Ghostfoot's Age of Worms (IC) Pt 2

[Battlemage]

Varian El'Djiran

Varian moves very slowly and deliberately across the planks. He liked his clothes and did not relish the idea of sullying them with whatever filth pooled beneath their feet. He gives Jascan an appreciative look for finding and avoiding the trap. "You move well."

Studying the heavy wooden door with a skeptical expression on his scaled features, he turns to Kuln: "Do you think you can do something with this?"

[razorback]

Hearing Varian, Kuln tenses for a moment before disappearing in a cloud of smoke, only to appear next to him. Looking at the lock, he pulls out his tools and goes to work. "Might want to take a step back, just in case."

Spoiler

Show

Use Shadow Jaunt

Search
(1d20+14)[30]
Disable Device if trap found
(1d20+15)[29]
Pick Lock
(1d20+7)[19]

Also, if successful and he can hangback for 5 minutes, he'll regain it.

[Ghostfoot]

Kuln spends some moments inspecting the door, mindful of more tricks and traps that may be present in the sodden warehouse. Eventually he steps back, satisfied that there is nothing deceitful about the door.

After waiting a few minutes more, Kurnos opens the door revelaing a large chamber.

The room is empty aside from two holes in the floor. One is a jagged rip where the floor appears to have fallen away. The other a perfectly square shaft leading down. A wooden platform with a large lever rests about a foot down in the shaft .

Spoiler: Map

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[razorback]

Scanning the room before entering, Kuln walks in with hesitation. Making his way to the square shaft, he looks down before calling back to the others in a low voice. "Well, it looks like our decent into hell begins now." as he give the shaft a look before making his way down.

Spoiler

Show

Spot
(1d20+21)[32]

Listen
(1d20+14)[28]

Search the shaft
(1d20+14)[32]

Move silently down
(1d20+19)[27]

[Togo]

Jascan moves in, and glares at the wooden platform before reluctantly stepping onto it.

Well, this looks safe. he comments gloomily. And it's going to be quite a squeeze if we all want to get on board at once.

He peers down into the rip in the floor, trying to see if there's a safer way down.

[Cavir]

As the others move into the room, Keston carefully moves across the last of the planks and joins them. "What about the hole in the floor? Could be more discrete then announcing ourselves at the bottom of the elevator."

[Ghostfoot]

Peering into the rip in the floor it looks to Jascan like collapsed section of the floor has given way to a dark pool of stagnant water trapped under the floorboards of this room.

[Togo]

Jascan thinks for a moment.

More discreet, sure. But it looks like we'd have to swim it. And we're hear to work out what's going on, right? I doubt they've been going through that water every day, so the route they took must be down the elevator. But we could check it out, see if there is anything down there. Hostile, valuable, or just useful to know...

With a casual wave, he conjures a circle of four spinning lights, and then sends them down into the water. Peering in after them, he tries to make out any distinct shapes in the murk.

[Battlemage]

Varian El'Djiran

Varian looks through the rip in the floor for a bit, before he joins the others that are standing on the lift platform.

"If someone wants to take the more subtle route and scout the area, I don't see the harm. I myself don't favor a dip into that filth below though." His scaled face shows slight disgust at the thought.

[Cavir]

Keston nods ok, then motions to the elevator. "I'll join the first group down."

[razorback]

Hand on the lever, Kuln looks around at the others. "Alright, who else is joining us?"

Spoiler

Show

Once everyone who can fit on the elevator is aboard who wants to go, Kuln pulls the lever to lower the platform down.

[Ghostfoot]

Jascan conjures forth lights that dance and bob into the collapsed cavity below. The dark area is illuminated bit by bit, revealing simply a mundane area of trapped stagnant water under the floorboards a few feet deep. It looks muddy and slimy and not very promising. The is no way forward evident this way.

Meanwhile Kuln and Keston get ready on the platform to descend below.

Spoiler: elevating

Show

Okay so Kuln & Keston will go first. Room for two more people, or more if you 'squeeze'.

How about everyone except Kurnos & his dogs goes down together? Kurnos has to stay within 30ft (?) of each dog to keep his shared incarnum up, so they'll have to go as a group.

[DrK]

Kurnos

Kurnos looks at the elavator and pops a foot onto the wooden platform. "My hounds and I are robust my friend. Are you sure you don't want us to go down ahead of the others?" He pauses and looks, "Or I could fly down and look ahead, I can take the form of a bird or bat and investigate before we drop ourselves into danger."

Spoiler: Kurnos

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Kurnos
hps 60/60
Saves 9/9/10 ( +2 vs disease)
AC 18 vs evil (6 arm, 2 dex) +2 Wormtail = 20

Secundus
Hps 49/ 49
Saves 9/8/5 Evasion,
AC 23 (Arm 3, Dex 3, Nat 7) +2 wormtail = 25

Primus
Hps 74/85
Saves 11/9/6 Evasion
AC 23 (Arm 3, dex 3, nat 8, sz -1) +2 worm tail = 25

DR 6/ magic

Incarnum
1E Wormtail belt (+2 NA, +1/E)
2E Urskan Greaves (+5 Cold /E, +1d4 Cold on charge / E)
1E Sphynx Claws [HANDS]/[TOTEM] (+E on Str check, Claws +E, 1d8+E, Pounce)
0E Shedu Crown [CROWN] (+E to mind affecting, Telepathy 100ft)
2E Astral Vambrace (DR 2+2*E/magic)
0E Strong Heart Vest (DR 1+1*E for ability damage)

Kurnos Effects:
Longstrider, Primal Hunter, Primal instinct, "Uncanny dodge",
+10ft Speed, +5 climb/ jump/ swim/ initiative

[razorback]

Considering his last misadventure, Kuln nods as he steps off, as he reaches up and gives Primus and Secondus each a scratch behind the ear. "Be careful, pups." he says quietly to each.

[Togo]

Jascan squishes further into the corner of the platform, to make room.

I'm thinking I'll go down with the first load in case what we find is not hostile...

[Battlemage]

Varian El'Djiran

Varian steps off the platform to make room for Kurnos and his pack.

"I'm fine with the second shift."

[Cavir]

Keston squeezes onto the lift.

[Dienekes]

Wat gives the dogs a gentle scratch as they get on the lift, before he steps back and waits for the second trip.

[Ghostfoot]

There is a soft click as you pull the level and the platform starts to descend. The ride down the shaft is surprisingly smooth, the mechanism clearly well-maintained. The journey is not too deep, maybe 60ft or so, and soon the shaft opens out into a large, cold, dimly-illuminated chamber.

The chamber is filled with water, the platform halting its descent as it reaches the level of a stone walkway that rises 10ft above the water level. A metal ladder is affixed to the side of the walkway where the platform rests, and the ladder extends down to the water level.

The stone walkway leads to a single rusted iron door in the south wall. A torch burns in a sconce next to this door, dimly illuminating most of the room with a soft blue magical light.

Spoiler: Map

Show

3 Medium-sized creatures can safely stand on the stone walkway. More if you 'squeeze' (I hate it when they draw the maps across half-squares like this ).

4 Medium-sized creatures or 1 Large-sized creature can safely stand on the elevator. More if you 'squeeze' as you are presently.

The group in the chamber above can see the group below (vision is restricted w/r/t the wider chamber).

[DrK]

Kurnos

THe druid pauses and looks around cautiously. Looking at the stone walkway he approaches the stone walkway and the massive iron door. He whistles softly, the hounds following behind him as he reaches out to push the door open and clear some space for the rest of the others so they can send the lify back up to top to collect the others. "Foreboding this place. I sense nothing but trouble will come from being down here. But if we find the shapeshifters we can slaughter them all."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Spot (1d20+9)[20]
Listen (1d20+6)[22]
-- Scent from the dogs

Kurnos
hps 60/60
Saves 9/9/10 ( +2 vs disease)
AC 18 vs evil (6 arm, 2 dex) +2 Wormtail = 20

Secundus
Hps 49/ 49
Saves 9/8/5 Evasion,
AC 23 (Arm 3, Dex 3, Nat 7) +2 wormtail = 25

Primus
Hps 74/85
Saves 11/9/6 Evasion
AC 23 (Arm 3, dex 3, nat 8, sz -1) +2 worm tail = 25

DR 6/ magic

Incarnum
1E Wormtail belt (+2 NA, +1/E)
2E Urskan Greaves (+5 Cold /E, +1d4 Cold on charge / E)
1E Sphynx Claws [HANDS]/[TOTEM] (+E on Str check, Claws +E, 1d8+E, Pounce)
0E Shedu Crown [CROWN] (+E to mind affecting, Telepathy 100ft)
2E Astral Vambrace (DR 2+2*E/magic)
0E Strong Heart Vest (DR 1+1*E for ability damage)

Kurnos Effects:
Longstrider, Primal Hunter, Primal instinct, "Uncanny dodge",
+10ft Speed, +5 climb/ jump/ swim/ initiative

[Togo]

Jascan cautiously steps off the lift.

Well, this doesn't look dangerous at all.... he says, staring suspiciously at the water

Spoiler: Actions

Show

Move to I15

Spoiler: Buffs

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The party has
+4 to charisma checks, and charisma based skill checks.

Jascan has
mage armour (duration 12 hours)

AC 16
HP 44/44

[Cavir]

"Can the dogs tell by scent the path that gets used the most?"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

The lever is on the platform with us right? Meaning we'll have to send the platform back up?

[Battlemage]

Varian El'Djiran

Varian peers down from above, studying the group's surroundings while he waits for the platform to return.

[Cavir]

"I'll go get the others." Once the lift is clear of everyone but himself he pulls the level to go back up and bring the rest down asap, hoping for a plan once he returns.

[Dienekes]

“Thank you, Keston,” Wat says as he steps onto the lift.

When they reach the bottom, the hobgoblin looks around the room and grunts. “I don’t suppose anyone’s tested what happens when the water is disturbed?”

[Togo]

Jascan shakes his head, then thinks for a moment. Catching the hobgoblin's eye, he makes a pushing gesture at Keston's back, and then raises his hands in a questioning shrug.

[Dienekes]

Did he mean for me to push him in? Wat shook his head to Jascan, with a small smile. Taking out his trident, he pushed the buttspike into the water and stirred it, to see if anything horrible happened.

[razorback]

Kuln whispers down to the others "Send the lift back up."

[Ghostfoot]

Jascan waits with Kurnos and his hounds while Keston takes the elevator back up to retrieve the remainder of the large group. It's an awkward wait, perching on the narrow stone walkway with a dog the size of a small pony, trying to avoid being jostled into the water below.

A minute or so later the platform descends with Keston, Varian, Kuln & Watnir all ready to go. Without any room to move off the elevator they stay where they are. The room remains and silent, the only sound the occassional dripping of condensation in the damp environment and the panting of the canines.

Watnir reaches down with his military trident to stir the water below. Ripples radiate across the murky surface, lapping softly at the stone walls. Only at the last moment does he notice a foreign shape surging in the water just below him as a long barbed tentacle covered with suckers lashes out at him from below the waterline. It slaps against his shield but sticks for only a second as he manages to shake himself free from the attack.

Spoiler: rolls & info

Show

well you will poke the hornets nest!

enemy hide (1d20+14)[33]
spot:
Keston (1d20+6)[10]
Kurnos (1d20+9)[21]
Primus (1d20+10)[14]
Secondus (1d20+9)[10]
Kuln (1d20+21)[28]
Jascan (1d20)[15]
Wat (1d20)[8]
Varian (1d20+1)[7]

inititative
enemy (1d20+2)[14]
Keston (1d20-1)[9]
Kurnos (1d20+2)[4]
Kuln (1d20+5)[24]
Jascan (1d20+2)[13]
Wat (1d20+2)[3]
Varian (1d20+3)[8]

Spoiler: Map

Show

3 Medium-sized creatures can safely stand on the stone walkway. More if you 'squeeze'.

4 Medium-sized creatures or 1 Large-sized creature can safely stand on the elevator. More if you 'squeeze' as you are presently.

Currently Kurnos & hounds are squeezing. Squeeze = Each move counts as if it were 2 squares, and while squeezed you take a -4 penalty on attack rolls and a -4 penalty to AC.

Creature is underwater at ~H14 with total cover from attacks made from above the surface of the water.

Water surface is 10ft below walkway/platform.

=> Kuln
everyone else is flat-footed

[razorback]

"Gond's beard" the gnome calls out as he realizes their precarious position.

Spoiler

Show

AC ~20; Current ~ 21/25 if they are giants
HP ~ 67; Current ~ 67
AP ~ 8 ; Current ~ 8

Kn: ?
With Collector of Stories, he has +9 to all knowledge skills except +10 Arcana and The Planes, +11 Dungeoneering, and +19 Religion
(1d20)[1]

Spoiler: Knowledge Devotion

Show

Check Result Bonus Granted
15 or below +1
16—25 +2
26—30 +3
31—35 +4
36 or higher +5

Free action
If he figures out what it is, he calls it out to the rest of the group.

Standard action
Ready an action with hammer to swat the tentacle if it appears.
(1d20+13)[23] + Knowledge Devotion

Damage
(1d4+1)[2] +1 fire + Knowedge Devotion

Crit 20/x2
(1d20+13)[29] + Knowledge Devotion
(1d4+1)[2] +1 fire + Knowedge Devotion

Effects ~
* Immunities(Ex): You are immune to fear-based effects and spells from undead.
* +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against kobolds and goblinoids
* +4 dodge vs giants
Child of Shadows Stance = If you move at least 10 feet during your turn, you gain concealment against all melee and ranged attacks until the start of your next turn.
Sapphire Nightmare Blade = O
Cloak of Deception = O
Shadow Jaunt = O
Mountain Hammer = O
Knowledge Devotion check = +x insight bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls.