Chapter 1: To seek a Great Perhaps

[coil23]

Horton feels somewhat conflicted though moral quandaries always seem so tiring and often useless. He would not mind if all of the ugly babies were suddenly snuffed out. Just the thought of it gives him a moment of peace as he imagines the quiet that would ensue- befitting of a well-managed library it would be. Personally, the librarian decidedly sides with the starlings along this divide. But still...

Looking to Deet as he sounds as if he is of a similar mind, perhaps we should. We could just dislodge the stone to release the trapped baby and then leave them all alone and go about our business. Another consideration, while that filthy thing wails so, it is much more likely to draw other, worse danger to our location. His mind is drawn back again to that ludicrous yet tragic scene of the trapped baby. He mulls over that this could be an allegory of a Sisyphus who suddenly discovers that cessation and salvation become worse than the tragic eternity just ended. A painting depicting the scene would need to omit much of the feces in order to sustain the majesty and profundity of the tableau. Hmmm, better yet- representation in clay would be both more fitting and allow us to dispense with the matted hair altogether. How noble and poignant the piece could be. It would be ideal if placed in the right alcove when one first enters the archive reserves. Yes, yes, wouldn't it just.

When Horton saw the scene, how difficult did it look like it would be to dislodge the stone trapping the baby? Could just one or two people manage it? (even ones not up to the standards of 13 strength?)

[Pulpatoon]

When Horton saw the scene, how difficult did it look like it would be to dislodge the stone trapping the baby? Could just one or two people manage it? (even ones not up to the standards of 13 strength?)

I'll say a combined STR of 23 would move the chunk by rolling it. Probably too heavy to move by lifting.

[coil23]

Horton Portencium, practically brawny as far as librarian standards and egregious stereotypes go, has a strength of 12 to contribute to a pool of 23 to free the hideous, wailing, egg-sucker. Any takers?

[Stirling]

'Shaggy' Beaker helped with the door. Wooden scraping and animal sounds make him connect that to the baby nursery. He thinks of a toddler giant on a push mobile and a giant pup. "Let's run through the babes dodging the toppling statues before the nanny comes along."

Grabbing Mouse, he dashes through the baby room, "Make way, make way, oh do be quiet, make way.".

[mjulius]

Behind the slab, sounds are clearly heard: many feet in hurried movement; a squeaking, like heavy wood being pushed around a marble floor; and a second squeaking—louder and more animal.

Langston, furrows his brow, visibly worried: "That's not a catapult, is it?

[Pulpatoon]

'Shaggy' Beaker helped with the door. Wooden scraping and animal sounds make him connect that to the baby nursery. He thinks of a toddler giant on a push mobile and a giant pup. "Let's run through the babes dodging the toppling statues before the nanny comes along."

Grabbing Mouse, he dashes through the baby room, "Make way, make way, oh do be quiet, make way.".

I need some clarification on this post. Shaggy runs out of the Audience Chamber of Horrible Babies, and then helps move the stone slab blocking the left door?

[Wizard Lizard]

Horton Portencium, practically brawny as far as librarian standards and egregious stereotypes go, has a strength of 12 to contribute to a pool of 23 to free the hideous, wailing, egg-sucker. Any takers?

I have STR 11!

Vanis decides that babies, while still horrifying, are less dangerous than a potential small army, and goes to help Horton with the baby-saving task. "Still, be wary. Newborn aren't particularly well-known for their thankfulness. When the deed is done, we need to get away from them, and fast."

[coil23]

Horton agrees heartily with Vanis, Yes, whether to thank us or attack us- I want nothing to do with the hairy slug once the rock is off of it. Let's roll it carefully so as not to crush it further. Listen to me! I sound like some fervent, starry-eyed friar fresh from the seminary. Consideration of others is such a slippery slope (and thankless!). I mustn't make a habit of this.

Horton will work with Vanis to gently roll the rock off the disgusting baby without hurting it any further.

[Urson]

Jake smiles when the rescue is mounted, and gladly adds his strength to moving the rock off the trapped baby ogre(?)
As soon as it's free, he snatches up his maul and heads back out of the room.

[Stirling]

wrote on Thurs 1st, that Shaggy Beaker would help move the slab doorway if needed.

Sorry am getting a bit lost with so many folk doing do many things.

Basically Beaker will usher Mouse to the other end of the baby nursery. What he foresees is more statues toppling and wants to avoid those and any nanny entering to attend the crying babies. The other room gives the impress of older kids/animals and that could be worse that navigating by the babies.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kurt, Will & Hans make way to the other slab waiting to find out what is discovered on the other side.

[Pulpatoon]

Split Party!

In the Audience Chamber
Vanis, Horton, and Jake return to the Audience Chamber to relive the pinned baby. They find that a fourth statue was indeed toppled by the second group of babies. Two of them lie, thoroughly squished, underneath. The rest of their monstrous cohort ignores them as they crawl and toddle around, looking for starling eggs. This statue, however, did not support a nest.

The pinned baby: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

The stone pinning the screaming baby resists movement, at first, and requires a little rocking the get it started. This raises the babies pained howls to even greater pitch.

RHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHR!

With your combined efforts, the broken hunk of statuary is removed. The baby continues to scream.

BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAHAAAAAH!

Horton feels a tug at his ankle. One of the babies has grabbed the cuff of his pant-leg. It is moving its open, slobbering mouth towards his ankle.
STR check to pull free from the baby.

The Putti Rotunda, before the left slab
The stone slab resists falling inward, for reasons that become apparent as soon as it is moved aside: There is huge, broken credenza immediately on the other side.

Beyond the credenza is an expansive white-marble entrance hall filled with furniture and bustling, frantic activity. There are dresser drawers, tables, armchairs, shelves, ottomans, stools, divans, bed frames, desks, pedestals, armoires, chests, couches, washstands, workbenches, curio cabinets, a wine rack, pillows, tapestries, and even a couple of stone thrones. Much of the furniture is proportioned to human-size, but several pieces are gigantic. They have been piled and shoved in a barricade down the middle of the hall.

The wall of furniture is 40’ wide, 20-60’ tall, and runs the full 360 length of the room.

The Crooked Theodolite: The room is 360’ square.

To the left is a single arched door, over which are carved the words: THE WISE MAY BE INSTRUCTED BY A FOOL.

To the right are three flights of wooden stairs, ascending to an attic that partially hand out over the entry hall. Each set of stairs is 60’ wide, and climb to 80’ high.

On your right are three giant white mice. They are ten feet tall. Their eyes are milky and blind, but the mice sniff the air with certainty as they crouch and ready themselves to scrabble over the barricade.

On your left are a dozen living toy soldiers. They are wood, brightly painted in red and green uniforms, and sporting very large, square teeth. Each is about 4’ tall. They are armed with wooden sabers.

The mice spare your entrance only the briefest questioning ear twitch. The toy soldiers look in your direction before returning their attention to the soon-to-pounce animals.

[coil23]

No good deed goes unpunished, Horton thinks tiredly. He tries to yank his leg free of the ingrate.

Str (12) [3d6] = 14

Seeing that will be unsuccessful he whacks at the thing with his cane to try and get it to release him.

Next stop: vial of acid!

[Pulpatoon]

If Horton swung his cane hard enough to be an attack, please roll damage.

The horrible baby latches its tusked, gummy mouth on Horton's ankle with terrible pressure. Horrible Baby Bite: [1d4] = 4 That's all your hp and 2 STR. Please roll against your reduced STR to avoid critical damage.

The attention of several other horrible babies has been drawn to the party. They begin to make floppy, teetering steps in the party's direction.

[Wizard Lizard]

If Horton swung his cane hard enough to be an attack, please roll damage.

The horrible baby latches its tusked, gummy mouth on Horton's ankle with terrible pressure. Horrible Baby Bite: [1d4] = 4 That's all your hp and 2 STR. Please roll against your reduced STR to avoid critical damage.

The attention of several other horrible babies has been drawn to the party. They begin to make floppy, teetering steps in the party's direction.

"Oh dear God! Let him go!", and Vanis flails his axe violently at the baby's mouth, covering his face with the other hand in horror. Nobody eats his companion's legs.

[1d6] = 1

By the way, I don't want to sound like a dirty rules-lawyer, but shouldn't Saves use 1d20 instead of 3d6 in RAW? Is there a house rule I missed?

[Pulpatoon]

Thanks for catching that, WizLiz. Yes, it should be a 1d20 check.

[GreyWolfVT]

Kurt scratches his head "Is it just me or did we lose someone? Did someone stay back with the wailing babies?"

[mjulius]

Brick laughs. Here's some wood soldiers you can defend, woodsman!, gesturing towards Langston. Let's take advantage of the diversion! He dives in, crouching close to the wall of furniture so the mice would have to heave themselves over him towards the soldiers.

Langston follows Brick, muttering obscenities. Fine, but should we then go up?! The mice and soldiers will block our path to the leftmost door. It's the one with your name upon it.

How high is each step? Five feet?

[Pulpatoon]

These steps are human-scaled.

[Urson]

Jake- Helping deal with Ogre Children

Jake holds his maul in both hands, the handle horizontal. He'll use this to block the Nassssty Babies and push them back while Horton gets free. His intent is to stop these things without hurting them (YET!!).