Barrowmaze IV: Delving for Power and Glory

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven slaps his now bare forehead.

“You know what…..That just might work! Great idea, Gerdal!”

The mage returns to the rust monster area and summons forth his invisible helper.
1st Level Spell Retention (INT 15) [4d6+1]=14+1=15

Banging his staff on the floor to rile the monster again, he has the servant grab it’s eggs (or 1 of them if both are too heavy) and try leading the thing into the maze. If this actually works, Sven will grab the rug as well and follow behind the bizarre parade towards the cobra room.

[Spearmint]

Exploring the Corridors

Going back again, traipsing up the corridors, the trio put a new plan together. Casting a spook aide to filch an egg. It is a bit 'cat and mouse', distractions and feints. When you roll one egg away the rust monster tries to grapple it back allowing the unseen rogue to pick up another which the rusty tries to tangle in antenna then the first is moved closer. Eventually the rust monster coddles one egg firmly in its grasp and furiously bashes the ground with its own club tail. It retreats to hide under the metal staircase, pining over the loss of the other. You drag its pelt blanket away too. The creature bites into the staircase struts, weakening the supports and bashes into the riders to try and topple the stairs upon these cruel and heartless thieves.

With one rust monster egg and a mangy bear pelt, but no rust monster who steadfastly refuses to leave her nesting place, you can return to the iron cobra room.

next actions please

[OGRE MAGE]

After failing twice already, I’ll take it.

Sven hurries the others back, now certain their entrance will be compromised upon their return. Once the group is together again, he shows them the egg. “This might be worth something to the right buyer. Don’t fret too much, we left the mother with her other egg………for now.”

For a game plan with the snakes, he will attempt to put as many of them to Sleep from the doorway as possible, hoping it might work.

1st Level Spell Retention (INT 15) [4d6+1]=12+1=13

If not…..
He suggests the gnomes deal with the distant snake on the statue, wrangling it however they see fit or attacking with missiles from a safe distance. He asks anyone with better dexterity than he to man the bearskin, trying to cover one or maybe even two of them on the floor so the others can be dispatched under less duress.

The idea is to try to trap one (or more) alive, so we will only attack with our weapons if one gets close enough to bite us. I think we will need to kill at least one of them, but let’s see how the covering goes. Anyone have a bucket or shield or something to trap them under? That might work too.

[Spearmint]

Sven casts Sleep which afterwards he remembers doesn't work on elves, undead and constructs. Schoolboy error, they put into practice Plan B.

[redwarrior]

Isvand hearing that the plan is to kill snakes, attempts to take one out, but finds that the things are small and dexterous. We've spent a long time with these things, let's see if they die!





Boomerang attack [1d20+2]=2+2=4 Damage [1d4+1]=3+1=4
Bommerang recovery target 16 [3d6]=8

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth will launch a Javelin the one he has the clearest shot at.

Thrown Javelin [1d20]=14 to hit [1d6+3]=6+3=9 damage

[OGRE MAGE]

If the opportunity presents itself, Sven steps in far enough to toss the bearskin over the top of any snakes that get close enough. He tries to stay out of the way of the real fighters, darting back out of the way at the first opportunity.

Normal Dex Check (15) [3d6]=7

Hard Dex Check (15) [4d6]=14

Attack roll? Random D20 [1d20]=15

[sastaz]

Gerdal will throw her dagger if she gets inside and a clear view, which she probably won't, given the small entrance.

Thrown dagger, to hit: [1d20]=10 dmg: [1d4]=1

If she can't get inside (after the fighter types, mind you) she'll patiently wait outside, ready to drag any poisoned teammate out of the snake corridor.

[Spearmint]

Exploring the Corridors

The group enter one by one into the jaws of death. Well maybe not as dramatic, but who knows? The gnomes provide suppressing fire, pinging crossbow bolts off the statue to ward away the slithering cobra that is wrapped around it.

Orgoth throws his javelin to shaft it proper, impaling it to the wall where it hisses and spits poison from venom filled fangs.

Securing the south part of the chamber this allows Gerdal, Sven & Isvand to take on the other critters in the alcove area. Daggers and boomerangs are a bust. The mage raises the mangy pelt, advancing as a bear might come to snatch prey up. Both cobras 'whizz' and 'brrr', mechanical motions to rapidly charge this intrusion. One lunges, fastening its fangs around an offered arm, injecting a stream of venom that even a bear might quake at. Though this bear is already out of its skin. Latched on, Sven rolls the pelt up and gathers one of the serpents.

The other though sways dangerously again and flares its metal hoods as it recharges a new vial of
elixir of death.

actions please.

Gnimish & Treyvor light crossbows [1d20]=1 [2d4]=5 [1d20+1]=10+1=11 [2d4]=7 Iron cobras vs G,S,I [1d3]=2[1d3]=2 [1d20+2]=13+2=15[1d20+2]=2+2=4 damage [1d3]=2[1d3]=1 hit latches to pelt if attack is vs Sven

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven is suddenly very glad that bears have incredibly thick skin. He folds the pelt around on itself several times to prevent escape as he dives back through the opening in the wall to give the fighters more room to clean up that last threat.

“I got one trapped and it’s still fully intact! So don’t get bit trying to catch another one! Smash away at the damn thing!”

If the mage makes it to the open room unscathed, he looks for something to stuff the folded pelt into for further protection, jamming it into a large sack that can be tied shut, if it fits.

[redwarrior]

Isvand continues to have trouble hitting the small creature, barely catching his boomerang on its return flight. We need to kill the other quickly!


Boomerang attack [1d20+2]=7+2=9 Damage [1d4+1]=3+1=4
Bommerang recovery target 16 [3d6]=16

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth throws another javelin.

Thrown Javelin [1d20]=13 to hit [1d6+3]=1+3=4 damage

[sastaz]

Gerdal mumbles incantations and flames spit from the top of her fingers.

Casts Burning hands

Not getting close enough to injure the snakes, but keeping them back so that her friends can get more shots in. Or at least the snakes have to pass through the flames to get to them.

Retain lv 1 spell vs 15 [4d6+1]=13+1=14

C'mon, get them while I keep them back!

[Spearmint]

Exploring the Corridors

Sven bags up a living construct in the bear pelt, wrangling it as it slithers about. You can stuff it into a large sack, perhaps after first wrapping the bear pelt in some cord or rope to restrain the creature in place. While Truro helps you with that, Amos despatches the impaled creature with a swift cosh on the head. The two gnomes trigger more shafts at the remaining iron cobra. It dodges the incoming, sways around the boomerang, is immune to the fan of flame and gets tagged by the barb of the thrown javelin. Relentless it lunges for a retreating ankle to bite in to. A halfling's Achilles bursts with pain and his veins erupt with injected venom. Once more, Isvand faces a stern test of fortitude and resolve. -1hp & save vs poison please.

Gnimish & Treyvor light crossbows [1d20]=7 [2d4]=6 [1d20+1]=8+1=9 [2d4]=6 Iron cobra vs G, I, Gn, Tr [1d4]=2 [1d20+2]=20+2=22 damage [1d3]=1

[redwarrior]

Isvand Lets fly with a string of curses, wishing that this thing is forever hungry in the afterlife, a truly vile curse for a halfling and grabs his mace, striking straight down with it to mash this metallic abomination to paste. Assuming the thing is dead, he'll reach down and carefully use his dagger to hinge the jaws open, so he can massage his slightly swelling ankle. There best be something worthwhile in here.


Save v Poison Target 13 [1d20+4]=10+4=14
Just made the save, it's good to be a halfling!
Magic Mace THAC0 20 [1d20+1]=20+1=21 damage [1d6+2]=1+2=3
hope this is enough, with the javelin damage to lay it out

[Spearmint]

Isvand aces his death saving throw and obliterates the iron cobra.

The chamber cleared of threats, at least observable ones.

next actions please.

[Rex]

Orgoth

"Are you all right Isvand? Do you feel fine?"

[redwarrior]

Isvand

Thanks Friend Orgoth. It stings fiercely, but I have been bitten worse while gardening, my people are hardy against such things. I suppose I shall favor that leg for a few hours, though. Isvand will move into the room and start searching it for anything of value, and then for any secret portals.

Search [1d8]=8
Hidden doors [1d6]=4

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth will follow Isvand in and start searching once he is sure the area is secure.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven leaves the snake bundle on the floor so he can secure the egg they just found into his bedroll tightly for better protection.

Hearing the excitement in the next room wane, he joins the others in their search, looking over the statue and the strange mechanism on the wall first before prodding into any burial alcoves.

"That went much better than I thought it might. I am glad you weren't injured worse Isvand."

He tells the gnomes they can secure the remainder of the bested clockwork snakes for later study before they too start to search for hidden treasures.

"Lets clear this room out and discuss our next move. Despite not finding an alternate entrance to the maze yet, I think it might be time for us to head back to Helix. What do the rest of you think about that? If we wait too long, we might lose the benefit of our escorts, remember."

No idea what time it is now, but hopefully we still have enough time to make it back to the standing stone camp before they depart without us.