Dragonlance - Kender War (IC)

[Aneurin]

The War of the Lance rages; the Queen of Darkness has returned to Krynn, and with her come her shrieking hosts of dragons, and legions of ogres, goblins and a new race never before seen on Krynn - draconians.

The world has failed to unite against them, each race stands alone; divided. Soon the last bastions of light will fail and darkness will reign triumphant. The last glimmer of hope comes, strangely enough, in the form of the kender. The mischievous, irresponsible, irrepressable kender are the only race prepared to unite with all others in defence of the world.

Under the leadership of Kronin Thistleknott of Kendermore, the kender have formed an army and are coming to the aid of the beleagured Solamnic Knights - whether the Knights want their aid or not. Kendermore, however, has no standing navy and so the volunteers must find passage to Ansalon however they can.

This is where you come in; somehow, you've gained passage on a ship to Solamnia. One day, however, a thick mist arrises. All around you the crew are making warding signs against evil - there's something about the fog that worries them.

[Karen Lynn]

"Isn't fog wonderful? So much mystery! No telling what could be there! Why, I bet my Uncle Trapspringer would be surprised to see me now! Well, I'm sure I have a telescope in here somewhere..."

[Hamste]

I'm so excited for this. This fog is so cool, let's see if we can see anything in it. Do you think it's magical? Maybe it's a kender eating fog of doom and we are all going to die. That would be so cool. I better check it out to make sure. Pyrom yelled while hopping around looking at the random stuff on the ship. He then pulled a random item from his pouch and cast light on it. That being done he threw it into the cloud to see if it receded from the light or not. His eyes then changed color slightly as he activated Detect Magic to see if there is anything magical on the ship.

Cast both light and detect magic. I would still like to kow what item I threw even if I threw it away

[Karen Lynn]

Surprised by her companion, Serena smiles. " It's not a kender eating fog, or it would've eaten me already! It's definitely a mystery fog of adventure!" Serana will draw out of one of her pouches the first cylindrical item she can, expecting a telescope.

[Hamste]

Surprised by her companion, Serena smiles. " It's not a kender eating fog, or it would've eaten me already! It's definitely a mystery fog of adventure!" Serana will draw out of one of her pouches the first cylindrical item she can, expecting a telescope.

Maybe it's just full right now. Or maybe we are already eaten and this is it's stomach. I would have thought a cloud's stomach would have more in it than a ship and some water. Think we will give it gas and that it will burp out thunderclouds? Pyrom said. This ship was so boring he was glad something interesting was finally happening.

[Karen Lynn]

"Oh! Then we could call ourselves storm kender!"

[Lentrax]

Up above the decks, hanging in some of the ships rigging, Bellamy Tanglemop watches the fog swirl around the ship. Then spotting some of her kin gather around below, she slides down another rope to hang upside down above them.

"That would be so much fun. I've never been in any things stomach before. I mean there was this one time I fell into a cave, and I thought I got eaten."

[Aneurin]

Pyrom's thrown shard of green glass vanishes in to the mist, and there's a faint splash from somewhere nearby. Either there is a very cunning foe close at hand, or there's not actually anything there right now.

With serene grace, Serena pokes herself in the eye with a small green phial in her search for a telescope, mistakenly thinking that the glassy cylinder was a spyglass.


All around you, the crew are pressed up against the rail muttering and signing to themselves. They don't like the mist. From somewhere at the stern, you can hear the captain ordering a change of course. The sailors set to with a will, and the ship turns rapidly - however, the bank of fog changes course to follow you.

The mist is not magical. You see pretty much nothing in the light. However, it is not yet upon you.

Please everyone make a Listen test.

[Lentrax]

"Ooh, its following us. This is going to be fun!"

Listen: [roll0]

[Hamste]

See, I told you it wanted to eat us. This is going to be so much fun. If were lucky it will be slow and we will be able to see where the cloud's food goes. Ooh what is i that green phial? You should drink it and see if it's poisonous or the cure for everything. Pyrom said grinning at the mist.


[roll0] ...I hope you people have a better roll modifier than I do.

[Karen Lynn]

"No way! Glowing green stuff? Totally a prophetic, 'you will know when it's time' type thing.

Listen:
[roll0]

OoC:
I am NOT drinking a flask of acid!

"Still, not what I'm looking for..."

Pouch grab:
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Aneurin]

This time, Serena locates a small, copper-coloured ring with a twining dolphin design around the band.

Serena;
You hear a deep growling coming from within the mist. See also the 'Everyone' spoiler.

Everyone;
You hear the crew muttering amongst themselves. They suspect magic, and evil in general. They don't suspect for any particular reason, they just do.

[Karen Lynn]

"It matches my hair!" Serena puts on the ring. "Huh. I think it is going to eat us! Did anybody else just hear it growl?"

[Aneurin]

Before anyone can respond to Serena's question, the mist engulfs the ship. Curiously, it doesn't feel cold. Instead it feels hot, thick and humid.

You can now all hear a low roar from within the haze that seems to be drawing rapidly nearer. The captain is shouting something, but it's much too late as the roar turns in to a sudden high pitched shriek.

The deck beneath your feet lurches violently.

A DC15 Reflex save to remain standing. If you are stood by the railing and fail the save you have a 50% chance of falling overboard.

[Hamste]

Pyrom clapped his hands and smiled. He was totally unphased at almost falling over right next to the railing. Do it again. That was so much fun. It feels so warm and wet in this place, almost like that time I stuck my head in a drunk orc's mouth. He was passed out but I could tell he liked the taste of my head from the way he gasped and almost threw up.
[roll0] in case this fails here is the roll for falling over High I fall overboard [roll1]

[Lentrax]

"I heard that."

Reflex save: [roll0]

[Karen Lynn]

"Whoah!"


[roll0]
[roll1]


"Yeah, we're totally being eaten."

[Aneurin]

The ship explodes in to action as the well-trained crew begins scrambling to different stations, yelling orders and giving signals to one another.

The entire ship lists to port - or the left-hand side of the ship for all you non-nautical types - and the sound of growling is no more intense than ever. Over the railing it is apparent that whatever has struck the hull has attatched itself somehow.

Closer inspection of the damage reveals that a strange vessel that has rammed into the side of the ship just above the waterline. A metal spike that has extended from the bow of the metallic ship and four metallic arms have extended outward from the puncture on the inside hull of the ship. This effectively has trapped the side of the ship snugly against the bow of the smaller vessel.

The growling intensifies as the iron shod craft begins to push against the ship with an alarming force. You can hear the sides of the ship straining with the power of the smaller vessel.

The captain is cursing and yelling orders. Evidently his crew refuses to board the other ship. They have never seen a design like it and the mixture of noises and obvious power of the smaller ship have them cowed.

[Karen Lynn]

Serena Jumps for the ship. If she doesn't die outright, she will try to find something to do.

Jump
[roll0]
Tumble to reduce damage
[roll1]
Accursed armor check penalty...

[Hamste]

Oooh me second, me second. Pyrom said as he jumped onto the other vessal.

[roll0] for jump (doesn't include what ever bonus their is for running jump) and [roll1] for tumble.

[Lentrax]

Bellamy starts looking for some rope to swing herself over.

search:[roll0]

[Aneurin]

Bellamy finds a rope without much trouble, while Pyrom and Serena crash to the deck of the strange vessel some fifteen feet below.

I don't recall the falling damage off-hand, but I suspect it's not a huge amount.

The climb check for the rope is 10, or 20 to clamber down the side of the hull.

There's a deep reverberation across the ship; you can feel a deep throbbing coming through the deck. It makes it rather difficult to hear anything.

So long as you remain on the top deck, take a -2 to Listen checks.

The strange vessel is about 45 feet long and fifteen wide. It sits low in the water; very low. In fact, the waves lap against the hull just two feet below the deck you stand on. Peering over the side, you can just make out the legend MNS <0. Around the edge of the deck are a number of pipes that vanish over the side somewhere below the waves. Hanging off the bow of the iron vessel is the massive spear of metal that punctured a hole in the hull of your ship. The entire apparatus is covered in wires, gears and bolts, a number of which are now littering the deck surrounding the device.

The deck is deserted, and there are no sounds of life from below. Whatever the craft was made for, they are small. The doorway leading downwards is almost perfectly kender-sized. Likewise, the railings around the ship are designed for beings of your stature and would be unlikely to prevent anyone larger from falling overboard should they slip.

And slip they are likely to; the deck is slick with condensed mist making footing treacherous, even for the ever-nimble kender.

If you attempt to move faster than a walk, make a Reflex save.

Make, at your discretion, one of the following if you wish to attempt to identify the vessel;

Bardic Lore check
Sailor Lore check
Knowledge (Engineering) check
Craft check

[Hamste]

Pyrom felt some pain as he landed but he didn't let that bother him. He wondered who made this place and tried to think if he heard anything about it. He ran across the door to see if he could find anything cool in there.
[roll0] for the bardic knowledge and reflex save for running to the door [roll1] and falling damage [roll2]

[Lentrax]

"This is so awesome!"Belladonna calls out as she slides down the rope.

"Any idea about what this thing is?"

Use Rope: [roll0]
And I have no relevant skill for intelligence.

[Karen Lynn]

"Well, it's big. Metal. Floats. And it's mine! Seriously, who would leave such a nice thing lying around in the water like this?" Serena will move to enter through the door at a walking pace.

[Aneurin]

Pyrom;
You've heard stories of several boats going missing in the stretch of water, but no-one knows why. Seems like this monstrosity is the cause, although you're not entirely sure what it might be.

Pyrom goes skipping, fleet-footedly across the deck without slipping. As the other two follow at a more sedate pace, they can hear the captain of their ship shouting at the crew - apparently he wants some of the sailors to try and dislodge this strange ship, but the sailors are refusing.

The doorway leads to what appears to be the bridge - as you go through you do note a trapdoor set in to the deck, it's at the far end of the deck by the at the stern.

The bridge of the ship is a small room. Along the wall facing the front of the ship a massive control panel of levers, dials, buttons and wires covers a metal panel of gnome height with three small chairs situated behind it. On the back wall a number of cabinets with charts, manuals and tools have been spilled out all over the floor.

[Hamste]

Pyrom stared at the control panel. He wondered what it would do, maybe it would blow up the ship or drive it around at the speed of a dragon. Naturally he started pulling levers and pressing buttons at random. He wondered what was in those cabinets but this was more interesting to him.

[Aneurin]

There are some groaning noises from deep within the ship, and the deck suddenly lurches, but nothing else happens. Beneath Pyrom's hands, the console begins to feel warm.

You may continue to experiment with it, search the cabinets, leave the room or do any other activity you can reasonably attempt.

[Hamste]

Pyrom giggled as the ship moved. This was so much fun and he loved playing with the console. He started pressing buttons more carefully to see if anything specific happened from it. He wondered if gnomes made this, if they did this was bound to be cool or horrifying.

[Lentrax]

Belladonna lurches to the side as the ship moves.

"Hey! That's fun. Can we do that again?"

[Karen Lynn]

"What was that? How'd you do it?"

Serena will stand inside on the bridge, telling Pyrom what to push/pull/press, thinking herself captain.

[Aneurin]

The whole ship judders again and the console lets out a tortured shriek, before letting out an immense gout of scalding steam that engulfs the room and everyone in it. After a few seconds, however, the agonising cloud disperses and you can see once more.

Surprisingly, the console is still relatively intact and could, theoretically, be used again. It is, however, smoking slightly.

Please make a DC14 Reflex save to halve the following damage;

Pyrom - [roll0] fire
Serena - [roll1] fire
Bellamy - [roll2] fire

You may still search the cabinet and take any actions you can think of.

[Hamste]

...well that hurt a lot. We should do it again! Pyrom said smiling. He then healed himself with one of his powers and then healed his friend that looked most hurt from the steam.
[roll0] ...wow horrible reflex roll. Healing rolls in the ooc

[Karen Lynn]

[roll0]

"Ouch, that's hot!" Serena will search the cabinets.

[Lentrax]

Belladonna lets out a yelp as steam blasts her.

"Stop that! Well, maybe one more time..."

Reflex: [roll0]
Really? A nat 1? Whelp down to 1 hp I go.

[Aneurin]

Serena's search through the damaged cabinet reveals very little; unfortunately most of the books have been ruined by the damp. However, one is still intact; it's called "Sailor's Lore and Other Tall Tales", and it's written by Rikken the Redhanded. Within are a number of tales of a maritime nature, some fantastical and others more serious. It occurs to Serena that a lot could be learned from a book like this.

If read over the course of 24 hours it will provide a +2 bonus to Knowledge (Nature) checks relating to maritime matters, as well as Bardic Lore. It will also increase Marine Lore by 2. All effects are permanent.

[Aneurin]

From outside the cabin, you hear a voice shouting for you - it sounds like the captain. Trooping out on to the deck, you can just make him out through the haze on board his ship.

"Ahoy, there!" he calls out. "Can you kender get this ram free? We can't go anywhere until we get free, and my men won't go aboard the ship - they say it's cursed. If you can get us free, I'll give give you fifty steel each!"

[Karen Lynn]

Serena salutes and shouts back, "Aye aye, Mon Capitan!" Serena then asks Pyrom, "Have you figured out how to move my boat backwards, yet?"

[Hamste]

No idea how to use this thing. I think it might be broken with how warm it is. We could keep trying the panel or we could explore some more. I bet this place is filled with cool stuff. Maybe who ever had this place last left magical items for us. Pyrom said as he walked out the door to the trapdoor he saw on his way here.

[Aneurin]

The wooden deck on the rear of the ship is slick and seems to be damaged as if it was chopped up by an axe. A trapdoor lays at the center rear of the deck. The wood of the trapdoor has swelled with seawater and is now lodged in place.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be another way down below.

There is experience available for the controls, but it will arrive at the end of the adventure.

You may try to break the trapdoor, or force it open. I'll either need attacks to smash it, or Strength checks to force it open. There may be other options available to you if you can think of them.

[Lentrax]

"Stuck, huh? Lets try this."

With a small flourish, a dagger pops out of nowhere and into Belladonna's hand. Wedging it in between the trapdoor and the deck around it, she starts trying to force it open.

Strength check: [roll0]

[Aneurin]

It takes some doing - and Bellamy throwing her full weight on to the dagger - but one of the planks of the hatch rips away, allowing the trapdoor to be opened. With the hatch levered open, rickety steps can be seen descending in to the gloom.

The sound of the growling grows louder.

If no-one has a form of light, then I'm willing to allow a retcon to say you always had a light source if you want to buy one. Or you could wander around in the dark, but I really don't recommend that.

[Karen Lynn]

Serena will pull out her polchak and descend into the gloomy darkness with a bright cheeriness on par with the dark!

[Hamste]

Pyrom pulls out his continual torch and sticks it in his pants so that the flaming bit was still sticking up but he can still use both hands. He then pulled out his bow and followed the others in the group.

[Lentrax]

"Look! Your pants are on fire!"

Bellamy giggles as she flips her other hand, another knife appearing.

[Aneurin]

A set of rickety stairs leads down into a dark room. The smell of stale saltwater and death permeates the space and is slightly sickening. The area is cramped and appears to be an equipment room. Shelves with netting hold a variety of strange tools along each wall. Scraps of metal are scattered around the room. In the far right corner of the room is huddled a small figure.

[Karen Lynn]

Serena will go to tap the figure on his shoulder. "Hi! What are you doing here? How'd you get here? Where is everybody else? Do you like my new boat? I still don't know how it works yet, but I'll figure it out later. Do you know where we are right now?" Serena finally stops for a breath.

[Aneurin]

As you begin to cross the room, a machine in the corner springs to life and approaches you making terrible grinding noises and metallic shrieks. Looking like a metallic lobster the machine wields two drills in the place of claws which are now spinning ominously as it closes.

Insofar as anyone's still paying attention, what with the giant machine coming at you and all, the huddled figure doesn't move.

[Karen Lynn]

Serena will jump back, surprised, then hold up her hand in a stop motion and say, "Stop. Halt!" If it continues to advance, she will attack.

[roll0]
As two handed war hammer.
[roll1]

[Hamste]

Maybe it's friendly! Do you want to be my friend? I take that as a yes. Pyrom said as he skipped forward. If not attacked he would hug the machine and pickpocket from it.

[roll0] sleight of hand check

[Aneurin]

The mechanical monstrosity rocks on it's tracks as the hammer smashes in to it's chest. Swaying for a moment, it let's out a terrible, tortured shriek and lashes out at Serena with one drill before backing across the room until it bumps in to the door leading further in to the ship.

It waves its terrible drills almost defiantly, daring you to approach.

To hit; [roll0]
Damage; [roll1]

Action summary; One Attack, One Move to the door.

[Karen Lynn]

Having deftly avoided the first strike, Serena darts in for another attack with the hammer head. [roll0], [roll1]. So close for a crit...

[Lentrax]

"Look! It has drills for hands! That is so neat!"

As it rushes in and tries to drill into Sarema, Belladonna, steps forward and shouts, "Hey!, That's my friend! You meanie!"
She flourishes her sleeve and a dagger whirls toward the machine at incredible speed.

Attack: [roll0]
Confirming a crit (If threatened): [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

[Hamste]

Ooh maybe there is a gnome in there. Hello gnomey little fellow? You want to come out and play? What no, I guess I will just have to break you out and then fix it. Pyrom said as he drew out his bow and fired one of his durable arrows at it.

Action: draw and fire arrow [roll0] and [roll1]

[Aneurin]

Shattered, perforated and leaking something black and sticky, the lobster-machine slumps back against the door making an agonised whistling noise. It attempts to lurch back to it's tracks, but there's a terrible rending noise from inside it's chest.

After a moment, there's a sharp crack and a brief shower of cogwheels. The machine lets out a final shudder and an almost-agonised whistle, and then slumps, motionless, on the floor.

[Karen Lynn]

"That was fun. What were we doing down here again? Oh, yeah!" Serena will move back to the hunched figure and ask her questions again.

[Hamste]

Anyone want to help me collect all the pieces, they might be useful. I can fix the broken pieces but I won't be able to put it back together again. I bet the gnomes or a wizard would be very interested in this thing. They are always working for random inventions like this. Pyrom said smiling as he started shoveling the pieces together.

Action: keep casting mending until all the pieces seem to be together, jam them all in the chest and mend the chest to seal it in. Also can I have an estimate of it's weight?

[Lentrax]

"I don't like machines."

Going over to retrieve her dagger from the machine, Belladonna wipes it off before sticking back up her sleeve.

Looking at the slumped over form on the floor, she makes a brief suggestion.

"Hit him. That'll wake him up."

[Aneurin]

The figure doesn't respond - and hasn't been able to respond to anything for some time.

The gnome is wearing a leather apron and working clothes; he appears to have been some sort of technician, judging by the jumple of wires and cogs that have spilled out of one of his pockets. He is also quite dead, with a large wound to his stomach.

The machine weighs about 200lbs, but the door it is blocking opens outwards.

[Hamste]

Pyrom started dragging the machine upstairs. Anyone want to help me carry this thing? It's very heavy...I kind of wish I had a magical bag to carry all of this thing. Pyrom said huffing and puffing.


Action:start dragging it up the stairs (I have a drag of 300 pounds so I should be able to do it)

[Karen Lynn]

Serena will clamber of the downed machine, and open the door it was blocking.

"I bet there's treasure in here!" Serena has totally forgotten about the ships being rammed together.