Chapter One: The Lost Tower of Balaz-kai

[Captain Kinkajou]

ooc: Wasn't Xantius also waiting to hit it with a spell? Though maybe it was too close behind Jasper.

If it gets as far as me in the turn order, I got a hit for 6 dmg.
To hit with spear: [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 18, damage: [1d8] = 6

Depending on what happens before her, Jayamanka will either skewer it or "pin it for Skagvurd to squish it"

[Longfingers]

Haroun

Haroun flinched as the abomination rushed at them, but after Jayamanka had forced it momentarily back a pace or two, an idea came to the swordsman. His knife had proved a poor weapon against the last undead so rather than try and attack this foe, Haroun decided to try and lure it into a disadvantageous position, all the better for Skavgurd to crush it with his hammer. Stepping to the side of the passage opposite the hulking Northman, Haroun drew his blade and began to spin it first in one hand, then the other, while edging further round the wall.

OOC: making this up as I go along as I can't see any specific feint or assist rules.

Blade juggling Agility roll: [1d20] = 10

[9littlebees]

OOC: Was hoping to hit it with another Ride Wind spell. Initiative-wise I'm after the others, but before Fiddleback, so I'll wait to cast.

[LtTibbles]

Skagvurd swings his maul toward the creature that Jayamanka attacked.

Attack Rolls: [1d20] = 9 [1d20] = 16


Damage: [1d12] = 5

[sonofotho]

Haroun spins his dagger in his hand as he edges over to the side, baiting the corpse in his direction. Jayamanka uses the brief moment of hesitation to skewer the thing with her spear. It lets out an awful scream as black blood drips out of the wound. But the terrible noise is cut short as Skagvurd’s hammer comes crashing down. The animated corpse falls to the cave floor in a crumpled heap.

ooc: No further sign of other ‘corpses’ in the cave. You see no exits and the cave appears empty save the iron vats and cauldrons. Actions?

[badams30]

Jasper - Rogue

Jasper composes himself after his close call and says "Whew! That smelly guy sure was fast! I didn't see any more in there, but they seem pretty sneaky."

Jasper hefts his spear and torch and prepares to search the room further...

[sonofotho]

Jasper - Rogue

Jasper composes himself after his close call and says "Whew! That smelly guy sure was fast! I didn't see any more in there, but they seem pretty sneaky."

Jasper hefts his spear and torch and prepares to search the room further...

Besides the cauldrons and vats, Jasper doesn't find anything of note. A few of the vats contain the brown, gelatinous substance and others contain bones. A few appear completely empty.

There is no sign of another passage exiting the cave.

[Captain Kinkajou]

Jayamanka

While Jasper finishes checking the vat room, Jayamanka stands over the broken creature's corpse and eyes it warily. She wonders what manner of thing it is and what dark magics had created it. Skagvurd's blow had caved it's head in and the huntress is fairly sure it is no longer a threat to them but she doesn't take any chances and keeps her spear pointed at it all the same. After all, she does not understand whatever dark forces had animated it in the first place, so she cannot be sure they cannot give it life again.

Once the vat room has been cleared, Jayamanka readies herself to return through the crack and take one of the paths they have yet to investigate. "It seems we will have to retrace our steps and take the other passage south or the one that went west from the intersection," she states.

She frowns in thought for a moment. "Though it is strange that these rooms can only be reached through this small crack is it not?" she comments.

She shrugs and goes to stand watch at the mouth of the crack until the others are ready to proceed. While she waits, she listens for any indication that Jasper's shouts or the creature's scream has drawn unwanted attention.

[Longfingers]

Haroun

Aye, it is a strange place all right agreed Haroun, wrinkling his nose at the contents of the vats. Looks like the stew at the 4 Feathers, maybe a bit less gristle, and a man wants a good slug of rum in his belly before taking on a bowlful of that!

The swordsman went to stand by Jayamanka, waiting to see what the next course of action would be.

[LtTibbles]

Skagvurd follows suit amd returns tp his position in the marching order behind Jayamanka before turning to look at the room once more. "Perhaps this was a hidden room, like in the old tales they tell of mad sorcerers."

[badams30]

Jasper - Rogue

Jasper sighs, "I was hopin' we'd find somethin' in here. But makes me wonder what these stinky fellers were doing here?"
He shrugs and falls back into the marching order, ready to follow.

[9littlebees]

Xantius

Xantius peers into one of the vats with the brown liquid and stares into it for a short while, lost in thought. Then he walks slowly around the room, shining his lantern against the walls, looking for a hidden door of some kind.

[sonofotho]

ooc: No secret/hidden doors are found. Do you all head back and take one of the other directions, and/or do something else?

[9littlebees]

Xantius

With a puzzled frown on his face, Xantius heads back to the room with the torture implements.

"Hmm, it would appear this was a pointless diversion. Shall we head back into the main corridor?"

[Captain Kinkajou]

Jayamanka

Once the group is formed up, assuming the huntress has heard nothing from the room beyond, Jayamanka leads them back through the crack into the chamber with the cells. She waits on guard near to the crack until someone, presumably Haroun from the marching order, brings more light into the chamber and then she will move to take up a position by the wall to the east of the southern passage, where she can also see the western opening. She remains there on guard, listening until everyone has squeezed through.

Once everyone is there, and again assuming she has heard nothing, she will lead the group cautiously southward, her senses cast forward and her spear and shield at the ready.

[badams30]

Jasper - Rogue

Jasper follows everyone, once again smiling like a doofus and bopping his head about like it's a walk in the park...

[sonofotho]

The party makes their way back into the room with the barred cells. Jayamanka pauses to try and detect any sound. All is quiet. Once the group reforms she points to the southern opening with her spear and cautiously moves out. The passage is quite wide (8-10’), the walls roughly carved from the rock. After following the winding passage about 40’, Jayamanka comes to a Y split in the passage. To her left the passage narrows as it runs to the southeast before turning south and out of sight. To her right the passage is wider but follows a similar course of out (to the west) before turning south and out of site.

She takes a moment to listen, but can hear no sounds.

ooc: Actions?

[Captain Kinkajou]

Jayamanka

Jayamanka leads the group cautiously along the shadowy passageway. Every so often she stops to listen before continuing. When she reaches the fork, she pauses for slightly longer, tilting her head to one side to listen but still she hears nothing. She sniffs at the air in both directions, seeing if there is any breeze or whether she can detect the stench of the undead creatures. Then she checks the ground for any tracks before taking the narrower, easternmost passage.

[sonofotho]

Jayamanka

Jayamanka leads the group cautiously along the shadowy passageway. Every so often she stops to listen before continuing. When she reaches the fork, she pauses for slightly longer, tilting her head to one side to listen but still she hears nothing. She sniffs at the air in both directions, seeing if there is any breeze or whether she can detect the stench of the undead creatures. Then she checks the ground for any tracks before taking the narrower, easternmost passage.

ooc: there is a slight smell of decay (similar to the undead) coming from the left (eastern), narrow passage.

[Captain Kinkajou]

Jayamanka

The huntress continues leading the group into the narrower eastern passage, while remaining alert to any increase in the faint smell of decay.

ooc: If the smell should grow stronger, Jayamanka will alert those behind her to it and make them aware that they may be getting close to another of the undead creatures.