Dungeon Crawl: Second Party IC

[HuskyBoi]

The four of you stand on the stage, hands raised in triumph, and the crowd roars and cheers once more, the volume almost deafening. Thousands of warriors, mercenaries, hedge wizards, wandering troublemakers and seekers-of-all-fortune have travelled to Baron Washgovi's annual festival of adventure. Jousts, arena battles, duels between summoned beasts and obstacle courses of all descriptions are set up across acres of land for all to participate. But you four, standing on the stage by the Baron himself, have the greatest honour, and the greatest challenge. You have been selected to participate in the Dungeon of Death. A hundred thousand gold sovereigns, endless glory, and a trophy in the shape of a golden trout await you, should you survive. But more importantly, if you survive, you will have the distinct reward of being the first party ever to do so.

The door lies open behind you, and Baron Washgovi has delivered his speech to the cheering crowd. The time has come. You turn around and enter the dungeon.

There are no lights inside, only what little seeps through from outdoors. The corridor is only five feet wide, paved with heavy stone slabs. The walls are stone too, roughly chiseled into shape at the entrance. The ceiling is a good eight feet high, plenty for everyone. Ahead of you, the corridor continues for twenty-five feet before it turns to the left.

Select a marching order, and enter the Dungeon of Death. Champions, good luck.

[ellna]

Elizabeth gathered her three fellow delvers, prior to the announcement of their success. It was clear the way the tournament had been going that these fine fellows now settled around the empty table with her would soon be stood before the crowd ready to enter the dungeon. The hour grew near, but first a feast. The table was suddenly filled with resplendent food, such that the legs began to bow. Each loaf sparkled glistened with a hearty magic and tasted fit for a king. For it would be folly to enter such a trial without one last, great, meal...

Elizabeth stood fearlessly before the great yawning doors. Clad from head to ankle in gleaming plate. It seemed both to drink in the light and glow with an eerie power. Her shield rested on her arm, tightly bound in place and the only weapon she seemed to carry was a small dagger, clearly ceremonial in purpose. From beneath the helmet a soft pale blue light emanated, though those heros among her had seen the cause when she had ate with them. Her eyes had the glow and were solidly blue, her skin red as fresh blood, clear marks of a devil spawn. Though perhaps the cloven feet that she stood on were the clearest sign of her heritage.

Well forth they must go and so she calmly walked into the dungeon, ready to shepherd those of destiny alive, or perhaps their souls, through its many tests.

I suggest the Marching order of either, Elizabeth at the front as bashy blob or Elizabeth at the back and stealths at the front. I prefer Elizabeth at the back as I never really intended her as a fighter.

Also Notes: Elizabeth has permanent Deathwatch (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/deathwatch) active as an at will spell-like ability; can see the ethereal; can stabilise at a touch and finally rip your soul from your dying body to eat...
Oh and return you from the just beyond the brink of death. :smallbiggrin:Feast (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/h/heroes-feast)Cadeyrn:[roll0]
Shiroi:[roll1]
Elizabeth:[roll2]
Ghurk:[roll3]
Elizabeth has bolstered herself with, Delay Pain (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/delay-poison) & Delay Poison (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/d/delay-poison).

[bryn0528]

The white and ghostly face of the bird betrayed no emotion, for it could not smile or frown or quake in fear. Only the bloody eyes seemed to sparkle with pride. At the feast, he gorged himself and spoke little. Some might think so much food would hinder a person, but birds were known to fill themselves regularly and with gusto. Some of the food that appeared before the albino Tengu looked rather putrid.

He stood before the doors, twin sickles in each claw. Curved, wicked things of dark and blackened metal, having tasted a hundred throats in their days, whispering a bloodlust for what's to come. He too, smells strongly of bloodlust.

The doors open, and on silent feet he flies. He comes to the end of the hall (if not stopped) and turns to face down the bend. Using the strength of his sight, better at seeing in semi-darkness than many others, he pierces the unknown with a cunning eye.


If no one else opposes, Shiroi will take the lead. His class feature Light Feet will keep him from setting off most traps during movement (though he still activates triggers and what not as normal at the end of his turn).

Perception check, down the bend at the end of his movement: [roll0].

[Falcon777]

Cadeyrn Keyas ate quickly and gratefully. He then introduced himself to the group.

"I'm Cadeyrn Keyas, arcane sorcerer with a bit of preference for summoning. Best of luck to us, eh?"

Cadeyrn appeared to be clothed in fairly poor clothing, his robe clearly having been patched many times. However, he was clean shaven and smelled as if he had recently taken a bath. And while his clothing wasn't of great quality, it did seem to be free of dirt and stains.

Cadeyrn casts overland flight on himself before entering the dungeon with his fellow delvers.

As to marching order, I'd also prefer Cadeyrn to be towards the back, so if the sneaky guys could be up front and Elizabeth in the far back, Cadeyrn could be protected on both sides. :smallbiggrin: At least for the time being.

[Arkive]

The little goblin happily gorges himself at the feast, downing more than a creature of his size really should. He stops only when Cadeyrn finishes his introduction. Jumping up on his chair to get level with everyone else, the goblin proudly proclaims, "I be Ghurk, top-best dungeonraider from goblin tribe!"

The grubby goblin excitedly enters the dungeon, thinking of the possible loot. He pulls a torch out of his bandoleer, proceeded to use it as a walking stick, and hurries after Shiroi.

Ghurk has Trap Spotter (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/rogue/rogue-talents/paizo---rogue-talents/trap-spotter-ex) and darkvision, so he'd be good up front. I'm fine with Shiroi and Ghurk taking lead, followed by Cadeyrn and then Elizabeth.

[HuskyBoi]

The first corner turns left, continues for fifteen feet, and then takes a right turn. As the party walks along, no traps immediately spring out of the wall, no monstrous golems or hidden badgers leap out to assault you. For now it is quiet.

It is also dark. With the two turnings, light has disappeared from the outside world. It is now pitch-black, and only darkvision or your own light sources will allow you to see the way.

Ahead of you, the corridor continues for twenty feet before splitting into three. One path continues straight, and two more branch off to the right and the left. Both the right and the left corridors go only a short distance before turning, and the forward corridor ends at a wooden door.

As you enter, Shiroi has the presence of mind to glace up. The ceiling just above the crossroads is different from the other stone. It is covered in tiny triangles and squares in different colours that form a strange diamond pattern, in green, brown and tarnished gold. In the centre of the diamond, small black stones appear to spell out some writing...

[ellna]

Elizabeth paces slowly behind the others as they assume an order. She walks with the stride reminiscent of an old mother watching her children. In a way this is true. Reaching the intersection she pauses allowing Shiroi to decide a path... or indeed one of the others.

It is clear that the darkness is no hindrance to Elizabeth and she makes no item to ignite a light. Her plate also seems to her a feather's burden which she bears without comment.

Marching order Shiroi,Ghurk,Cadeyrn&Elizabeth.
I've no particular preference on a path or action here.
:smallsmile:

[bryn0528]

Shiroi squinted, but otherwise could not see for the light was too dim. He tucked away his weapons in exchange for a torch, which he lit. "Writing," he said simply, gesturing upwards with a claw.

I'm assuming the writing is some sort of code? Or perhaps Shiroi is simple unable to read it himself.

Making a Linguistics check to see if he can decipher the message: [roll0].

[Arkive]

Ghurk snarls and back out from under the pattern. He knows writing is dangerous magics and steals words from your head. He focuses instead on the pattern around the writing, trying to make sense of it.

Like most goblins in PF, Ghurk is illiterate and supersticious about writing.

Knowledge check on the pattern:
[roll0]
+4 more if it's (dungeoneering) or (engineering)

Does anyone want to map out the dungeon as we travel?

[Falcon777]

Cadeyrn picked up a pebble and called out Light!"
adding to the light from Shiroi's torch. He then looked up.

"Hmm, I wonder what this is..." He then slowly drifted upwards to get a closer look.

Knowledge arcana roll: [roll0]

[HuskyBoi]

The writing, on close inspection, turns out to be entirely non-magical, and written in common language everyone can understand.

"He who strikes your heel, and who's head you crush, hides the first keystone"

There is no further explanation, but Shiroi knows precisely where it is from: the writings of Pelor. The snake is the one who's head is crushed, and who strikes your heel.

Beyond that, there is no further explanation.

[Falcon777]

Cadeyrn turned back towards his companions and spoke:

"So, do we want to go left, right, or straight?"

[bryn0528]

"Door's locked, why else need a key?" Shiroi shook his head. "Left is closer to the outside, I think. Right goes further in." He paused for a moment. "Let's go left, for now. We're looking for something very specific at the moment--serpents--so we can turn around if we don't find any." His voice was oddly smooth and even, and he spoke in almost formal tones.

Shiroi took his torch and set it in the middle of the path. He also took a single caltrop from his stores and set it to point the way towards the left path. "Unless of course anyone can see already where the snakes are."

[ellna]

Elizabeth stands silently as the writings are examined and makes no spoken input to the decision. However when Shinroi speaks, the metal figure nods and stands ready to follow.

Left is good.

[Arkive]

Ghurk looks around. "See no snakes here. We go left. Hunt some snakes for you, birdman." He heads down the left path, his torch still unlit.


Perception, if needed:
[roll0]

[HuskyBoi]

The party travels left at the fork, and on the ceiling above you, the green-and-gold mosaic continues, the snake's tail winding away forwards. At the end of the left-hand corridor the passage turns right after some twenty-five feet. As it turns, there is a long hanging curtain in a sickly green colour. It is tattered and torn and extremely dirty- just looking at it feels like it might be enough to cause a serious visually-transmitted infection. It sways slightly, as though still settling from something passing through. Or maybe it's just the wind...

[ellna]

Elizabeth waits for a moment, to see if anyone else is going to proceed first, before stepping forward and tearing down the sickly curtain to see what lies beyond.

[Arkive]

Ghurk doesn't quite like the filthy curtain. He doesn't quite know why. He does, however, know how to deal with things he doesn't like. "We can burn it, maybe?" A wide, hopeful smile spreads across the goblin's wide face.