out of the Frying Pan...

[drpete]

Rojo will describe the beetle, explaining (as shown above) that it is 2 feet long and glows.

[ybn1197]

Rojo the Rat

Rojo will come back up to the group to discuss what to do next. As he goes up, he'll try to figure out if it might be possible for someone to brace themselves in the tube and shoot down at the beetle with a bow.

There are rungs that you can hang from or brace yourself with, but the sides of the conduit are smooth and slick. You could shoot down, but you will take a penalty.

[Tamerlaine]

Yisun grunts and then speaks...

"Perhaps it would be better to get its attention and get the beetle to come to us. Better to have all of us deal with it than one in the tube, eh?"

[Griffith]

Dwernoc "That is an enormous beetle. And it glows? I have never heard of a friendly beetle. What about these other tubes? Perhaps one of these others will take us in a direction that avoids the beetle..."

[GreyWolfVT]

Florin "I too agree such a large strange beetle, it would be best if we all dealt with it rather than one I the tube risking all."

[DavetheLost]

Urrok will look inside the column he opened. if it appears safe he will climb down the ladder to see what can be seen.

I'm going to check out the inside of this pillar since I have it open.

[ybn1197]

Urrok will look inside the column he opened. if it appears safe he will climb down the ladder to see what can be seen.

I'm going to check out the inside of this pillar since I have it open.

Like the column Rojo entered, this one is made of copper and travels both up and down. Climbing down, Urrok notices what appears to be a 10' radius at the foot of the ladder is lit by a glowing, 2' long beetle as well. And just like the beetle Rojo saw, this has three glowing spots too.

[Griffith]

Dwernoc watches as Urrok cllimbs down the ladder. He leans in and looks down. Seeing a similar glow from this tube as the other tube, Dwernoc says, "Seems we must come face-to-face with these strange, over-sized insects."
He calls down to the elementalist, "Unless you have some sort of spell to defend against the beetle's attacks, I suggest you climb out of that tube and let Florin, our warrior, go first."

[GreyWolfVT]

Florin winces at the mention of his name "Surely you mean to have the spell hurlers go blast the hell out of the bugs don't you?" he smiles back at Dwernoc. "Let us not forget Yisun is also a warrior, I'm not the only one you know." the swashbuckler goes to the tube and decides to see what is at the topside rather than climbing down and trying to fight an over-sized glowing bug.

[ybn1197]

Florin winces at the mention of his name "Surely you mean to have the spell hurlers go blast the hell out of the bugs don't you?" he smiles back at Dwernoc. "Let us not forget Yisun is also a warrior, I'm not the only one you know." the swashbuckler goes to the tube and decides to see what is at the topside rather than climbing down and trying to fight an over-sized glowing bug.

Which tube are you entering?

[GreyWolfVT]

Florin winces at the mention of his name "Surely you mean to have the spell hurlers go blast the hell out of the bugs don't you?" he smiles back at Dwernoc. "Let us not forget Yisun is also a warrior, I'm not the only one you know." the swashbuckler goes to the tube and decides to see what is at the topside rather than climbing down and trying to fight an over-sized glowing bug.

Which tube are you entering?

The one Rojo the Rat initially checked.

[ybn1197]

Climbing up the ladder, Florin finds that it goes up inside one of the statues on top of the pyramid. At the top of the ladder he finds a tube connected to the mouth of the statue. He also sees a number of levers. Looking about, the levers are attached to the head, eyes, and arms of the statue.

[GreyWolfVT]

Florin is a bit perplexed about the levels and cautiously checks them for traps. If nothing he will climb back down and inform the others of what he located in the topside of the tube. "That tube goes up into one of the statues and has all sorts of levels inside it. Worry not though for I did not dare try any of the levers."

[ybn1197]

Florin is a bit perplexed about the levels and cautiously checks them for traps.

The levers do not appear to be trapped.

[DavetheLost]

Urrok climbs back up. Looks like there is another one of those glowing bugs down there. Nothing but the ladder to hang onto either, so it will probably have to be fought from the ground.

[drpete]

Rojo the Rat

Rojo will shrug, smile at the others, then get himself into position in "his" tube, well above the beetle, bracing his back against the wall of the tube. He will ready an arrow, aim carefully (taking his time... dunno if there's a bonus he can get from this, but unless the beetles start climbing up the tube, he's in no rush) and fire at the beetle.

If it starts pursuing him up into the tube, he'll then try to climb back up the ladder to the others.

[ybn1197]

Rojo the Rat

Rojo will shrug, smile at the others, then get himself into position in "his" tube, well above the beetle, bracing his back against the wall of the tube. He will ready an arrow, aim carefully (taking his time... dunno if there's a bonus he can get from this, but unless the beetles start climbing up the tube, he's in no rush) and fire at the beetle.

If it starts pursuing him up into the tube, he'll then try to climb back up the ladder to the others.

Give me an attack and damage roll. Add 2 to the attack roll for aim.

[drpete]

Rojo shoots and misses the glowing beetle.

Short Bow (+2 aimed, +1 dex): [1d20+3] = 5+3 = 8[1d6] = 6

[Pulpatoon]

Virmel the Worm whines: "I assume it has occurred to us all that if these beetles are some chitinous manner of guard dog, stationed at these passageways, then they must have masters—people, alive and with resources they wish to protect, here in this seemingly abandoned ruin in the middle of barren waste. What an extraordinary thought!"

[ybn1197]

The arrow sails past the beetle which does not even notice the attack on it.