Quest #21 "Island Hopping"

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga readies her sling.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan waits for the elevator to rise.

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric inspects and makes adjusts the straps connecting the glow rock to the bamboo pole she carries.

[OGRE MAGE]

Going Nowhere?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid

Andron takes out the last note in his stack and reads it out loud to the others.

Melania
This last attempt at wreaking havoc on my experiments was all I can take. I have warned you multiple times now and you simply wont listen. Therefore, you have left me no other choice. I cannot allow you or anyone else here to undermine my work as you have. I know you were never really happy here, but with the amount of monies, time, sacrifice, and effort I have put into this place already, finishing my ultimate creation must continue to be my main focus. I will allow Marquees to remain on the island, since he has done nothing that I know of to aid you in your constant meddling. The treasures you were supposed to protect for me will also remain inside the complex, now under the supervision of your lover. However, the next time you see me will be the last. I wish things could have worked out better, but you have only yourself to blame for this outcome.

He also takes a closer look at the puzzle box found by Alordan. Shaking it softly, he hears something small rattling around somewhere inside the wooden toy, but before he gets a chance to attempt any manipulation, the elevator starts up again.

There is a long pause after the second time the noise stops, but the grinding eventually begins again. After a few more tense moments pass, with the sound of the lift drawing nearer, the stone slab closing off the shaft begins to slide open again, as does the stone opening into this room. There is no light coming from inside the shaft this time, so it is difficult to tell what might be on the lift in the pitch darkness until it gets a little closer.

Readying their weapons, the group gathers around the hole in the floor, awaiting whatever threat has been unleashed from below. When they can actually see the platform rising again, it appears that chunks of the broken statue from below have been placed upon the only copper disk that isn't occupied by a hulking stone minotaur. As the lift rises nearly to the level of the floor again, several more chunks of rubble can be seen laying around the feet of the remaining statues.

Actions?

map:

7461DF1A-853C-4008-992B-40D97B811680.jpeg (113.92 KiB) Viewed 312 times

Lerrick 1/11 0/4 1st (Light stone 40'r) Light:13 (on the eyes of Brutus)
Gramble 3/16
Alordan 12/18 (Light stone 40'r)
Tlachtga 2/8 1/4 1st
Maag 9/12
Andronichishche 3/6 0/3 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/1 1st (Light stone 40'r)

Deceased
Sir Crestbrook 0/11 LoH (Petrified and Broken in Melania’s bedroom)
Cu AC:3 0/13
Carucenus -5.5/10
message on tiny decorative box
Mina's note
Notes and other Bookkeeping:

Melania
You have been warned several times now about your unwillingness to remain in your designated location. Since you cannot control your desire to destroy my hard earned collection by turning them into useless statuary, you leave me little other choice but to relocate you somewhere safer.

Melaina
I have decided on a far more suitable spot for you to reside. There is a cave complex on the other side of the island that will suit your needs perfectly. It is an old experiment of mine, that never panned out the way that I had hoped. But there is a fresh water source inside and a magical summoning device of my own creation that should provide you with an endless supply of food. You will be relocated there as soon as I get it ready. I am still working on filling your request for companionship. As I told you before, they are extremely rare and nearly impossible to locate.

Melania
I understand you are not happy with your new accommodations, but it is simply the best I can do for now. I think you will be much more at ease living here once I am able to fill your request for a mate. The reoccurring minotaur should provide you plenty of food and enough sport to keep you preoccupied while I search. Please remember that your captor was also once your savior, and that you wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for me. I know this isn’t an easy adjustment for you, but it must be preferable to the horrible death you would have endured without my aid.

Melania
At long last, after several years of searching and burning through countless resources, I have finally found what you seek the most. An unmatched Maedar, one of the rarest of all creatures known to man. And he is all for you. I sincerely hope this will suffice to keep you happy for the rest of your years here. You must stop meddling in my experiments. You of all people should know they can be very dangerous, especially when they are unfinished. Once I have checked him over for myself, I will release him to you. Once that is done, I must insist that you stay put in your area and stop breaking your containment. By the way, his name is Marquees, and he is magnificent.

Melania
Once again you need to learn the hard way that you are no match for my powers. It saddens me greatly that after everything I’ve done to make you happy, you continue to defy me, routinely breaking your pact without remorse. I thought you to be one of the more intelligent of your kind, but you have proven to me that I was mistaken. Since I have invested so much, I will give you one last chance to comply. However, you will now be marked. Breaking the rules of your containment again will result in your termination.

Melania
This last attempt at wreaking havoc on my experiments was all I can take. I have warned you multiple times now and you simply wont listen. Therefore, you have left me no other choice. I cannot allow you or anyone else here to undermine my work as you have. I know you were never really happy here, but with the amount of monies, time, sacrifice, and effort I have put into this place already, finishing my ultimate creation must continue to be my main focus. I will allow Marquees to remain on the island, since he has done nothing that I know of to aid you in your constant meddling. The treasures you were supposed to protect for me will also remain inside the complex, now under the supervision of your lover. However, the next time you see me will be the last. I wish things could have worked out better, but you have only yourself to blame for this outcome.

Bookkeeping:
01-05= The “Key”
06-10= Intact Copper Bowl of Wax Fruit (25gp)
11-15= Solid Copper Decorative Serving Tray (40gp)
16-20= Broken Cartouche
21-25= List of 7 Unknown Items
26-30= Note About the Contacts
31-35= Moldy Sack of 254 Copper Coins
36-40= Melania's Note About Escaping
41-45= Small Locked Chest
46-50= Grey Stone Sphere
51-55= Fancy String of 21 Pearls (yet to be evaluated)
56=60=
61=65= Large Copper Cube?
66-70= Ornate Latched Scroll Case
71-75= Copper Armband w/ Circular Diagram (20gp)
76-80= Fairy Tale Storybook
81-85= Hand Written Notes
86-90= Notes on Minotaur Summoning Dais
91-95= Small Wooden Puzzle Box
96-100= Magical Golden Ring

This is a list of the items you will be "protecting" for me in here. Please remember the terms of our earlier agreement before you get any ridiculous ideas to use any of these against me.

Chime of Serpent’s Desire

Protecting Egg

Withering Venom

Shedding Strike

Band of Fools

Green Manalishi

Dansden

Marquees

I know you like this place, but I am not about to spend the rest of my days preforming for this pompous bastard. We are getting out of here, and I think I finally figured out how. The ring of glass obelisks have something to do with the mobility of this place, so through them, there must be a way out. I know the colored stone spheres are the keys, all I need to do is figure out how they function. There must be a way to use the spheres to activate the obelisks, since the ones I have investigated don’t seem to do anything yet. Once I can figure out their secrets, I am hoping we will be able to go anywhere we want. I know you want to concentrate on making more eggs and raising new babies, but you cant expect me to be happy about bringing more of our kind into existence while we are all being held here against our will. We must find a way out! We can discuss this further once I've returned.

scrollcase note:

I have used the magic scrolls to find three of them so far. They are a sight to behold, so tall and crystal clear. One is in the jungle near the black cliffs, a second deep in the swamp, and the third by the lake to the northwest. I promise you that I will figure out what they do and how they function. Once I do, we will be free again.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche blinks in surprise when he notices that in place of the kobolds now lay a pile of what appears to be broken chunks of another minotaur statue. However, he assumes these to be remnants of another statue that was positioned to activate the last disc. The more pressing question remains, though ... who, or what moved them back?

As the lift comes closer into view, he also notices several more chunks strewn about the other statues. Obviously not intended to activate any discs, these pieces have his immediate attention. He examines them while remarking to no one in particular, "We should remove the statues. They are unnecessary weight. A disc only require fifteen pounds of pressure to activate."

[OGRE MAGE]

Andron:

While you focus solely on the debris at the statues hooves, you are pretty sure one of the larger chunks of rubble (about kobold sized, maybe) moved a little bit.

You still have time to relay that, if you like.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan agrees with removing the rocks from the elevator. He moves to remove what he can quickly. All the while thinking what does the last note mean? Where are the kobolds we shot at?"

[wolfpack]

Gramble moves to help

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Before Alordan and Gramble can begin removing the statues, Andron holds up a hand in warning, "Wait! Stop!" He points to a large piece of rubble, about the same size of a kobold, and says, "I am fairly certain I saw that piece move slightly."

[kruk]

Lerrick

Upon hearing Andron's warning the cleric equips her mace again, ready to strike

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Upon hearing Andron, Tlachtga moves so she has a clear shot at the kobold/statue.

[wolfpack]

gramble moves up, if it moves he kills it

[1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6
[1d10+4] = 1+4 = 5

[Jernau35]

Maag

Maag gets his sword ready, but waits to see if the chunk of rock is a definite threat.

[Quonundrum]

Andronichishche

Andronichishche keeps his distance from the chunk of stone to allow the fighters room to maneuver against it. He also attempts to determine if that piece and the other smaller chunks of stone are from a minotaur, kobold, or something else entirely.

If needed:
Intelligence Checks: [3d6] = 13 [4d6] = 14 [5d6] = 15 [6d6] = 25

[OGRE MAGE]

Going In Circles?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid

By the time the shaft is fully opened again and the lift has risen back up to floor level, Andron has already warned the others about the kobold shaped rock he saw moving. The party surrounds the dais as chaos erupts. Once the lift stops, the dust covered kobold rises from the floor and makes a break for the opening in the wall. At the same time, a second, less dusty kobold leaps from its hiding spot wedged under one of the statues. It carries a small lumpy sack in one hand and it too makes a break for the chambers only exit.

Okay, Gramble already made his surprise attack and missed. I will allow anyone else a free attack (or other action) before I roll up the initiative order, since you saw them coming. So, if you are attacking, you can give me two rolls, one for the surprise round (except for Gramble) and the second will be your action for this round. Good luck!

Actions?

map:

7D933B4C-6E66-4285-A6FC-D9ED3AF98199.jpeg (115.01 KiB) Viewed 260 times

Lerrick 1/11 0/4 1st (Light stone 40'r) Light:13 (on the eyes of Brutus)
Gramble 3/16
Alordan 12/18 (Light stone 40'r)
Tlachtga 2/8 1/4 1st
Maag 9/12
Andronichishche 3/6 0/3 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/1 1st (Light stone 40'r)

Deceased
Sir Crestbrook 0/11 LoH (Petrified and Broken in Melania’s bedroom)
Cu AC:3 0/13
Carucenus -5.5/10
message on tiny decorative box
Mina's note
Notes and other Bookkeeping:

Melania
You have been warned several times now about your unwillingness to remain in your designated location. Since you cannot control your desire to destroy my hard earned collection by turning them into useless statuary, you leave me little other choice but to relocate you somewhere safer.

Melaina
I have decided on a far more suitable spot for you to reside. There is a cave complex on the other side of the island that will suit your needs perfectly. It is an old experiment of mine, that never panned out the way that I had hoped. But there is a fresh water source inside and a magical summoning device of my own creation that should provide you with an endless supply of food. You will be relocated there as soon as I get it ready. I am still working on filling your request for companionship. As I told you before, they are extremely rare and nearly impossible to locate.

Melania
I understand you are not happy with your new accommodations, but it is simply the best I can do for now. I think you will be much more at ease living here once I am able to fill your request for a mate. The reoccurring minotaur should provide you plenty of food and enough sport to keep you preoccupied while I search. Please remember that your captor was also once your savior, and that you wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for me. I know this isn’t an easy adjustment for you, but it must be preferable to the horrible death you would have endured without my aid.

Melania
At long last, after several years of searching and burning through countless resources, I have finally found what you seek the most. An unmatched Maedar, one of the rarest of all creatures known to man. And he is all for you. I sincerely hope this will suffice to keep you happy for the rest of your years here. You must stop meddling in my experiments. You of all people should know they can be very dangerous, especially when they are unfinished. Once I have checked him over for myself, I will release him to you. Once that is done, I must insist that you stay put in your area and stop breaking your containment. By the way, his name is Marquees, and he is magnificent.

Melania
Once again you need to learn the hard way that you are no match for my powers. It saddens me greatly that after everything I’ve done to make you happy, you continue to defy me, routinely breaking your pact without remorse. I thought you to be one of the more intelligent of your kind, but you have proven to me that I was mistaken. Since I have invested so much, I will give you one last chance to comply. However, you will now be marked. Breaking the rules of your containment again will result in your termination.

Melania
This last attempt at wreaking havoc on my experiments was all I can take. I have warned you multiple times now and you simply wont listen. Therefore, you have left me no other choice. I cannot allow you or anyone else here to undermine my work as you have. I know you were never really happy here, but with the amount of monies, time, sacrifice, and effort I have put into this place already, finishing my ultimate creation must continue to be my main focus. I will allow Marquees to remain on the island, since he has done nothing that I know of to aid you in your constant meddling. The treasures you were supposed to protect for me will also remain inside the complex, now under the supervision of your lover. However, the next time you see me will be the last. I wish things could have worked out better, but you have only yourself to blame for this outcome.

Bookkeeping:
01-05= The “Key”
06-10= Intact Copper Bowl of Wax Fruit (25gp)
11-15= Solid Copper Decorative Serving Tray (40gp)
16-20= Broken Cartouche
21-25= List of 7 Unknown Items
26-30= Note About the Contacts
31-35= Moldy Sack of 254 Copper Coins
36-40= Melania's Note About Escaping
41-45= Small Locked Chest
46-50= Grey Stone Sphere
51-55= Fancy String of 21 Pearls (yet to be evaluated)
56=60=
61=65= Large Copper Cube?
66-70= Ornate Latched Scroll Case
71-75= Copper Armband w/ Circular Diagram (20gp)
76-80= Fairy Tale Storybook
81-85= Hand Written Notes
86-90= Notes on Minotaur Summoning Dais
91-95= Small Wooden Puzzle Box
96-100= Magical Golden Ring

This is a list of the items you will be "protecting" for me in here. Please remember the terms of our earlier agreement before you get any ridiculous ideas to use any of these against me.

Chime of Serpent’s Desire

Protecting Egg

Withering Venom

Shedding Strike

Band of Fools

Green Manalishi

Dansden

Marquees

I know you like this place, but I am not about to spend the rest of my days preforming for this pompous bastard. We are getting out of here, and I think I finally figured out how. The ring of glass obelisks have something to do with the mobility of this place, so through them, there must be a way out. I know the colored stone spheres are the keys, all I need to do is figure out how they function. There must be a way to use the spheres to activate the obelisks, since the ones I have investigated don’t seem to do anything yet. Once I can figure out their secrets, I am hoping we will be able to go anywhere we want. I know you want to concentrate on making more eggs and raising new babies, but you cant expect me to be happy about bringing more of our kind into existence while we are all being held here against our will. We must find a way out! We can discuss this further once I've returned.

scrollcase note:

I have used the magic scrolls to find three of them so far. They are a sight to behold, so tall and crystal clear. One is in the jungle near the black cliffs, a second deep in the swamp, and the third by the lake to the northwest. I promise you that I will figure out what they do and how they function. Once I do, we will be free again.

[ravenn4544]

Alordan swings out with his weapons - a little surprised his arrow attacks didn't finish the job - and tries to remedy that with the little bastards.

surprise round:
Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17 (THACO=18)
Long Sword Damage(+1 str/+1 weapon) = S/M: [1d8+2] = 8+2 = 10 / L: [1d12+2] = 6+2 = 8
Dagger Attack (off-hand) [1d20-1] = 4-1 = 3

normal round:
Long Sword Attack [1d20+1] = 20+1 = 21 (THACO=18)
Long Sword Damage(+1 str/+1 weapon) = S/M: [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3 / L: [1d12+2] = 3+2 = 5
Dagger Attack (off-hand) [1d20-1] = 6-1 = 5

[Rex]

Tlachtga

Tlachtga fires at the kobold she has the most open shot at.

Sling Bullet [1d20] = 15 to hit [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4 damage

Sling Bullet [1d20] = 18 to hit [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4 damage

Bullets removed from inventory.

[kruk]

Lerrick

The cleric attacks with her mace
[1d20] = 8 [1d6] = 1

[OGRE MAGE]

Alordan swings out with his weapons - a little surprised his arrow attacks didn't finish the job - and tries to remedy that with the little bastards.

Thanks for the subtle reminder that they were already injured.

[wolfpack]

attack for the round, the one with the sack

[1d20+3] = 16+3 = 19
[1d10+4] = 2+4 = 6