Wrath of the Righteous - Worldwound Incursion [IC]

[SpoonyMage]

Esper would move up behind everyone else. She was going to be the noisiest out of everyone and she wanted to protect the rear in case something came up the shafter after them, shuttering she remembered the dark creatures from the ceilings and just how sneaky they were.

However she'd use her darkvision to peer ahead as best as possible while moving forward with everyone.

[Zhentarim]

Diamond drew his gun again. He tried to remain as quiet as possible while he scouted ahead. Diamond used his dwarven darkvision to spot what he could while he snuck forward.

Spoiler: Stealth and perception

Show

stealth: (1d20+3)[6]
perception: (1d20+7)[12]

[Kallimakus]

Scouting ahead, you see that the two figures are attempting to clear the rubble of the fallen tower. You hear one of them speak out.
"Are you still there?" There is a muffled response from the rubble, and the two figures redouble their efforts. Getting closer, it's still hard to make sense of them. The speaker seems to have a single, goat-like horn. The other is a hunchbacked creature, lifting aside the rubble with its companion. They hear your approach late, their attention obviously elsewhere.
"We're here. We won't rest until we get you out."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Having come closer, you can recognize them with a knowledge (nature) check

[Kish]

"Could you please not menace people who we don't have a reason to think are hostile," Hesper says to Diamond. Then she calls out, "Ahoy there! Do you need help?"

[Zhentarim]

Diamond winced and scolded Hesper under his breath “What makes you think they mean us well, either? I prefer to deal from a position of strength. Now that they know we are here, I say you be the good cop and I’ll be the bad cop.”

Loudly, the armed dwarf shouts We will allow you to speak, but if you try to hurt us in any way, I have a weapon than peirce the strongest armor. Show yourself, tell us who you are, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Diamond’s voice is stern, but a careful observer could see the slight glint of fear in his eyes. His guantlet hand was clenched and so were his teeth.

Spoiler: Intimidate

Show

(1d20+2)[21]

[Frosty]

Lunalesca
HP: 10/10 | AC: 19 | Init: +2 | Fort/Ref/Wil = 4/2/6
Diplomacy/Bluff +9 | Knowledge Religion/History +6 | Knowledge Planes +8 | Perception +9 | 
Resources:  Channels 5/5, Fire Bolt 5/7
Effects:  None 

The cleric literally face-palms as she hears what the newcomer dwarf is saying. She trudges forward, already thinking of what she might have to say to not make more enemies today.

[Kallimakus]

The man turns to face you, a bit startled, but any edge of that is robbed by weariness. He looks like he hasn't slept for a day. The right side of his fave looks almost normal, except for the horn growing from his temple. About at midline skin gives way to smooth green scales, and the left side of his face is decidedly reptilian. His hand is likewise scaled, though lacking any sharp claws. "Would you rescue your comrade buried beneath a fallen tower? We will" he says in response to Diamond's threat. He doesn't seem to recognize the gun. "And if you are good in your meaning, help we could use". he says, tense. He speaks common, though his phrasing and accent suggest that he has not heard modern speech very often. "If you mean ill, please move along and hurt us not." he says.

[Kish]

Hesper glares at Diamond, but decides to deal with him later. "If you need help, of course we will."

She looks at the fallen tower.

Spoiler

Show

Does she see a way to help? Preferably a way that doesn't require being terribly strong, for her part.

[Frosty]

Lunalesca
HP: 10/10 | AC: 19 | Init: +2 | Fort/Ref/Wil = 4/2/6
Diplomacy/Bluff +9 | Knowledge Religion/History +6 | Knowledge Planes +8 | Perception +9 | 
Resources:  Channels 5/5, Fire Bolt 5/7
Effects:  None 

"Yes, we will help. It looks like the tower is too heavy to move with just you two. But with all of our strengths combined, we have a much better chance. I can also tend to your friend's injuries once he is free." Luna tries to get everyone to lift the rubble at the same time.

[NikolaTesla]

Though at first Kreedic was genuinely curious about the odd appearance of the men, this quickly changes to a sense of urgency to get the poor creature out. He rushes over to help. As he arrives, he mutters an incantation under his breath, then raises his arms in a motion that seems to pantomime drawing something out of something else. As he does so, a steady stream of dust billows out from the rubble pile.

OOC: Casting Prestidigitation to move dust out from between the rocks to make it easier for whoever is trapped to breathe.

"Ok, that should clear the air out a little bit for them." He inspects the rubble critically, making sure that he won't accidentally collapse it.

K Engineering: (1d20+1)[5]

Then he begins heaving rubble away with all the strength of someone who is well rested, physically fit, and trying to save a life.

[Zhentarim]

Diamond likewise attempts to help clear the rubble.

[SpoonyMage]

Esper would be relieved and saddened to know that more were in need of help. In truth finding danger at every corner was starting to become annoying...but wasn't this what she signed up for? Her dream was to join the crusades and fight off the demons and devils plaguing mortals.

Shaking her head she pushed away such thoughts and went to helping clear the rubble.

"We will help you."

[Kallimakus]

You get to work. With so many hands helping, you manage to shift the large piece of rubble and free the last mongrelman. All the while, one of the mongrelmen keeps talking, saying that they have help now and that the trapped one will be free in no time.

The rubble reveals a third mongrelman, its form a new mix of different features. Its features shift in surprise and then realization and relief. It hugs both its kin with relief.

"Thank you, surface folk. We are in your debt"

[Kish]

"We were happy to help, of course. Do you happen to know a way to the surface?" Hesper asks the mongrelman who spoke.

[Zhentarim]

Diamond wearily scopes his surroundings while Hesper speaks to the mongrelman.

Spoiler: Perception

Show

Take 20: 27 perception

[SpoonyMage]

Esper would go to making sure the one released, and the others, were okay by use of her Deathwatch eyes. Once she knew if they were fragile (alive and wounded, with 3 or fewer hit points left), fighting off death (alive with 4 or more hit points), healthy, undead, or neither alive nor dead (such as a construct) she'd relay the information so appropriate action could be taken to heal/patch them up.

[Kallimakus]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

The buried Mongrelman is at 2hp, so fragile, and the other two register as fighting off death.

"There is a way. But it is not safe. First, we would take you to our home. Neathholm lies close by, and is along the way. We owe you, and I am sure our chief will be delighted to have you as guests. I'm Lann. These two are Crel and Dyra" the talkative mongrelman says, gesturing at the trapped one and quiet one respectively.

"I don't think we should..." Horgus says, interrupted by Anevia jabbing him with her elbow. "We would be delighted" she says instead.
Aravashinal, who has received information about these goings from Anevia, is burning with questions now that the problem has been solved.

There doesn't seem to be anything else in the cavern.

[Kish]

"All right. But safe or not, we need to get back to the surface as soon as possible." Hesper looks at Emilie, Esper, and Luna for reactions to the invitation.

[Zhentarim]

“Sorry for frightening you. I prefer to be on guard after what happened on the surface yesterday. I would like to meet your chief and rest for a spell before we begin to trek this dangerous route to the surface you mentioned.”

[SpoonyMage]

Esper found the invitation welcome. They needed a safe place to rest and learn more about the undergrounds of the city. Helping out in what ways she could she'd relay the information on how injured they were and that it would be prudent to get them home safely.

"We should escort them home and see what we can learn of the underground the city. Information is a strength of itself. They are also injured and need healing and rest. We should go with them."

[Kallimakus]

The mongrelmen nod. They even accept the apology of Diamond, though you can tell that they're still sore about that. As you go, Aravashinal briefly bombards them with questions about their heritage, but doesn't push it after they become increasingly uncomfortable. Anevia also tries to get some rapport with them, along with Emilie, both of whom seem to want to be on the best side of these people. Anevia also talks about the crusades on the surface. From what you learn, the mongrelman tradition tells that their ancestors were crusaders too.

You travel for a bit less than half an hour before tunnel you are in is split by a great fissure. You can just about see the bottom with torchlight, some 30 feet away. It is 10 feet wide far from a difficult jump. The mongrelmen are distraught. The same earthquake that felled their watchtower appears to have wreaked havoc. They rush you on, each making the jump easily enough thanks to being patched up a little. Right now, their families and friends might be in the same predicament as they. It doesn't really dawn on them that you are in the same situation, cut off from the surface. Something that Anevia does point out.

"You are not the only ones with families that might be in danger. Mine is on the surface. We are grateful for your help, but we need to get to the surface as soon as possible. I can't make the jump with my leg, but I'll make it across. We'll see to the safety of your people.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

It is a DC 10 Acrobatics check to jump the gap. The fall deals 2d6 lethal damage if you fail.

[Kish]

"Don't expect me to join you in threatening anyone else, or count on me being on your side if you start a fight," Hesper tells Diamond bluntly.

As they travel along, she also tries to make a positive impression on the mongrelmen.

At the chasm, she frowns. "I could probably jump if someone--meaning Esper--threw my backpack across, but we need a method of crossing the gap that will work for everybody. We have a lot of rope, right? We can knot it to make climbing easier, climb down to the chasm floor, then climb up on the other side. It shouldn't be harder to climb than the shaft was. It'll take a little while, though. If anyone has spells that would get us across faster, now's the time to mention them."

[Kallimakus]

"My bonded staff has enough energy to weave a single spell. I could levitate us again, but I will not have us go into danger without that lifeline." Aravashinal says.
"I can't climb the rope, up or down" Emilie says, "But I can make the jump, so that doesn't matter. Anevia though..."
"I'll need some lifting."

[Kish]

"I'm sure we can manage to lower you down and pull you back up. I would prefer that no one risk jumping that unless it's absolutely necessary--and I doubt it's necessary, with the rope we have and Aravashnial's spell," Hesper tells both Anevia and Emilie.

[Zhentarim]

”That’s a big gap. Who will hold the rope?”

[Kish]

"Those of us who can climb--that is, Esper, me, Horgus, Luna, potentially you, Diamond--will lift those who cannot--that is, Emilie, Anevia, and Aravashnial," Hesper says.

[Kallimakus]

"Look. You people are obviously overestimating my rock-climbing skills. Even with a wall to brace against, I..." Horgus starts, but is interrupted by Emilie taking a running start and clearing the chasm.
"Just toss us a rope." she says. "Lann, Crel, Dyra, help us get across and we'll be to your home that much sooner, right?" The mongrelmen nod.

[Frosty]

Luna has spent the time trying to make friends with these mongrel people, and she is glad that they seem to be friendly and willing to help. At the chasm, she blushes. “I’m not a good climber or jumper, honestly. I can try, but I will certainly need to remove my armor first.”

[Kish]

"Quite. Esper, I'm pretty sure you're the strongest of us; can you throw things--Luna's armor, my backpack--over the chasm?" Hesper asks.

[Zhentarim]

“Use my back as the target of the spell!”