Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

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Stirling
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#121 Post by Stirling »

Fawkes

Cusses' at the Ghouls and his own lack of prayer power or stealth skills. He binds his wounds, thankfully at least he didn't succumb to the chill touch.

"There are at least seven of them. ." he says, counting the four that emerged from the graveyard and those who stayed hidden in the rafters of the room above.

I will follow in turn through the secret door, blessing the statue and saint it represents, maybe some extra virtue might rub off on me. Once inside, I will guard the west side, sneaking to the splintered door for a peek through.

Fawkes: Move Silently thief skill vs 26% [1d100]=8
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#122 Post by Ythgar »

Goran, Halfling

Goran examines the trap at the door to learn more about it.
He then steps into the shadows.
slips a silver piece from the kobolds into Olleg's pocket, , listens for any noise from the right or left
And says in his best disembodied voice "Unseen ones, head past that trapped door and down the northerly corridor"
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#123 Post by Edeldhur »

Edel

Edel’s gaze softened as he approached Esther, his earlier brusqueness weighing on his mind. He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, his voice calm but earnest. “I owe you an apology for earlier. My grip on your shoulder - rough as it was -was not meant to cause harm. When I focus my sight through Pallas, I lose much of my sense of the world around me. I needed an anchor to ground myself, and in the moment, you were the nearest and most stable presence. It was thoughtless of me.”

Before Esther could respond, the elf turned his attention to the corridor beyond. The musty air of the ruined temple pressed against his senses, heavy with the weight of lingering danger.

His sharp hearing caught Fawkes muttering from further down the hall, recounting his chilling encounter with the ghouls. Seven of them... Edel frowned at the thought, unwilling to underestimate their menace. The disembodied voice of Goran’s guidance, echoing eerily from the shadows, added to the tension.

He glanced at Esther one last time. “Stay close. We tread deeper into peril, and every step demands caution.” Then, with measured precision, he moved to follow the group.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#124 Post by Howman »

[Olleg, Dwarf, 31/33]

Once inside the secret door, Olleg will remain with the main body of the party, waiting for the invisible members to scout ahead before proceeding. Now that they are inside the temple, he will be continually scanning the stonework around them, attempting to detect any irregularities.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#125 Post by Scott308 »

Durrant Winterflame - Human Magic User

"Do we think anyone saw us enter? I can magically lock the secret door behind us, but if we feel confident that we were clear, I'd rather not waste a spell. But I'm happy to cast it if we think it will help."

The mage will stay in the middle of the second group, likely near Esther
On November 2nd I will be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#126 Post by Rex »

Brick

Brick heads back and lets everyone know about the passage they found.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#127 Post by gurusql »

Vennar

Vennar will stay with the main (visible) part of the group. Attempting to be as quiet as possible (not that he is good at it).
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#128 Post by Straither »

Sneaking in the Temple Ruin.

A couple of hours in from your early morning start and row from anchored sloop to Slave-Lord hub.

"Do we think anyone saw us enter?"
A question on Durrant's lips and everyone's mind. Certainly a few of the Ghouls that lurk about ran into Fawkes know that someone at least was loitering about. As to the paralyzed goblin they were dragging along with them, whilst his eyes pleading stared at the cleric to do something more than just utter a vain rebuke, his lips were frozen by fear and venom and you hope his last screams as he his disemboweled apart for breakfast go equally as unheard or unheeded.

Still suspicions nag and the last through the secret door can take a final look before closing the portal, pulling the statue base over it's lock and twisting it to face outward once more.

what was that? Did Durrant catch a view of something insidious, a staring face leering with a demonic smile that suddenly turned head in owl fashion to perceive the group entering the alcove. A stone faced guardian masquerading in doppelganger fashion, appearing to all the world as a saintly icon in a neighbouring alcove but in reality an impish gargoyle on watch. The mage stares back as he clambers in but the saint statue appears as saintly as ever. Perhaps a figment of his fearful imagination ...

Olleg can attest that the seams and seals of this secret alcove door are closed with precision. The door is thick enough to sound proof noise from the outside. The passage shows little signs of wear and tear.

However the internal 'secret door' is definitely not so secret. Goran
examines the trap at the door to learn more about it.
The trap has been well and truly found by whoever first tried to open the door before you. Once the door was pushed open:
the spring trap resetting against the ceiling
.

Some things are best left undisturbed ... the halfling's fiddling and poking to examine the trap (the failed FRT check) causes the contraption to be loosened away from the ceiling fixture plate which triggers the reset spring mechanism to release again and with a powerful strike, the spiked ball once more wickedly hammers itself into action as it comes apart.

Secret door weapon trap: [1d20]=6 [3d6]=7 random by alphabet [1d9]=8

Goran instinctively ducks as the strike erupts into action. Those gathered by the secret door duck in alarm too. Olleg, is almost caught unawares but at the last second raises his enchanted shield to parry the head crushing blow aside.

A sigh of relief issued by the group and Rogger can equip the implement as a weapon.

Goran, feeling abashed for his faux-par tries to slink off into the shadows, adding a silver coin into Olleg's pocket to make amends.

Edel pats his Familiar Pallas, the owl perched on top of his backpack. He tries to make conversation with released slave Esther but she is doing her best to 'keep it together' and not be frightened by the situation she is in.

Fawkes went to investigate the western splintered door. His moving is silent and flawless meaning he can creep up the it and peer through the cracks in the panels.

Inside Ruin: ghouls in corridor vs 1: [1d6]=6

The narrow corridor continues, only 5'ft wide but more than 50'ft long, running parallel to the western exterior wall. The Half-orc has a nose for trouble at least and senses the rot and decay of dead bodies. The corridor floor is littered with cast away bones and torn shreds of maggot ridden animal carcasses. Flies buzz in swarms but nothing else disturbs the place.

Brick & Mortar explore in the other direction,
while the corridor turns to the right side.
sneaking up the east side.

This corridor ends in another splintered door which opens freely into a small chamber, 15'ft by 20'ft, that is burnt and partially destroyed, much like others throughout the temple. The floor is crowded with debris and movement is difficult. Sagging and collapsed as it is, the ceiling still appears to be sound. The east wall is different from the others. It shows signs of recent construction and upkeep as it is patched in several places. On the whole this section appears to be stoutly built and well maintained in comparison to the other interior walls.

A casual examination through the rubble does not give evidence of anything more than the room being an old bunk or store room, now defunct and only useable for the most desperate of needs. see chamberpot and half fossilized turds in the corner.

Actions everyone please as you consolidate your foothold in the Temple exploration.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#129 Post by Stirling »

Fawkes

The corridor of bones and carcasses doesn't look or even smell too promising. The rotton smell might be more due to just these, thinking of the Ghouls mentioned earlier. Indeed the corridor seems to lead to that sort of area they inhabit on top of the wall.

I am tempted to sneak up the corridor using my infravision (would that pick out the vibe of undead?) if some of the other clerics back me up also.

"Vennar, Galadria, watch my back if you can." I will ask and go ahead.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#130 Post by Ythgar »

Goran of the Shadows

A voice that sounds sort of like Goran's quietly says, "I've always heard that elf's don't fear ghouls touch. Doesn't one of you priests have a protection of some sort?"

Goran then tries to disguise his voice more, "Nice shield Sir Dwarf"

And he slips another silver into Olleg's pocket.

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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#131 Post by Rex »

Brick

Brick will search the new construction wall.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#132 Post by Edeldhur »

Edel

The wizard allows the bulkier ones of the group to take the lead.

Guys, should we define a marching order?
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#133 Post by Scott308 »

Durrant Winterflame - Human Magic User

"You know, I think juuust to be safe we'll go ahead and lock this behind us. I'm not sure if I saw something out there, or it may have been my imagination, but it looked like one of the statues...moved?"

Durrant casts Wizard Lock on the secret door that led to this place. "There. That'll be permanent, but it can be dispelled or Knocked open. Or just broken."
On November 2nd I will be participating in another 24 hour game of Dungeons & Dragons as part of Extra Life. This organization uses gaming to help raise money to donate to children's hospitals. I'm raising money for Marshfield Children's Hospital in Marshfield, WI, and all money I raise will go to that hospital. All donations are tax-deductible. Please take a moment to check out my donation page below. Thank you.

https://www.extra-life.org/participant/Scott Peterson
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#134 Post by gurusql »

Vennar

Vennar will stay with Fawkes and have his holy symbol ready in case he has to attempt a turning of the ghouls.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#135 Post by OGRE MAGE »

Straither wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2024 1:15 pm what was that? Did Durrant catch a view of something insidious, a staring face leering with a demonic smile that suddenly turned head in owl fashion to perceive the group entering the alcove. A stone faced guardian masquerading in doppelganger fashion, appearing to all the world as a saintly icon in a neighbouring alcove but in reality an impish gargoyle on watch. The mage stares back as he clambers in but the saint statue appears as saintly as ever. Perhaps a figment of his fearful imagination ...
This was great! :? :D
Mortar stays near Brick, as is their usual routine.

He kicks around in the rubble, trying to ascertain which direction the person leaving all the turds behind was coming and going from.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#136 Post by Straither »

Sneaking in the Temple Ruin

Durrant determines that safe is better than sorry and casts his holding spell upon the saint statue, hoping to keep it rigidly in place and unable to open unless other arcane or brutal counterweights are applied against it. No one enquired though Fawkes did script blessing the alcove patron as he passed through. It is a representation of a figure similar to Martin de Porres, a mixed race priest canonised after a lifetime of caring for the sick and poor and notably during a contagion of plague, miraculously passed through locked doors to minister grace and compassion to those sealed away or imprisoned, becoming known as 'the Saint of Locked Doors'. The wizard spell goes directly counter to the Saint's own divine blessing and Durrant feels some measure of mental oppression and disfavour as he invokes his magic. But 'the force is strong in this one'

Durrant: Wizard locks Saint statue vs 33%+ ineffective [1d100]=9

and he is satisfied that whatever imbued traits the statue holds that might resist his locking of the portal, he has acted in good faith to secure the entrance. He is in this secret passage as others explore.

Fawkes & Durrant see private threads

Inside the first corridors, some of the group venture to search the derelict room. (Mortar, Brick, Goran, Jacupo, Edel & Rogger)
On the whole this section appears to be stoutly built and well maintained in comparison to the other interior walls.
The rebuilt east wall of the room is the defining feature here. New mortar and new bricks added to seal off the chamber, at one time the room may have been twice as large. It supports a heavy lintel that braces the sagging ceiling but no attempt has been made to renovate the room any further which leads you to consider as to why it is was so soundly erected.

The chamberpot is inspected, the earthenware vessel used for the most basic of needs is still remarkably sound and has a decorative glossy patina suggestive that maybe one of the nobles or priests who could afford to shit gold owned it in the past. It might be worth a pretty penny if cleaned out and polished again, Mortar can take first dibs on it or in it as you were the first to express interest.

Goran, finds the only place to hide in the shadows is among the fallen rafters and room detritus in the room's north-western corner. Scrawled on the wall here is a litany of Orcish graffiti, all warning about another, decrying "don't speak to Basil", "don't look at Basil""beware, Basil is a k" unt? iller? obold? It is unclear as extra letters have faded with age but certainly he was not a popular figure.

Jacupo is given a lantern to carry which he dims to provide basic illumination. please note anyone else striking a light source.

Fawkes

Fawkes: Move Silently thief skill vs 26% [1d100]=68

Tries to sneak up the narrow corridor to the west but the floor is littered with debris and dry bones crunch underfoot. You get to the corridor end which turns to the right and ends in another splintered door after ten feet. As you approach this, a face, bloodied and rotten suddenly appears between the broken panels, spitting drool and leering in a voracious and famished way. A human face that has undergone a ghastly and 'ogrish' undead metamorphosis.

Ghastly icon [1d9]=2

His stinking breath is full of necrotic halitosis and causes Fawkes to retch from the stench Save vs poison please.

The beast rattles the door, determining to chase away (or eat) the 'wolf in sheepskin clothing' that noisily intruded within the corridor.

At the lower end of the passage, Vennar & Galadria can see the effect on Fawkes as he projectile vomits, staggering backwards to get away. Olleg can brace himself as warriors do, as warnings get passed along by Esther to those in the chamber.

Image

Actions everyone please.
Health status & conditions:

Galadria: 16/17hp
Vennar: 19/19hp
Fawkes: 16/17hp
Goran: 16/16hp
Olleg: 31/33hp
Brick: 18/18hp
Mortar: 10/10hp
Durrant: 7/7hp
Edel: 11/11hp (14/14hp with Pallas the Owl:
3/3hp)
Esther: 3/3hp.
Jacupo: 10/10hp
Rogger: 5/5hp

Armour Class:

Fawkes: 7/7/7
Galadria: 3/4/4
Vennar: 0/4/1
Goran: 3/7/3
Olleg: 4/6/6
Brick: 2/3/3
Mortar: 8/10/8
Durrant: 9/9/9
Edel: 7/7/7
Pallas the owl: 7/7/7
Esther 10/10/10
Jacupo 9/9/9
Rogger 10/10/10

6.20am:
Illumination: dim lantern in chamber, infravision.

Spells Available:

Galadria: DE cantrip, any 3/4 x 1st, 1/2 x 2nd lvl
Vennar: DE cantrip, any 4/4 x 1st, 3/3 x 2nd lvl
Fawkes: DE cantrip, any 2/2 x 1st lvl

Jacupo: DE cantrip, any 3/4 x 1st lvl, 2/2 x 2nd lvl.
Rogger: DE cantrip, any 2/2 x 1st.

Mortar: DM & RM, any 4/4 x 1st, 2/3 x 2nd
Durrant: DM, RM & Kn, any 4/4 x 1st, 2/3 x 2nd
Edel: DM & RM, any 3/4 x 1st, 3/3 x 2ndl
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Stirling
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#137 Post by Stirling »

Fawkes

Fawkes: save vs Poison vs 10+ [1d20]=10

Resisting the stench effects from the ghastly figure, I will back away quickly down the corridor to warn the others that I have discovered and disturbed the lair of undead.

Trying to turn any who chase me.

"In the Name ... in the Name!" I will shout out, raising my holy symbol.

Fawkes: Turn Undead: attempt [1d20]=15 number turned [1d12]=1 turn duration [3d4]=12
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#138 Post by Ythgar »

Goran, Halfling interpreter

Goran summons his knowledge of orcish and puzzles through the Basil graffiti.
"Basil is a K-night?" he mutters,
then, trying to think like an orc, "Basil is a K-obold lover?"
"Basil is a K-ook?", he mutters a little less softly,
"Basil is a K-razy?", he mutters again softly,
"Basil is a K-rap?", he mutters louder, speaking quickly through various renditions,
"Basilis a K-illjoy?"
"Basilis-a-K-lutz?"
"Basilika, basilica, basilis---k....", he pauses, and slower and louder, incredulous,
"Basilisk???"
"Basilisk???", Goran shuts his eyes.

He then clearly says from the shadows to his comrades,
"Fellas, exactly how petrified are those turds? . . . I think there's a BASILISK around . . ."[/diolog]

Goran keeps his eyes in a very hard squint, pulls his makeshift veil down for good measure, and fishes his large metal mirror out of his pouch. He holds it in his left hand above his shoulder and turns his head to look in it so the reflection is of what lay in front of him.

Goran will use the mirror to look around the room and to guide his own movements from this point on.
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#139 Post by Rex »

Brick

Brick moves and attacks the undead.

Does he get a bonus for being invisible?

Bastard Sword [1d20+2]=4+2=6 to hit [2d4+5]=5+5=10
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Re: Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

#140 Post by gurusql »

Vennar

Since I was trailing Fawkes, I will try and help him with turning the undead.

Turn Undead:Attempt-[1d20]=20 # turned-[1d12]=1 Duration-[3d4]=9
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