Sneaking into the Ruined Temple

[gurusql]

Vennar

Vennar knowing that strength is not his speciality he will continue to watch the group flank for the return of the ghouls or worse.

[Scott308]

Durrant Winterflame - Human Magic User

Durrant tries to stay out of the way of those rescuing Fawkes from below, keeping an eye on the newly opened wall, hoping nothing finds its way through it.

[Straither]

Sneaking in the Ruined Temple.

Fawkes slices the nearest soldier ant. -8hp. Goran does not find any shadows to hide in. You target some ants but they wriggle and scuttle too quick to get an accurate trace upon them and your arrows ping harmlessly upon the cellar floor. With several giant ants squished and the main instinct to preserve the nest eggs, the drone ants concentrate upon hive preservation and flee into tunnels leaving just a handful of Soldier Ants to hold the fort. Once Fawkes gets hauled up he becomes out of reach and though they swarm upon the mossy rubble, they can only wave stingers and agitate mandibles at him.

If that floor is now completely collapsed, he will move up the other side of the remaining floor instead.

Mortar tries to inch his way along the left hand wall, the ledge tenuous under his feet. Like walking upon thin ice, each step leaves a ragged cracking that fractures in longer and deeper scars across the surface as he moves. After only a couple of short steps from the safety of the doorway, the ledge buckles and drops to the cellar. Mortar falls too, his outstretched hands seemingly grasping thin air but one in the party can see the danger that the illusionist is in as he moves and this time it is Jacupo who reaches out with a lunge to grasp him by the wrist. He himself is almost pulled off the ledge and those behind have to grab a leg or ankle each, Galadria, Rogger & Esther adding themselves to the priestly pile on.

Once each person's grip is secure and steady, they haul up the Jacupo who in turn still holds firm to Mortar. This ledge also is too risky to cross.

Mortar threads carefully? vs 1-2 [1d6]=3 (no, his weight is still too much).
Jacupo Dex check vs 12 [1d20]=2

Olleg, Edel & Brick combine to haul upon the rope that is fixed into several U-shaped spikes along the wall and still fixed in the same fashion to the broken block of stone wall that collapsed upon Fawkes and furthermore still tied around his waist. So once you pull, you drag not just the Half-orc but the dead weight of a portion of the masonry.

Just another day in the gym for Brick and he anchors the trio pulling. They walk backwards down the stairs as Fawkes gets lifted up from the floor. He can cut himself free of the rope and grab the edge of the gap into the outer courtyard. Once Fawkes frees himself, you can retrieve the rope through each spiked piton.

Sneak ruined in the Ruin? vs 1-2 [1d6]=4

Despite the heavy crash of ledge and wall, there is no immediate investigation drawn to the scene. With both ledges in dangerous states, the only route now appears the central beam.

Vennar & Durrant check in the corridor. You are happy to report that no Ghouls have yet returned to haunt their lair.

Action Fawkes you are in the gap to the internal courtyard. To make to either archway in the room, I need a successful Climb Walls roll.

Everyone else, to cross using the beam, you can go one at a time, provide me a d20 Dexterity check to cross quickly (not roped together for security). Being roped together for safety can ensure you all cross securely but as it takes longer, it may risk an extra patrol or wandering creature check for the delay.

Actions please.

[Rex]

Brick

"We should rope up and I will go last."

[Ythgar]

Goran

Goran sets to tying knots that will both hold and be able to untie if necessary. He shows others how to untie the knots he makes and proceeds across the makeshift bridge with his teeth clenched on a dagger.

[Scott308]

Durrant Winterflame - Human Magic User

The small mage carefully watches Goran's demonstration on knot tying, then steps up to attach himself in the rope line next.

[Stirling]

Fawkes

Fawkes: Hide in Shadows attempt vs 15% [1d100]=55

Tries to blend in with the undergrowth nearby the gap in the wall. I will watch from some vantage point for patrolling orcs and even those Harpy creatures if anyone gets drawn to investigate while the team cross the beam.

[OGRE MAGE]

"Thanks everyone. I investigated the narrow side and it also appears unsafe to cross."

Mortar dusts himself off before thanking his quick thinking rescuer. "I suppose that makes us even, friend. But I will continue to keep an eye out for you both, if you promise to do the same."

Wondering if Brick could just toss him the full distance as they have done a few times before, Mortar instead waits his turn on the rope.

"Nasty business finding these slaves," he mutters while keeping a look-out at the rear of the group.

[Howman]

[Olleg, Dwarf, 31/33]

Grumbling to the others, "I don't much like the look of that beam, but roped together, I suppose it should be safe enough," Olleg follows Goran's example and secures himself next in line. Once the entire party is linked together, he will proceed in turn over the beam, carefully eyeing the other side, alert for any unexpected trouble.

[gurusql]

Vennar

"I agree, roping up in the way to go."

Just in case the DEX roll is still needed.
DEX:17 [_1d20]=(4)=4

[Straither]

Sneaking in the Ruined Temple.

Ruined courtyards

Fawkes surveys the courtyard area exposed by the wall collapse. As folk rope up to cross the inside room, he takes the opportunity to explore a little.

Temple: courtyard ruins vs 1 [1d6]=3

The immediate area is strewn with rubble; both large stone blocks and piles of rotted beams, rafters and the leftovers of abandoned tools. A rusted wheelbarrow has some hammers and spades. No work men are about though and you can roam freely in this courtyard. It has some remnant walls that still stand which acts as a demarcation between the courtyard quarters. Aware that there are patrols upon the exterior Temple walls, you hope any who pass by are concentrating their watch upon the city surrounds rather than looking for intruders within. Taking a turn you can move towards a gap in one part of the boundary wall that would at some point have held a door. Peering beyond there is another courtyard in a similar vein of dereliction though you spot an in one sheltered corner what could only be described as a stone igloo. Made of stone pieces placed one of top of the other. While you might marvel at the craftsmanship, you can also note that many bleached bones and skulls are used in the construction.






Actions for Fawkes please.

[Straither]

Sneaking in the Temple

treacherous room

After the side ledges both prove to perilous to cross, the only choice remaining is the central beam and some nimble footwork is required. Thirty feet below is the rubble strewn cellar and nest of giant ants. The ghoul body has been dismembered; drone ants drag various limbs and portions of dissected torso down their burrowed tunnels. The grimacing ghoul skull passed along a line of drone workers like a 'pass the parcel' routine, the head bobbing along until it took is taken into a tunnel. While hellish-red soldier ants once more return to their guard duties, drones go back to harvesting from the mossy growths and fungi. The first nervous steps are made along the beam. Goran taking the short straw, roped onto others in case he slips. Arms outstretched, he balances with poise and grace, the beam though creaks and groans, bowing under his weight but once he passes the middle portion, he can quickstep to the other side. One by one, characters and NPC's take turns to cross. Esther straddles the beam as does Rogger, crossing in a sitting position and shuffling along rather than risking stepping by foot.

Beam exercise vs 1 [1d6]=2 [1d6]=4

Taking time ... once more the dice gods favour the prayers of the sneaking saints and you cross without interruption from vengeful ghouls or investigative patrols.

As the first pair to cross, Goran & Durrant can peer along the next section of corridor. It turns into another narrow passage about thirty feet long with a side alcove set into the wall. Three large barrels, stained with a sticky brown syrup fill the alcove. The lids are tightly sealed and old candle stubs placed on top. A ripped calendar of lewd and scantily dressed wenches is stashed in one corner, some pages are stuck together.

The passage opens to a set of stairs that descends into a small stone chamber, about twenty feet square with a closed door set in the north wall. This door, unlike the others you have passed which have been splintered and broken is actually in well maintained order, with oak panelling and reinforced hinges. The room has lots of flies and gnats that buzz about, principally feeding off a sweet smelling midden heap of tarry rags and slough that is piled in the far corner.

Actions everyone please as you progress.

[Stirling]

Fawkes

If it takes a turn or more for the group to cross the beam, I will use half of that, (he estimates a few rounds then go back to finish crossing himself). He just can't fight the temptation to explore, wondering about icon hero Ogre and what became of the other heroes. Is one inside the stone edifice? Is it some kind of mausoleum, maybe a hovel for the gardener, a crematorium to deal with dead bodies?

I cast my Detect Evil spell and concentrate upon the stone igloo and its dark entrance.

[Rex]

Brick

Brick waits, holding the rope for the others and then ties it around his waist and goes last.

[Scott308]

Durrant Winterflame - Human Magic User

"Hmm. Well, this area sees some use. We'll need to start being very cautious since we don't know when the next door will have slavers behind it." Durrant will peruse the barrels while he waits for the others to cross.

[Ythgar]

Goran Halfling Thief

Goran sheathes his dagger and unties himself from the rope. Looking down the thirty foot corridor, he takes a moment to listen, and then proceeds down the corridor checking for traps. He checks the barrels in the alcove for traps also, and looks closely for any signs of recent use. If no traps are found he'll continue checking traps to the end of the corridor. At the end of the hall he will hide in shadows while he waits for others to catch up to him.

[gurusql]

Vennar

Vennar will be looking for incoming hostiles from the side that he is currently on.

[OGRE MAGE]

Invisible Mortar hums softly to himself as the group progresses along, mostly so he doesnt get stepped on by any of the bigs.

"Agreed master Durrant. We will all need to remain vigilant from here on. No more pounding and hopefully no fighting for a while either."

The unseen gnome pulls the front of his robes up to cover his nose and mouth before heading over to the odd gnatty pile in the corner to investigate it closer.

[Edeldhur]

Edeldhur and Pallas

Master and Familiar cross the plank, then Edel waits at the exit from the room, for Fawkes to return.

[Straither]

Sneaking in the Temple Ruin:

By the alcove

Goran & Durrant take a moment to check out the trio of stained barrels. They are quite aged barrels but sincere with no apparent leakage except streaks of staining around the lids. Whatever is inside sloshes side to side when a barrel is tipped. There is no corked hole or tap fitted into the barrels, rather the lids are tightly sealed and air tight to help mature whatever vintage is inside. Goran braces a crowbar against one metal band to leverage a lid open. Inside is a scummy thin liquid, littered with cloudy sediment and giving off a sour, vinegary smell. More potato-mash hooch made with peelings than classic sun-ripened grape wine. A dip with a tankard and a slurp taste test ends up with a spit rather than swallow.

The lids are tightly sealed and old candle stubs placed on top. A ripped calendar of lewd and scantily dressed wenches is stashed in one corner, some pages are stuck together.

While Goran peers into the barrels, Durrant can check the calendar. The portraits styled in sepia imaged peepshow fashion, wenches in provocative poses dressed in flamboyant lingerie. The last month's portrait is that of a bearded dwarven babe, the only one not yet 'visited and lusted' over; on its reverse are several runic scripts and arcane calligraphy, as if someone was tracing a note work of spell research upon it.

As you both contemplate the vinegary hooch and the calendar, you hear a cry of alarm from the next room.



Actions Goran & Durrant